Fall Semester Timeline!!

 Hey First-Years,

Take a look at this timeline we put together for a quick look at upcoming (and some further away) dates to keep in mind! With that, we hope you have an amazing weekend :) 

Best,

The First Year Team

New Sections of Elementary Italian I and American Sign Language I are now available on Vergil!

New Sections of Elementary Italian I and American Sign Language I!  

Do you still need to sign up for a class that completes the language requirement?  New sections of Elementary Italian I and American Sign Language I have just been added to Vergil.  No prior knowledge of either language is required.  

Registration Round 2: What's new?

We are excited to welcome you to campus, Barnard Class of 2029! 

As you know, registration will re-open for you on Vergil at the end of NSOP, on Friday, August 29th.  During this registration period, certain Columbia classes that were not available for registration in July will be available for registration on Vergil.  If there is space available in a class that appears in the list below, you are welcome to register for it directly.  If the class is full, and running a waitlist, you may certainly join that waitlist and see what happens during the first two weeks of term.  As there are no guarantees that a space will become available in a full course, it would be wise to have a plan B. 

1. A class for a language or level of language not offered at Barnard 

2. Musical instrument instruction

3. Introductory courses in the following majors  

Computer Science:

• COMS W1004 Introduction to Computer Science

• COMS W3134 Data Structures in Java

• COMS W3157 Advanced Programming

Environmental Science:

• EESCUN 2100 Earth’s Environmental Systems: Climate Systems

• EESCUN 2200 Earth’s Environmental Systems: Solid Earth

• SDEV UN2300 Challenges of Sustainable Environment

Mathematics:

• MATH UN1205 Accelerated Multivariable Calculus

• MATH UN1207 Honors Math A

• MATH UN1208 Honors Math B

Statistics:

• STAT UN1101 Introduction to Statistics 

• STAT UN1201 Introduction to Calculus-based Statistics 

Exceptions to this list are unlikely to be approved.  If you have a compelling case for one, please speak with an adviser during NSOP (or with your assigned pre-major adviser after NSOP) about the petition process.  And again – have a back-up plan. 

Life at Barnard: Dorm Sweet Dorm!

Sample Room in Sulz

(All rooms don't look like this.

Look at ResLife's website to see other sample rooms.)

For those living on campus next year, congratulations, You've applied for housing! Whether you picked your own roommate or Barnard will be hand-picking your roommate(s) for you, this marks the beginning of a new phase in your life. Living with a roommate can teach you so much about yourself and make you so much more self-aware. Living in the quad can allow you to forge so many beautiful relationships with people from all over the world! Now that you've applied, here are some tips/things we want to share with you:

Open History lecture courses for Fall 2025!

Hello First-Years!

Please take a look at the following list of open history courses for the Fall 2025 semester provided by the History Department, which satisfy various the Foundations requirements! For more information, you can click on this link here.

South Asian Diasporas, with Prof. Rao (BC2859)

This course focuses on the migration of people originating from the Indian subcontinent into a global horizon, and the multi-dimensional array of economic, political and cultural relationships produced between diasporic communities, their places of origin, and their places of arrival.

 

Check out this course if you: 

• Would like to read fiction in addition to historical scholarship
• Want to learn how to annotate reading materials
• Are excited to learn more about NYC through walks in the city and short ethnographic write-ups

 

Early America to 1763, with Prof. Lipman (BC2549)

This course examines the three critical centuries from 1492 to 1763 that transformed North America from a diverse landscape teeming with hundreds of farming and hunting Native societies into a partly-colonized land under the sway of the Spanish, French, and British empires.

 

Check out this course if you:

• Want to learn more about Indigenous nations, European colonies, and the Atlantic slave trade
• Want to read primary sources on the culture of enslaved peoples, witchcraft, Native politics, and colonial rebellions

 

 

History of Globalization, with Prof. Alacevich (BC2963)

This course explores the history of globalization and its interpretations over the past six centuries. We will discuss constitutive elements of globalization, such as empires, trade and capitalism, slavery, and migratory movements, its environmental and ecological dimensions, and how it intersects with questions related to sovereignty, hegemony, and inequality.

 

Check out this course if you:

• Are interested in mixing historical, economic, and sociological analysis
• Want to get the big picture of global phenomena like trade wars, global inequality, and Migrations, and their historical roots
• Would like to improve your ability to interpret graphs but fear they are too complex and scary (they are not)
• Of interest to students of: history, economic history, economic sociology, international political economy

 

 

Intro to European History from the Renaissance to the French Revolution, with Prof. Valenze (BC1101)

From 1450 to 1789, Europeans pursued their wildest desires for riches, power, truth, and beauty. The legacy of their ideas and actions shape our world today: Renaissance ideals and education; conflicts generated by long-distance trade; religious rebellion and toleration of difference; innovative scientific inquiry; transformative modes of production and consumption; and fearless curiosity associated with the word “enlightenment.”

 

Check out this course if you want to:

• Experience history through art images and music
• Find out how people in earlier centuries lived, worked, what they wore, and what they ate
• Learn how to formulate good historical questions and write better essays

 

 

Introduction to the Global Middle Ages, with Prof. Delvaux (BC1062)

This course introduces students to medieval history and the methods historians use to study the premodern world. Topics include the fall of Rome, the rise of Christianity, the Islamic Conquests, the Polynesian and Viking expansions, the Black Death, and more.

 

Check out this course if you:

• Are interested in big stories that still shape the world around us
• Want to learn how archaeology and artifacts are used by historians
• Think medieval pop culture is cool and want to know more about it

 

 

Global Environmental History, with Prof Cagloti BC2385

This class introduces students to the field of environmental history from a global perspective. Environmental history is the study of the relationship between nature and society over time. It deals with the material environment, cultural and scientific understandings of nature, and the politics of socio-economic use of natural resources. The class welcomes students from the natural and social sciences, as well as the humanities. 

 

Check out this course if you are interested in:

• The origins of climate change
• Global history
• The ways in which the environment shaped human history
• How different societies cared for, managed, and exploited the natural environment in history
• How power relations are shaping the politics of the current climate crisis

 

 

World Migration, with Prof. Moya BC2980

This course explores the role of migration in the evolution and global spread of our species and in the emergence of race, ethnicity, inequalities, and mixing. Sessions on prehistory, ancient Rome & Egypt; the spread of Judaism, Christianity and Islam; Viking, Mongol, and Arab invasions; colonialism and slavery; the European, Chinese and Indian diasporas; and current migrations and debates.

 

Check out this course if you:

• Have an interest in thinking through the deep historical context of an issue of immense contemporary significance in our city, country, and world

Don't forget to sign up for PE this fall, if you were designated to do so!

If you have been designated to take PE this semester, please continue to sign-up for open PE classes and waitlists.  Schedules change and spots open up regularly during registration periods.  If you are registered for a PE class, you must attend the first class meeting on-time or you will forfeit your spot in the class.  If you are on a waitlist, you must attend the first class meeting in order to get in.  Any questions about the content of PE classes should be directed to Department Chair, Lisa Northrop (lnorthro@barnard.edu).  You may also fulfill the PE requirement through a one-point studio Dance class within the Dance Department or participation on a varsity team.

The Student Side: Move-In, Dorm Decorations, and What to Bring to College!

Room assignments have been posted and we’re sure many of y’all have already begun to plan your dorm decorations and what you’ll be bringing to college. It really is super exciting to plan your dorm room!

We’ve moved in and decorated dorm rooms a few times now, and we’re here to impart some knowledge about the move-in process, dorm room decorating, and what to bring to college.

Your UNI, ID, and Card Numbers and How To Find Them

Need some help finding ID numbers? What’s the difference between a UNI and an ID number? Let break the random combinations of numbers and digits down. 

            

Life at Barnard: Dining Halls on Campus!

Hey First-Years!

Today's post is going to be about something I’m sure is on all of your minds…

FOOD! As some of you may know, there are eight main dining halls on campus. Two at Barnard --Hewitt and Diana -- and six at Columbia: Ferris Booth, John Jay, JJ’s Place, Faculty House, Chef Mike's Sub Shop, and Chef Don's Pizza Pi. We’re going to break down for you some info about those dining halls, other cafes on campus, and dietary restrictions. LET’S GET STARTED.

AP/IB and Transfer Credits: What Counts?

Test and Transfer Credits! Something I am sure many of you have been curious about. Here is a brief overview of how Barnard handles AP, IB, and transfer credits.

Pack your passport! What to bring to Barnard if you plan to work this Fall!

Whether you’re planning to work in a campus role, a paid internship, or off-campus at the local coffee shop, all new employees are required to complete a federal form called the I-9 within three days of being hired. This form is completed in two parts, including presenting both identity and work authorization documents in-person.

Which documents can you present? A passport is easiest, but you can also present specific combinations of documents that prove both your identity and your authorization to work legally in the US. Click here to view acceptable documents, but please note - they must be originals, not copies. Add these documents to your packing list, and you’ll be all set!

If you are an international student on a visa, note that there are additional steps in your hiring process (i.e. obtaining a Social Security Number). That's why you have the International Student Services Office! They will make sure you're fully supported through this process and if you have questions, you can reach them at iss@barnard.edu!

FAQ on Work-Study and Jobs on Campus

What’s the difference between Federal Work-Study and a Barnard College Job Award?

Federal Work-Study (FWS) is funding awarded by the federal government for students to have a job. With FWS, you can work at Barnard, Columbia, or at a variety of off-campus non-profits.

Barnard College Job Award (BCJ) are funds awarded by Barnard College. BCJ can only be used for jobs at Barnard, not Columbia or off-campus. If you have a BCJ, you can still work at Columbia as a “casual worker”, meaning that your pay isn’t coming from your work-study award, or at an off-campus job.

First-Year English Department Reception on September 9th!

Hello First-Years!

Please see the following flyer down below for an upcoming reception that will be held for incoming First-Year students by the Barnard English Department on Tuesday, September 9th from 5-6PM in Sulzberger Parlor located on the 3rd Floor in Barnard Hall. If you are interested and want to meet and talk with the faculty as well as meet other incoming first-years students, take this opportunity! Refreshments will be served!

Best,

The First-Year Team

Fall 2025: ENGL BC1295 Graphic Novel Autobiographies and Biographies course!

Hello First-Years!

Please take a look at the flyer down below for information on the following course being offered from the English Department for the Fall 2025 semester!

Click here for more information!

Best,

The First-Year Team

Slate??? Student Planning???? Vergil???? Where do I go for which things????

Now that registration is fully in Vergil, are you feeling confused about which website to use for which tasks around your academic record?

Worry no more! The Registrar has you covered with this handy chart.

Also: Pro Tip: Almost anything that you need to do with courses/your record can be found under the Academics tab in the Barnard Portal.  

Important Info: General Chemistry I and Waitlists

 Dear First-Year Students,

A quick reminder as you prepare your schedules:

General Chemistry I (CHEM BC2001) is the only introductory chemistry course at Barnard and is open to all students, regardless of prior chemistry experience. The Chemistry Department offers support for students with little or no background in the subject.

Here are a few important things to keep in mind:

• All students will be waitlisted for CHEM BC2001 at first and admitted once lab registration is confirmed. If you don’t register for a lab, you won’t be able to enroll in the course.

• CHEM BC2001 is a five-credit course offered only in the fall and includes both lecture and lab.

• You must register for both CHEM BC2001 (lecture) and CHEM BC2012 (lab) to be enrolled. The lab carries no separate credit.

• Lab sections are limited due to space and safety. Please choose one that does not conflict with your classes, responsibilities, or personal/religious obligations. Lab section changes are not guaranteed after registration.

• All students will be waitlisted for CHEM BC2001 at first and admitted once lab registration is confirmed. If you don’t register for a lab, you won’t be able to enroll in the course.

• Once enrolled, dropping either lecture or lab will remove you from the course.

• If you need to switch sections, email genchem@barnard.edu with your full availability and details of any conflicts.

If you have questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re here to help as needed!

Best,

The First-Year Team

New Physics Course Alert!!!

 Hi First Years!

We hope you're having a lovely end to your week. We have an exciting announcement from the Physics department... Introducing "ASTR BC1753- Life in the Universe", taught by Professor Nick Luber, is now available for July registration! 

This class is an amazing opportunity to fulfill your science distributional requirement, since you can also take "ASTR UN1903- Astronomy Lab" alongside "Life in the Universe" to satisfy the lab + lecture science requirement. Make sure to sign up for this course during July registration, as it always fills up quickly with upperclassmen.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns don't hesitate to reach out to us at first-year@barnard.edu or the relevant offices.

Best,

The First Year Team

Information on Barnard's Creative Writing Course Offerings

Dear First-Year Students,

If you're interested in exploring Creative Writing during your time here, this message is for you—straight from the Creative Writing Program!

Welcome to Barnard! The Barnard Creative Writing Program offers courses for all experience levels, with workshops focusing on prose, poetry, and playwriting. All undergrads are eligible to apply regardless of their major (or intended major), and are both welcome and encouraged to do so. Please click here for a short guide to the Creative Writing Program and the application process for creative writing courses, and click here to see our Fall 2025 course offerings in fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and playwriting. Applications close on Sunday, August 3rd at 11:59PM. If you have any questions or would like more information, please reach out to Department Assistant Miriam Kumaradoss-Hohauser at mkumarad@barnard.edu and they'll be glad to assist you.

Warmly,

The First-Year Team

Barnard Creative Writing Program - Guide & FAQs for Incoming Students

Fall 2025 Course Catalog-Barnard Creative Writing Program

Study Languages at Barnard!

Hello First-Years!

Please take a look at the following flyer down below regarding languages Barnard offers at the elementary and/or intermediate levels.

Best,

The First-Year Team

New Pre-Health Course Just for First-Years!

 Hey First-Years!

We have some exciting news! A new course designed especially for pre-health first-years is available this fall:

PHYS BC1881 – Pre-Health Physics

Tu/Th 8:40–9:55 AM | 4.5 credits | Includes lab

This course is ideal for Biology majors and non-science majors on the pre-med or pre-dental track. It covers key physics concepts with a health-focused approach and satisfies the lab-based physics requirement for most medical schools.

 Limited to 27 students
 First-year priority enrollment
 Conceptual, biophysics-infused approach
 Same textbook as PHYS BC2001

Some calculus background is expected—if you're unsure, talk to the instructor or consider pairing it with Calculus I.

            Note: If you're majoring in Physics, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Astrophysics, or Astronomy, you should take PHYS BC2001 instead

As always, if you have any questions don't hesitate to reach out at first-year@barnard.edu or the relevant offices!

Best,
The First Year Team

UPDATE: Chinese, Korean, American Sign Language and Italian at Barnard

Hey First Years,

We hope you're all having a lovely Tuesday so far. If you are interested in taking American Sign Language, Chinese, Italian, or Korean, then please contact Professor Laurie Postlewate at lpostlewate@barnard.edu for help with individual questions and support!

As always, if you have any question, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at first-year@barnard.edu :)

Best,
The First Year Team

French Placement Exam Now Open – Important Info for Course Registration

 Hey First Years!

Are you thinking about taking French to fulfill your language requirement?? If yes, then listen up!!

Just a quick note from the French department: the French Placement Exam is now open and will be reviewed every few days. All students with previous experience in French need to take the exam—unless they earned a 5 on the AP or a 7 on the IB.

Only Elementary to Intermediate French courses are available for early registration. Those interested in upper-level courses will be able to register once regular registration begins in August.

Thanks, and best of luck to everyone taking the exam!

Warm regards,

The First-Year Team

Registration Update on Introductory Biology!!

 Hi everyone,

We wanted to share an important update about BIOL BC1500 (Introduction to Biology) lab registration.
This fall, the Biology Department is offering four separate lecture sections of BIOL BC1500 instead of one large section. To help manage enrollment more effectively, all students will register for a lab section during the first week of classes, rather than over the summer. This change ensures that students who are enrolled in the lecture receive priority for the co-requisite lab.

Please note: While you may see lab sections listed during future registration periods, they have been temporarily removed from the July registration window to support this new process. There's no need to search for or try to register for a lab section in July.

As always if you have any questions email us at first-year@barnard.edu!

Best,

The First Year Team

Barnard Basics

Hey First-Years,

We have a special message straight from the Deans' Office for Advising and Support...

We are so excited to welcome you to Barnard College! The Deans' Office for Advising and Support is committed to supporting you every step of the way and offering various resources, one being the Academic Coaching program. We are happy to provide a virtual pre-orientation program called Barnard Basics: Strategies for Success in Your First Year, hosted by the Program Coordinator for Academic Coaching, Allie Johnston. 

In this one-hour session, you will learn skills and tools that will help you not just in your academics, but in every aspect of life here at Barnard. Please see this RSVP form to sign up. There will be multiple sessions, so choose the one that works best for your schedule. If there are any conflicts or questions, feel free to reach out to Allie at ajohnsto@barnard.edu. 

Best,
The First Year Team

New Course Alert!!

Hey First-Years!

We have exciting news... More courses have been added to the July registration course list!! There's one brand new Art History class that we'd particularly like to highlight! Not only because it satisfies multiple core requirements, but also because it is an amazing opportunity for all of you. So without further ado... Drum roll please... Introducing:

AHIS 1590  New York City, taught by Prof. Anne Higonnet, on Monday/Wednesday 5:40-6:55, and Fulfills Arts & Humanities and the Mode of Thinking Locally-NYC 

New York City is our greatest metropolitan legend.  Capital of dreams, it soars to the skies, gathers immigrants from around the globe, and governs world finance. The scale of its swagger is matched only by the misery of its mistakes.  Here is your chance to get to know the epic place you chose for college. 

The course is team-taught, by professors, teaching assistants, and all its students.  Lectures are held twice a week. A third weekly session is devoted to small-group forums in which students present to each other on assigned field work themes. The first half of the course studies the relationships between urban design, immigration, and finance in three lecture units; the second half of the course explores a variety of municipal subjects such as: the many languages spoken in NYC, literature about NYC, journalism, music, dance, theater, food, fashion, politics, transportation, public monuments, museums, or vermin.

The course is designed to introduce students, especially Barnard first-year students, to their new home city, as well as to the fundamental intellectual skills of comparative reading, writing which considers competing points of view, reporting on local facts, and public speaking in real time.

What's that I hear? You're heading straight to Vergil to plan this class ASAP? That's what we thought...To reiterate, this is not the only course that's been recently added to the "Barnard Classes for FY Registration Fall 2025" spreadsheet! So definitely check out that spreadsheet when you get a chance :)

As always, if you have any questions don't hesitate to reach out to us at first-year@barnard.edu!

Best,
The First Year Team

2025 Department Meeting recordings now available!

Hello First-Years!

Below is the compiled list of recordings from the department meetings held this week, June 23rd–27th. These general advising sessions were a valuable opportunity to ask questions about major and minor requirements, Fall semester course offerings, and to connect directly with department heads. We hope you were able to participate and found the sessions helpful!

If you were unable to attend, you can now view the recordings at your convenience. We've also included a directory of faculty and staff from each department along with their contact information, should you have any follow-up questions or wish to reach out!

Best,

The First-Year Team

Department(s)	Faculty/Staff	Recording
Psychology, Neuroscience, & Cognitive Science	Michael Wheaton (mwheaton@barnard.edu) Peter Balsam (pbalsam@barnard.edu) Ann Senghas (asenghas@barnard.edu)	Link
Pre-Health	Amanda Dye (amdye@barnard.edu)	Link
Math & Economics	Daniela De Silva (ddesilva@barnard.edu) Homa Zarghamee (hzargham@barnard.edu)	Link
Social Sciences (Sociology, Anthropology, Urban Studies, Political Science)	Xiaobo Lu (xl29@columbia.edu) Taylor Doran (tdoran@barnard.edu) Debbie Becher (dbecher@barnard.edu) Debra Minkoff dminkoff@barnard.edu) Aaron Passell (apassell@barnard.edu) Mara Green (egreen@barnard.edu)	Link
Humanities (Philosophy, English, Art History, Music, Spanish/Latin American Cultures)	Karen Lewis (klewis@barnard.edu) Patricia Denison (pdenison@barnard.edu) Gail Archer (garcher@barnard.edu) Elizabeth Hutchinson (ehutchin@barnard.edu) Maria Lozano (mlozano@barnard.edu)	Link
First-Year Experience (FYE)	Vrinda Condillac (vcondill@barnard.edu) Pam Cobrin (pcobrin@barnard.edu)	Link
Computer Science	Rebecca Wright (rwright@barnard.edu) Smaranda Muresan (smuresan@barnard.edu) Lucy Simko (lsimko@barnard.edu) Corey Toler-Franklin (ctolerfr@barnard.edu)	Link Powerpoint slides
Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics)	Angela Paoletta (apaolett@barnard.edu) Andrew Crowther (acrowthe@barnard.edu) Liz Bauer (ebauer@barnard.edu) Stiliana Savin (santonov@barnard.edu)	Link