Today we’re tackling all your questions about course selection. Before you register for classes, you need to know which classes you want to take. And guess who decides what classes you take? YOU.
Remember: this Monday, July 17th, you'll only register for FYE, P.E., and select Barnard courses; this post reviews that, but also explains how you'll build the rest of your schedule and select other classes.
Let’s go over some of your most asked questions about registration on the 17th, as well as course selection in general:
Where can I find courses?
A seemingly basic, but very important question. There’s many different places to find courses. Hit up the Columbia Directory of Classes. Surf through the Barnard Course Catalog. Department websites are another great place if you’re interested in a specific major.
A seemingly basic, but very important question. There’s many different places to find courses. Hit up the Columbia Directory of Classes. Surf through the Barnard Course Catalog. Department websites are another great place if you’re interested in a specific major.
What is the P.E. requirement? Where can I find P.E. classes? What classes fulfill the P.E. requirement?
All first-years need to take a P.E. (Physical Education) class within their first year at Barnard (unless you’re a JTS/Barnard Double Degree student; then you have until the end of junior year). As aforementioned, while P.E. counts as a course, it is usually only 1 credit, so don’t worry too much about course total as opposed to credit total and try to stay somewhere between 12-18 credits for each semester. If you go to the Columbia Directory of Classes and select Physical Education @ Barnard under "Department", you can see all the courses that the Barnard P.E. Department offers.
You can take either a Barnard P.E. course, a dance class, or play a varsity sport to fulfill the P.E. requirement. During the summer registration process, you'll only be able to register for a Barnard P.E. course. If you would like to register for a dance class or a varsity sport, you'll be able to do so during the NSOP registration period. A limited number of spaces are available in Columbia P.E. courses for Barnard students. If you would like to take a Columbia P.E. course, you’ll have to go to the Columbia P.E. Department in person and request special permission to register for a Columbia P.E. course during the first week of classes. You cannot register for a Columbia P.E. course through the normal registration process on the Barnard portal.
I feel like I have no idea what I'm doing; do you have any recommendations as far as what classes to take first semester?
Besides FYW, FYS, and PE, all other classes you take are up to you. When it comes to taking classes, you have a TON of options, which can be both exciting and a little overwhelming. If you’re interested in a certain major, take an intro class to see if you like it. Take a class just because it sounds really interesting. Start on that language requirement if you know you want to do a really immersive study abroad program. Remember -- you won't register for the rest of your courses until closer to the start of the semester, but the purpose of this post is so that you can start thinking about the rest of your schedule.
Besides FYW, FYS, and PE, all other classes you take are up to you. When it comes to taking classes, you have a TON of options, which can be both exciting and a little overwhelming. If you’re interested in a certain major, take an intro class to see if you like it. Take a class just because it sounds really interesting. Start on that language requirement if you know you want to do a really immersive study abroad program. Remember -- you won't register for the rest of your courses until closer to the start of the semester, but the purpose of this post is so that you can start thinking about the rest of your schedule.
Coming into Barnard, I (Fabiha) knew that I wanted to major in Computer Science. During my first year, I was very focused on clearing through my major requirements and Foundations requirements. Working on my major requirements allowed me to fulfill my Thinking Quantitatively and Empirically requirement and Thinking Technologically and Digitally requirement. In my first semester, I also took Introduction to Psychology as I was very interested in the subject, and it helped fulfill part of the Sciences requirement. Looking back, one piece of advice I would give myself would be to not be afraid to explore my interests. You have so many options to explore and fulfill General Education Requirements so take advantage of them!
During my first year at Barnard, I (Nina) knew I wanted to major in English with a potential pre-law track, but major classes for English start during sophomore year, so I took a bunch of courses in a variety of subjects. They all fulfilled different Foundation Requirements and introduced me to topics I really grew to appreciate. In fact, one of them made me realize I wanted to minor in Africana Studies. I also got my Language requirement out of the way, but that is totally up to you! The great thing about Barnard is that you have four years to, essentially, learn whatever you want, whenever you want. I would recommend taking classes that interest you while paying attention to Foundation Requirements, and double-counting is going to be your best friend-take advantage of it! There is no pressure to start major classes during your first year at Barnard, as we don't even declare until spring of sophomore year anyway! If you would like to, however, that is something you are more than welcome to do. Follow your interests, get a head start on major requirements if you'd like, and double-count.
Breaking up the text with some levity in the form of a gif of an elephant wearing Converse
How many classes should I take my first semester?
It’s not really about how many classes you take your first semester, but how many credits you take. Most classes are about 3-4 credits. Many science lab and lecture classes are 4.5 credits. It’s recommended that for your first semester, you aim to take about 15 credits. The minimum number of credits you need to be enrolled in is 12, the maximum is 19 credits. To take more than 19 credits, you’ll need special approval from a Dean. You shouldn’t overwhelm yourself with classes your first semester; college can be a bit of an adjustment so cut yourself some slack.
During this July registration period, the maximum amount of credits you can register for is 10 credits. It is OK if you do not meet the 10 credit limit during this registration period. The only requirement is that you register for First-Year Writing/Seminar.
How many classes would you recommend taking per day? And do you have classes every day?
That’s totally up to you! Having more than three to four classes in a day might be overwhelming to some people, especially during your first year. Some students like to schedule their courses so that they have Fridays off (who doesn't love a 3-day weekend); others avoid anything before 11 AM (if you like sleeping in, maybe that's a schedule for you), and others still only register for classes starting at 8:40 AM. Kidding-- but you could be the first! The point is, it depends on what’s being offered this upcoming fall semester and what you prefer. If you know you don’t work well at certain times of day, you can make the decision to limit the classes you take at that time.
How are you supposed to choose classes to fulfill all of the Modes of Thinking and Distribution requirements? Is there some way to find a list of classes that satisfy each requirement?
There is a list of current courses satisfying general education requirements on Slate. Keep in mind that not all courses listed will be offered every semester but this is a good overview of what you can expect.
I took one language all throughout high school, but now I want to study a different language. Can I do this?
Of course! You aren’t obligated to continue with any course you took in high school. I (Fabiha) continued with Spanish, but now I'm going to be taking another language for fun. Plenty of students take a language at Barnard that they've never studied before. Elementary Language I classes are designed for people who have little to no exposure to a language. If you do want to continue with a language you began in high school, make sure you take the proper language placement test so you can be placed into an appropriate level (you can find more about placement exams here). Feel free to start as early as first-semester with your language requirement, especially if you’re planning to study abroad!
Of course! You aren’t obligated to continue with any course you took in high school. I (Fabiha) continued with Spanish, but now I'm going to be taking another language for fun. Plenty of students take a language at Barnard that they've never studied before. Elementary Language I classes are designed for people who have little to no exposure to a language. If you do want to continue with a language you began in high school, make sure you take the proper language placement test so you can be placed into an appropriate level (you can find more about placement exams here). Feel free to start as early as first-semester with your language requirement, especially if you’re planning to study abroad!
Is it better to take a math or science class in the first semester when the material from high school is fresh in your mind? Does this make a big difference?
It’s totally your call. If you’re taking an intro class, the professor won’t assume you have any background knowledge in the course and will really take you through step by step. If it’s a more advanced class that requires background knowledge, especially if you’ll need that course for your planned major, it might be wise to start early and continue with your momentum from high school. But again: it’s ultimately up to you and there is really no wrong answer.
Again, just to add some fun, here is gif of an adorable Superdog
How do I know if I can take a course as a first-year?
If a course has a 1000 number in its code and has no prerequisites, chances are you are good to take that course. Depending on your background in a subject and AP/IB scores, you could be able to take higher level courses. Each department should have a list of appropriate courses for first-years on their website, but typically we recommend registering for only 1000 or 2000 level classes. If you thought you couldn’t find an intro level course for a Barnard department, check again, or reach out to the department. Here you can find a list of courses available for First-Years in each department.
If a course has a 1000 number in its code and has no prerequisites, chances are you are good to take that course. Depending on your background in a subject and AP/IB scores, you could be able to take higher level courses. Each department should have a list of appropriate courses for first-years on their website, but typically we recommend registering for only 1000 or 2000 level classes. If you thought you couldn’t find an intro level course for a Barnard department, check again, or reach out to the department. Here you can find a list of courses available for First-Years in each department.
How do I know what course level is appropriate for me?
If you took AP/IB tests, those scores can help to indicate what level in a certain subject would be appropriate for you. However, AP/IB scores aren’t the definite indicator of placement. Most languages will have placement tests available prior to and during NSOP. Some departments will have open houses during NSOP where you can go and speak with professors about placement. During NSOP, you’ll also have the chance to meet with an advisor and they can help you decide on placement; we'll send out pre-major advisor assignments before NSOP.
If you took AP/IB tests, those scores can help to indicate what level in a certain subject would be appropriate for you. However, AP/IB scores aren’t the definite indicator of placement. Most languages will have placement tests available prior to and during NSOP. Some departments will have open houses during NSOP where you can go and speak with professors about placement. During NSOP, you’ll also have the chance to meet with an advisor and they can help you decide on placement; we'll send out pre-major advisor assignments before NSOP.
There’s a course listed on a department website with a description, but it shows no instructor or time for this upcoming semester. What does that mean?
This most likely means that the class isn’t being taught in the fall. This is often the case with many First-Year Seminars because most are only taught one semester. If you find a class like this, check back later when Spring courses are posted. It might be offered then! And keep in mind that the Columbia Directory is always the most up-to-date place to check what courses are being offered in the upcoming semester.
In case you're not already having fun, please enjoy this little (bunny??) napping.
What if the professor listed for the course I want to take has bad reviews?
CULPA is the typical site for professor reviews. It's a site independently run by a group of students. If you do find a professor review on another site, don't take everything in online reviews to heart; not all reviews are accurate and not all students have the same experiences with a professor. Remember, people who had a bad experience with a professor are more likely to post a review than people who had an average or great experience. Also, keep in mind that people learn differently and expect different things from a professor. A professor that's a bad match for someone else might be a good match for you, and vice versa. If you are still wary, you have the option of registering for a different section of the course (if available) or dropping a course during the shopping period.
How do you tell if a course is also offered in the spring semester? On course planning in the Barnard Portal and the Columbia Directory, it isn't clear.
When on the course directory you can select the semester you’re looking for, in this case, Spring 2024. At this point, Spring course offers have not been released, however, you can always check the last Spring semesters courses as there is a good chance that a course will be offered again next Spring. Don’t worry too much about your Spring plans for now as you’ll have ample time to meet with your advisor and plan things out accordingly; for now, concentrate on Fall 2023 courses.
