Here’s an opportunity for you to consider what subjects interest and excite you. Are there topics or questions that you gravitate towards? Think about you devote your time to, including those outside of class activities like reading, arts, performance, and even outdoor activities. Take a look at the various groupings of subjects provided below and by selecting a group, review the different majors and recommended first semester courses that you might consider for your first semester schedule at Wheaton.
Interested in…
- History, Culture and Language
- Fine and Performing Arts, Literature and Music
- Natural Sciences
- Mathematics and Computing
- Society and Organizations
- Education
You may also want to browse majors, minors as well as find courses and descriptions in the Course Catalog. Please note that not all courses are offered every semester.
| Major | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| African, African American and Diaspora Studies | HIST 143, HIST 210, ARTH212 |
| American Studies | HIST 120, ENG 101 (or ENG 253 or 255 with credit for ENG101) – any US-focused courses |
| Anthropology | ANTH 102 |
| Ancient Studies | CLAS 205, LAT 215, LAT101 or GK101 |
| Classics | CLAS 205, LAT 215, LAT101 or GK101 |
| English | ENG 101, ENG 201 |
| Film and New Media Studies | one of the following: COMP 161, FNMS 231, FNMS 258, SOC 175 |
| French | FR language level based on placement – complete placement testing |
| German | GER language level based on placement – complete placement testing, enroll in any English-taught German culture course |
| Greek | GK 101, CLAS 205 |
| Hispanic Studies | HISP language level based on placement – complete placement testing |
| History | HIST113, HIST143 |
| History of Art | ARTH 100-level course offering |
| Italian Studies | ITAS language level based on placement – complete placement testing |
| Latin | LAT 101 or 215 (level based on placement), CLAS 205 |
| Philosophy | PHIL 101, 111, or 121 |
| Religion | REL 102, 108 or other 100-level course |
| Russian Studies | RUSS 110 or 210 and/or any RUSS culture course in English |
| Sociology | SOC 101, any 100 or 200-level SOC course of interest |
| Women’s and Gender Studies | WGS 101 or 102, any 200-level crosslisted with WGS |
| Major | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Creative Writing | ENG 101 |
| Dance | THEA 140, THEA 110 |
| English | ENG 101, ENG 201 |
| French | FR language level based on placement – complete placement testing |
| German | GER language level based on placement – complete placement testing, enroll in any English-taught German culture course |
| Hispanic Studies | HISP language level based on placement – complete placement testing |
| History of Art | ARTH 100-level course offering |
| Italian Studies | ITAS language level based on placement – complete placement testing |
| Music | MUSC 113 or 114 (level based on placement), please see recommendations here. |
| Russian Studies | RUSS 110 or 210 and/or any RUSS culture course in English |
| Theatre & Dance | THEA 101, 103, 110, 140, 205 or 250 |
| Visual Art | ART 111, 112, or 116; ARTH 111 or 211 |
| Major | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Biochemistry | CHEM 153 and either BIO 112 or MATH 101 |
| Bioinformatics | COMP 115 and CHEM 153 |
| Biology | BIO 111 or 112, and CHEM 153 (depending in readiness) |
| Chemistry | CHEM 153 |
| Computer Science | COMP 115, MATH 101 or MATH 151 |
| Environmental Science | BIO 111 or 112, and CHEM 153 (depending in readiness) |
| Neuroscience | BIO 111 or 112, and CHEM 153 (depending in readiness) |
| Physics | PHYS 180; MATH 101 or other appropriate MATH course |
| Public Health | ANTH 102 or 265, PSY 101 or SOC 101, and/or BIO 111 or 112 |
| For Health Professions | Recommendation – NOTE: Pre-Health and Pre-Med are not majors, but academic tracks for students pursuing this career path. |
| Pre-Health, Pre-Med | CHEM 153, BIO 111 or 112 (depending in readiness for 2 lab science courses), please see recommendations here. |
| Major | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Bioinformatics | COMP 115 and CHEM 153 |
| Computer Science | COMP 115, MATH 101 or MATH 151 |
| Engineering | PHYS 180; MATH 101 or other appropriate MATH course, follow Physics and consult department faculty |
| Mathematics | MATH 101, 104, 221 |
| Mathematics/Economics | ECON 101 or 102; MATH 101, MATH 141 or 151 |
| Physics | PHYS 180; MATH 101 or other appropriate MATH course |
| Major | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Anthropology | ANTH 102 |
| Business and Management | ECON 101 or ECON 102/ECON 112; MGMT 111 |
| Economics | ECON 101 or 102; MATH 101 or other appropriate MATH course |
| History | HIST113, HIST143 |
| International Relations | POLS 109, ECON 101 or 102, Language – based on placement level |
| Philosophy | PHIL 101, 111, or 121 |
| Political Science | POLS 101, 109 or 151 |
| Psychology | PSY 101 (or 200-level PSY courses with credit for PSY 101) |
| Public Health | ANTH 102 or 265, PSY 101 or SOC 101, and/or BIO 111 or 112 |
| Religion | REL 102, 108 or other 100-level course |
| Sociology | SOC 101, any 100 or 200-level SOC course of interest |
| Women’s and Gender Studies | WGS 101 or 102, any 200-level crosslisted with WGS |
| Major | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Education Major (Early Childhood) | EDUC 240 or 250; explore second major (see above for options); also consider: PSY 203, POLS 101, US History or World History |
| Education Major (Elementary) | EDUC 240 or 250; explore second major (see above for options); also consider: PSY 203, POLS 101, US History or World History |
| Education Major (Secondary) | EDUC 240 or 250, second major options in Biology, Chemistry, English, French, History, Mathematics, Spanish (see above for course options). |