Major Course Recommendations and/or information on the following majors:
Register for five courses. There are no specific courses required in the first semester, so please choose your courses from the Gen Ed Program Course Offerings. We recommend the following:
If you are interested in a specific major, take a course in that subject. Choose courses you will like. All students must take a First Year Seminar (FYS) in the fall semester. Do not take a class that you suspect will be very difficult for you.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ECON 252 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| BUAD 201 | Principles of Financial Accounting | 3 |
| BUAD 221 | Principles of Management (or Spring) | 3 |
| First Year Seminar | 3 | |
| Modern Language | 3 | |
| AVE 101 | College in Practice | 1 |
To be officially accepted into the BBA programs at the end of sophomore year, a student must maintain a 2.5 grade point average in the following courses:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BUAD 201 | Principles of Financial Accounting | 3 |
| BUAD 202 | Principles of Managerial Accounting | 3 |
| BUAD 221 | Principles of Management | 3 |
| BUAD 231 | Principles of Marketing | 3 |
| ECON 251 | Principles of Macroeconomics | 3 |
| ECON 252 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ART 101 | Drawing I | 3 |
| ART 103 | Design Lab | 3 |
| Choose three additional courses including an FYS and Modern Language. | ||
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ART 101 | Drawing I | 3 |
| ART 241 | Art History Survey I | 3 |
| Choose three additional courses including an FYS and Modern Language. | ||
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIO 155 | Foundations of Molecular Biology | 2 |
| BIO 156 | Foundations of Ecology and Evolution | 2 |
| First Year Seminar | 3 | |
| If your math background is strong or you are also considering a chemistry major, take the following: | ||
| Principles of Chemistry I | ||
| Calculus I | ||
| If you are not calculus ready, take the following: | ||
| Precalculus (in the fall of your first year) | ||
| AVE 101 | College in Practice | 1 |
| AVE 110 | Introduction to STEM Studies | 1 |
| Also choose one to three additional courses including an FYS and Modern Language. If you are calculus ready, consult your Summer Advisor about which class to choose. Modern Language should not take priority over BIO, CHEM or MATH. | ||
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ECON 252 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| Choose four additional courses including an FYS and Modern Language. | ||
| BUAD majors are recommended to complete Math 104 (or higher) in the first year. ECON majors are recommended to take MATH 113 or MATH 131 | ||
To be officially accepted into the BBA programs at the end of sophomore year, a student must maintain a 2.5 grade point average in the following courses:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BUAD 201 Principles of Financial Accounting (3) | ||
| BUAD 202 Principles of Managerial Accounting (3) | ||
| BUAD 221 Principles of Management (3) | ||
| BUAD 231 Principles of Marketing (3) | ||
| ECON 251 Principles of Macroeconomics (3) | ||
| ECON 252 Principles of Microeconomics (3) | ||
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Fall (First) Semester | ||
| CHEM 121 | Principles of Chemistry I | 4 |
| Select one of the following by placement: | 4 | |
| Calculus I | ||
| Calculus II | ||
| Theory and Application of Calculus | ||
| Calculus III | ||
| If you are not calculus ready: | ||
| Precalculus (in the fall) | ||
| Modern Language | 4 | |
| First Year Seminar course (FYS) | 4 | |
| AVE 101 | College in Practice | 1 |
| AVE 110 | Introduction to STEM Studies (highly recommended) | 1 |
| Spring (Second) Semester | ||
| CHEM 122 | Principles of Chemistry II | 4 |
| PHYS 121 | General Physics I: Mechanics and Waves | 4 |
| Select one of the following by sequence - e.g. Calc II if you took Calc I in the fall: | 4 | |
| Calculus II | ||
| Calculus III | ||
| Linear Algebra and Differential Equations | ||
| Modern Language | 4 | |
| If you took pre-calc (Math 103) in the fall, then: | ||
| Calculus I (in the spring) | ||
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Fall (First) Semester | ||
| CHEM 121 | Principles of Chemistry I | 4 |
| BIO 155 | Foundations of Molecular Biology | 2 |
| BIO 156 | Foundations of Ecology and Evolution | 2 |
| Select one of the following by placement: | 4 | |
| Calculus I | ||
| Calculus II | ||
| Theory and Application of Calculus | ||
| Calculus III ((not required for the major, but may be needed for advanced courses)) | ||
| First Year Seminar | 3 | |
| AVE 110 | Introduction to STEM Studies (highly recommended) | 1 |
| Students intending Biochemistry will take the Modern Language sequence in their 2nd year | ||
| Spring (Second) Semester | ||
| CHEM 122 | Principles of Chemistry II | 4 |
| BIO 157 | Foundations of Cellular Biology | 2 |
| BIO 158 | Foundations of Form and Function | 2 |
| Select one of the following by sequence - e.g. Calc II if you took Calc I in the fall: | 4 | |
| Calculus II | ||
| Calculus III (not required for the major, but may be needed for advanced courses) | ||
| If you have completed math, then a Gen Ed class | ||
| If you are not calculus ready, then see below: | ||
| MATH 103 | Precalculus (in the fall) | 3 |
| MATH 131 | Calculus I (in the spring) | 4 |
| CHEM 121 | Principles of Chemistry I (take as a sophomore) | 4 |
Education Majors should take MATH 102 or higher in their 1st year. Elementary Education majors must take HIST 201 and HIST 103 or 104. Avoid taking a Social Science course, because Education Majors will earn their Social Science requirement in the major.
Education majors must have a 2.75 cumulative grade point average to be admitted to the major. For additional information, please see the College Bulletin for 2025-2026.
In the first year, ENVS students are recommended to take ENVS 161 and/or ENVS 171. Students should complete the W in the first year. First year students may take ENVS 217.
Exercise Science
If you are interested in the B.A. Health and Fitness concentration (Occupational Therapy, or Athletic Training, or a career in health and fitness)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIO 141 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I | 4 |
| BIO 141L | Human Anatomy and Physiology I Laboratory (Modern Language ) | 0 |
| Modern Language | 3 | |
| First Year Seminar (FYS) | 3 | |
| PSYC 157 | Introduction to Psychology: Science for the Citizen (or other Gen Ed) | 3 |
| MATH 104 | Finite Mathematics (or higher) | 3 |
| or W | ||
| AVE 101 | College in Practice | 1 |
If you are interested in the B.S. Rehabilitative Science concentration (Physical Therapy, preparation for Medical School, or graduate work in Exercise Science, Kinesiology, Exercise Physiology and related)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIO 155 | Foundations of Molecular Biology | 2 |
| BIO 155L | Foundations of Molecular Biology Laboratory | 0 |
| BIO 156 | Foundations of Ecology and Evolution | 2 |
| BIO 156L | Foundations of Ecology and Evolution Laboratory | 0 |
| Modern Language | 3 | |
| First Year Seminar | 3 | |
| AVE 101 | College in Practice | 1 |
| AVE 110 | Introduction to STEM Studies (recommended) | 1 |
| If you math background is strong and you are considered "Calc-ready" | ||
| CHEM 121 | Principles of Chemistry I | 4 |
| CHEM 121L | Principles of Chemistry I Laboratory | 0 |
| If you are not calculus ready, take the following: | ||
| MATH 103 | Precalculus | 3 |
Students must have an average grade of C+ (2.33/4.0) or better in Gen Ed modern language courses at the intermediate level for French, German, Italian, or Spanish and at the introductory level for Arabic or Chinese, or equivalent to be accepted into the global studies major. Also, Study Abroad is required for the Global Studies major.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GLST 250 | Global Places, Peoples, and Problems: An Introduction to Global Studies | 3 |
| or ANTH 253 | Survey I: Culture and Language | |
| Global Studies majors are required to take the following courses in the major and might be good choices in the first year | ||
| HIST 104 | World History II | 3 |
| POSC 206 | International Politics | 3 |
| or POSC 207 | Comparative Politics | |
| ECON 251 | Principles of Macroeconomics | 3 |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select one of the following (based on placement): | 4 | |
| Calculus I | ||
| Calculus II | ||
| Theory and Application of Calculus | ||
| Calculus III | ||
| If you are not calculus ready take the following: | ||
| MATH 103 | Precalculus (this fall or summer) | 3 |
| Or, depending on placement, MATH 101: College Algebra | ||
| Choose three to four additional courses from the Ged Ed Program Course Offerings | ||
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MUS 181 | Patterns in Music 1 Beginning Music Theory | 3 |
| MUS 181L | Patterns in Music 1 Lab - Theory 1 Lab | 1 |
| MUS 102 | Class Piano - Proficiency | 1 |
| MUS 100 | Recital Forum | 0 |
| Select one to two hours of applied music lessons, indicate the instrument or voice in which you intend to major | 1-2 | |
| Select one hour of choir or instrumental ensemble (Belles Voix, Collegiate Choir, String Ensemble, ND Band, ND Orchestra) | 1 | |
| Select three additional courses from the Gen Ed Program Course Offerings | ||
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIO 141 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I (required in the first semester to be on track for completion of major in four years) | 4 |
| Modern Language | 3 | |
| First Year Seminar (Natural Science not recommended, only SOC recommended in Social Science) | 3 | |
| Select one of the following (based on placement) or a Sophia course: | 3 or 4 | |
| College Algebra (if you place in Math 101 you MUST take it in the fall semester)) | ||
| Finite Mathematics | ||
or W | ||
| By the end of the first year, you should have completed the two-semester modern language requirement, writing proficiency requirement, and MATH 104 or higher. | ||
To be officially accepted into the nursing science major at the end of the first semester of the sophomore year, Intended Nursing majors must achieve a 2.8 cumulative grade point average and a 2.8 cumulative grade point average in the science prerequisite courses.
Nursing majors must maintain a 2.8 cumulative grade point average and a 2.8 cumulative grade point average in the science prerequisite courses in order to progress into the NURS courses in the second semester of the sophomore year.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Fall (First Semester) | ||
| CHEM 121 | Principles of Chemistry I | 4 |
| Select one of the following by placement: | 4 | |
| Calculus I | ||
| Calculus II | ||
| Theory and Application of Calculus | ||
| Calculus III | ||
| Modern Language | 3 | |
| First Year Seminar (Natural Science not recommended) | 3 | |
| AVE 101 | College in Practice | 1 |
| AVE 110 | Introduction to STEM Studies | 1 |
| Spring (Second Semester) | ||
| PHYS 121 | General Physics I: Mechanics and Waves | 4 |
| CHEM 122 | Principles of Chemistry II | 4 |
| Select one of the following by sequence (e.g. Calc II if you took Calc I in the fall): | 4 | |
| Calculus II | ||
| Calculus III | ||
| Linear Algebra and Differential Equations | ||
| Or -- if you have completed math, then a "W" class | 4 | |
| Modern Language | 3 | |
Saint Mary’s College offers two programs of study in speech language pathology: a four year BA and a 4+1 BA-MS.
The course schedule for these programs is sequenced. This means that most required courses have prerequisites, where it is important to take courses in a specific order, as this provides the students with the appropriate steps in their learning process in order to acquire the knowledge and skills required to complete their clinical practicum in their senior year and prepare for graduate work. In the first year of studies, students interested or intended in either speech language pathology programs should consider the following courses:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Fall (First Semester) | ||
| Gen Ed Math or Basic W | 3 | |
| Modern Language I | 3 | |
| First Year Seminar (Social Science not recommended) | ||
| PSYC 157 | Introduction to Psychology: Science for the Citizen (or other gen ed course) | 3 |
| SLP 220 | Introduction to Communicative Disorders (fall or spring) | 3 |
| Spring (Second Semester) | ||
| Modern Language II | 4 | |
| SLP 230 | Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech and Hearing Mechanism (if recommended) | 3 |
| Gen Ed Math or Basic W | 4 | |
Criteria for continuation into the speech language pathology (SLP) 4+1 program include a minimum prerequisite SLP GPA of 3.25 and a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 at the end of the first semester of junior year.
Engineering majors must also have a Saint Mary’s major, which is typically chemistry (CHEM), mathematics (CAM, MATH, PAM), or physics (PHYS).
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Fall (First) Semester | ||
| CHEM 121 | Principles of Chemistry I (with lab) | 4 |
| First Year Seminar only with pre-fix ENLT, HIST, SOC , THTR, ART, MUSC | 3 | |
| Modern Language I | 4 | |
| Select one of the following MATH courses by placement: | 4 | |
| Calculus I | ||
| Calculus II | ||
| Theory and Application of Calculus | ||
| Calculus III | ||
| AVE 101 | College in Practice | 1 |
| AVE 110 | Introduction to STEM Studies | 1 |
| Spring (Second) Semester | ||
| CHEM 122 | Principles of Chemistry II (with lab) | 4 |
| PHYS 121 | General Physics I: Mechanics and Waves (with lab) | 4 |
| Select one of the following MATH courses by sequence: | 4 | |
| Calculus II | ||
| Calculus III | ||
| Linear Algebra and Differential Equations | ||
| Modern Language II | 3 | |
| Basic Writing (W) | 4 | |
DUAL DEGREE IN ENGINEERING PROGRAM
Saint Mary’s College and the University of Notre Dame offer a Five- Year Dual Degree Program in Engineering, leading to a bachelor’s degree from Saint Mary’s at the end of the fourth year, and a second bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame in one of the engineering programs at the end of the fifth year. To be eligible for this five-year program, the student must be calculus ready as a first-year student.
Saint Mary’s students who participate in this program work with the Engineering Program Director. They take pre-engineering courses (e.g., calculus, physics, chemistry) at Saint Mary’s and engineering courses at Notre Dame, in addition to the courses required to satisfy degree requirements of a major at Saint Mary’s College. At the end of her fourth year, the student applies for transfer to the College of Engineering at the University of Notre Dame.
Notre Dame courses are used as electives to satisfy Saint Mary’s degree requirements, and Saint Mary’s courses are used as electives to satisfy Notre Dame’s degree requirements. Some related options include: a chemistry major at Saint Mary’s and a chemical engineering major at Notre Dame, a computer and applied mathematics major at Saint Mary’s and a computer science engineering major at Notre Dame, a physics and applied mathematics major at Saint Mary’s and an electrical engineering major at Notre Dame, and a physics major at Saint Mary’s and a mechanical engineering major at Notre Dame.
A Saint Mary’s student must have completed at least 96 semester hours with a cumulative GPA of 2.8 or higher (technical and overall) for acceptance to Notre Dame at the end of her fourth year. For this reason, to be “accepted” into the engineering program in the sophomore year a student must have at least a cumulative GPA of 2.8 or above (technical and overall) and must maintain a 2.8 cumulative GPA to remain in the program. This strenuous program will demand the best effort of well-prepared and well-motivated students. Consultation with the program director and careful scheduling of courses on both campuses must be conducted each semester. For additional information, please see the College Bulletin for 2024-2025.
Students can enter a health professions graduate program from a completed major in any discipline at Saint Mary’s College as long as they do well. Students should strive for a cumulative GPA of 3.6 or better to be competitive. All graduate health professions programs require an admission test in spring of the junior year or summer after the junior year. These include but are not limited to the MCAT for medical and podiatry school, DAT for dental school, GRE for vet school, OAT for optometry, PA-CAT or GRE for physician assistant studies, and GRE for most of the others.
Once students have established themselves academically (typically after the first full year of course work), they should begin to get involved in on or off-campus activities where they are truly contributing. Leadership and service are important. This includes demonstrating an ability to work with all kinds of people. Most of the health professions programs do want some hours of shadowing or volunteering in a medical setting similar to their interests. Research experience is strongly encouraged for many health professional programs. Students should be aware of any such requirements.
A basic core of courses is required for health professions programs, all of which can be taken at Saint Mary’s College. All pre-health students, no matter the program, should plan to take the following listed below during their first semester at Saint Mary's:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIO 155 & BIO 156 | Foundations of Molecular Biology and Foundations of Ecology and Evolution | 4 |
| CHEM 121 | Principles of Chemistry I * | 4 |
| Modern Language I | 4 | |
| First Year Seminar (FYS) | ||
| Also choose 1-2 additional Gen Ed courses | ||
| *If the student is not Calculus ready, the student must take the following instead of CHEM 121: | ||
| MATH 103 | Precalculus (in the fall of their first year) | 3 |
| If the student is Calculus ready, it is imperative that they take CHEM 121 in their first year to be able to apply to enter their professional program directly after graduation from Saint Mary's. If the student is not Calculus ready, but would like to enter their health professional program right after graduation from Saint Mary's, the student should plan to take MATH 103 during the summer online through Saint Mary's. | ||
These courses are prerequisites necessary for all health professional programs. Details on future courses for specific health professions can be found in the College Bulletin.
Saint Mary's College is an affiliate in the Lake Erie College of Medicine Early Acceptance Program in which students can be accepted early into either their medical, dental, podiatry, or pharmacy programs. Saint Mary's College students can apply for this program as incoming first year students through the end of their sophomore year. Applicants must meet these general requirements:
All interested students should contact Dr. Versagli (cversagli@saintmarys.edu) as soon as possible.
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