For students interested in Health Science, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering, Environmental Studies, Mathematics, or Physics – following are notes from our science faculty to consider when you register for your fall courses.
If you are thinking about preparing for a HEALTH SCIENCE career:
Take the chemistry and calculus placement exams now (if you haven’t already done so).
If there is a place available in BIOL-112 or BIOL-123 or the chemistry course you placed into, grab it!
If those courses are all full, don’t worry. They are offered again throughout the year.
Please know that there isn’t a pre-med major at Kalamazoo College. The preparation for a health science career involves a number of science and other classes. You can major in any field – science or non-science – and still pursue medical or other allied health professional schools.
If you are thinking about majoring in BIOLOGY:
If there is a place available in either BIOL-112 or BIOL-123, grab it!
Please note that you can’t take both BIOL-112 and BIOL-123 in the same term.
If those courses are both full, don’t worry. They are offered again throughout the year.
Please know that a Biology major will need exposure to at least one other science discipline as well as social science, humanities, and arts, so if something looks interesting to you, grab a spot!
If you are thinking about majoring in CHEMISTRY:
Take the chemistry and calculus placement exams now (if you haven’t already done so).
If there is a space available in the chemistry course you placed into, grab it now! If that course is full now, grab the calculus course you placed into.
If those courses are both full now it will be possible to take them in the Winter or Spring terms.
If you are thinking about majoring in COMPUTER SCIENCE:
Take the calculus placement exam now (if you haven’t already done so).
If there is a space available in COMP-105 or COMP-108, grab it!
If those courses are full, don’t worry. Similar courses are offered throughout the year.
If you are thinking about pursuing the 3/2 ENGINEERING Program:
Take the chemistry and calculus placement exams now (if you haven’t already done so).
If there is a space available in the calculus course you placed into, grab it!
This is especially important if your math placement is MATH-110. That course begins a sequence that takes two consecutive terms. MATH-110 will be offered in the fall and winter terms this year.
Plan to take PHYS-150 in the winter term of your first year. That course requires that you have completed Calculus 1 (MATH-112) or equivalent (MATH-111, AP score, placement exam, or transfer credit). If you take MATH-110 in the fall, plan to take PHYS-150 in the winter of sophomore year.
If you are thinking about pursuing the ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES concentration:
Plan to take ENVS-115 Environmental Science whenever there’s a spot available (usually offered winter or spring term). Meanwhile, look for classes that carry the “ENVS” course type.
If you are thinking about majoring in MATHEMATICS:
Take the calculus placement exam now (if you haven’t already done so).
If there is a space available in the math course you placed into, grab it!
This is especially important if your math placement is MATH-110. That course begins a sequence that takes two consecutive terms. MATH-110 will be offered in the fall and winter terms this year.
If you are thinking about majoring in PHYSICS:
Take the calculus placement exam now (if you haven’t already done so).
If there is a space available in the calculus course you placed into, grab it!
This is especially important if your math placement is MATH-110. That course begins a sequence that takes two consecutive terms. MATH-110 will be offered in the fall and winter terms this year.
Plan to take PHYS-150 in the winter term of your first year. That course requires that you have completed Calculus 1 (MATH-112) or equivalent (MATH-111, AP score, placement exam, or transfer credit). If you take MATH-110 in the fall, plan to take PHYS-150 in the winter of sophomore year.
