Course Selection

Selecting your first classes can be an exciting process. We also recognize that you will navigate a lot of new information. We provide several resources for you that will help you evaluate your options, track information, and prepare for creating your first schedule.

We have also noted if the course(s) of interest count for the Elon Core Curriculum. You will observe the category of the Elon Core Curriculum in parentheses when applicable. For example, you may note ECO 1000: Principles of Economics (Society) listed as a recommended course for the Love School of Business. This tells you that ECO 1000 will count for both the major and Elon Core Curriculum. You can use the Smart Academic Catalog or Student Planning to read the descriptions of each course.

We have created a brief workbook to help guide you with courses that you may be interested in. As you work through the various academic information, you may want to track this information by saving this document to your personal device. We have provided this resource in multiple formats.

We have also provided a slide show with audio for the Student Virtual Advising Session. This does not replace the required small group virtual advising session but can be a great supplemental resource for before or after you complete your session.

 

Bachelor of Arts in the Humanities and Interdisciplinary Majors

Humanities and Interdisciplinary majors provide students a great avenue to develop analytics, critical thinking, and writing skills. The following course options allow students to complete a Core Curriculum requirement. By Exploring through the Core, students can test an option and regardless of the decision, that course will count towards graduation requirements. All of the majors listed here are also minors at Elon.

Art History
  • ARH 2100: Art History of the Ancient World (Civilization)
  • ARH 2110: Art History of the Medieval and Premodern World (Civilization)
Classical Studies
  • CLA 1100: Classical Mythology (Civilization)
English
  • ENG 1100: Writing – Argument & Inquiry (First-Year Foundations)
  • ENG 1760: How Poetry Works (Literature within Expression)
French or Spanish
  • Enroll in the course at your World Language assessment level (Civilization)
History
  • Complete any 1000 or 2000 level HST class (Civilization). Early on, students have a lot of flexibility with the major so enjoy exploring.
International & Global Studies
  • World Language course at your placement level; or start a new language after taking the WL assessment (Civilization)
  • POL/IGS 1410: International Relations (Society)
  • HST/IGS 2210: The World in the 20th Century (Civilization)
Philosophy
  • Complete any 1000 or 2000 level PHL class (Expression). Early on, students have a lot of flexibility with the major so enjoy exploring.
Professional Writing & Rhetoric
  • PWR 2100: Professional Writing & Technology Studio (Society)
  • PWR 2110: Professional Writing & Rhetoric (Society)
Religious Studies
  • Complete any 1000 or 2000 level REL class (Civilization). Early on, students have a lot of flexibility with the major so enjoy exploring.

Bachelor of Arts in the Social Science Majors

Social Science majors provide students a great avenue to develop analytics, critical thinking, and writing skills. The following course options allow students to complete a Core Curriculum requirement. By Exploring through the Core, students can test an option and regardless of the decision, that course will count towards graduation requirements. All of the majors listed here are also minors at Elon.

Anthropology
  • ANT 1120: Introduction to Cultural Anthropology (Society)
  • ANT 1140: Introduction to Archaeology (Society)
      Human Service Studies
      • HSS 1110: The Art & Science of Human Service Studies (Society)
      Policy Studies
      • ECO 1000: Principles of Economics (Society)
      • POL 1110: American Government (Society)
      Political Science
      • POL 1110: American Government (Society)
      • POL 1200: Introduction to Political Thought (Society)
      • POL 1610: Comparative Politics (Society)
      Psychology
      • PSY 1000: Introduction to Psychology (Society)
      Public Health Studies
      • PHS 2010: Intro to Public Health Studies (Society)
      Sociology
      • SOC 1110: Introductory Sociology (Society)

      Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education

      Students interested in an education major are strongly encouraged to attend a School of Education small group virtual advising session. The following recommendations do not include all possible options for first-semester students.

      Adventure, Health, and Physical Education
      • ABL 2250: Intro to Adventure-Based Learning
      • Select course from the concentration of interest using the Academic Catalog major requirements
      Elementary Education
      • EDU 2110: Education & Society
      • HST course as listed in the Academic Catalog major requirements (Civilization)
      • POL 1110: American Government (Society)
      Middle Grades Education
      • SOC 2430: Sociology of Education (Society)
      • Select course from the concentration of interest using the Academic Catalog major requirements
      Secondary Education
      • SOC 2430: Sociology of Education (Society)
      • Select course from the concentration of interest using the Academic Catalog major requirements

      Engineering

      The Engineering curriculum is fall semester focused. Some courses are fall only. First-semester students considering Engineering should enroll in:

      • ELN 1010: First-Year Advising Seminar
      • MTH 1510: Calculus I (First-Year Foundations Math)
      • PHY 2210: University Physics I (Science/Analysis Lab); same section letter as PHYL 2210
      • PHYL 2210: University Physics I lab (Science/Analysis Lab); same section letter as PHY 2210
      • EGR 1210: Grand Challenges in Engineering I
      • First-Year Foundations COR 1100 or ENG 1100

      Students can also seek to enroll in EGR 1220: Engineering Computing with MATLAB if space is available. Otherwise, students can enroll in this course in spring.

      Environmentally-based majors

      Elon University offers three unique majors centered on the environment through the Department of Environmental Studies. Not all Environmental Studies (ENS) courses count for all three options. The following courses are recommended as they can fit in any of the major options:

      • ENS 1110: Introduction to Environmental Science lecture with concurrent enrollment in ENS 1130: Introduction to Environmental Science lab (Science/Analysis Lab)
      • ENS 1100: Humans and Nature (Society)
      • ENS 1600: The Art of Sustainable Architecture (Expression)

      Exploratory Students

      You may have some idea, no idea, or just need a way to confirm the idea you have about a major. We offer ELN 1110: Exploring Majors Seminar to assist students with major decision-making.

      You can find more by going to our resource on Choosing a Major.

      We also encourage you to explore through the Core Curriculum. Find courses of interest to try out that would also help you complete a part of the Elon Core Curriculum.

      Students must enroll in ELN 1010: First-Year Advising Seminar even if they opt to enroll in ELN 1110: Exploring Majors Seminar.

      Health Professions Majors/Careers

      We offer a variety of Health Professions majors at Elon. The major is certainly important. Equally important, students should visit the Health Professions website. The resources are abundant but for course selection purposes, we are focusing on prerequisites by career.

      Common Health Professions courses
      • CHM 1110: General Chemistry I lecture with concurrent enrollment in CHML 1110: General Chemistry I lab (Science/Analysis Lab)
      • BIO 1112: Cellular Biology lecture with concurrent enrollment in BIO 1113: Cellular Biology lab (Science/Analysis Lab)
      • BIO 1514: Biodiversity (Science/Analysis Lab)
      • PSY 1000: Introduction to Psychology (Society)
      • PHS 2010: Intro to Public Health Studies (Society)
      • STS 1100: Intro to Statistical Reasoning or STS 2120: Statistics in Application for most Health Professions Majors (First-Year Foundations Math)
      • For Biochemistry and Chemistry, students should enroll in MTH 1510: Calculus I (First-Year Foundations)
      • Exercise Science majors should enroll in ESS 1110: Intro to Exercise Science (Science/Analysis Non-Lab)

      Students are also strongly encouraged to enroll in one of our ELN 1010: First-Year Advising Seminar sections focused on Health Professions. Students in the Accelerated Pathways and Health Professions Scholars will be pre-enrolled in their ELN 1010 section. We also offer additional sections focused on Health Professions. We strongly encourage enrollment for fall 2022 in ELN 1010 sections J9, C0, or I5.

      Love School of Business

      All Love School of Business majors have the same primary requirements:

      • ECO 1000: Principles of Economics (Society)
      • MTH 1160: Applied Calculus (Science/Analysis Non-Lab) or MTH 1510: Calculus I (First-Year Foundations Math)
      • ECO 2300: Statistics for Decision-Making; or STS 2120: Statistics in Application (First-Year Foundations Math)

      Students can opt to start with these courses. Additional considerations for students can be:

      • STS 1100: Intro to Statistical Reasoning for students whose math placement is STS 1100 (First-Year Foundations Math)
      • BUS 1110: Gateway to Business

      Economics majors are not required to take BUS 1110.

      Nursing major

      Students interested in Nursing should use the Nursing 4-Year B.S.N. Curriculum website as their guide. Students already admitted into the Nursing program will be pre-enrolled in a section of ELN 1010 focused on Nursing majors.

      Students can enroll in either COR 1100 or ENG 1100 in the fall along with their other requirements.

      Other students interested in Nursing can use the curriculum as a guide and are referred the department for further questions.

      Performing Arts Majors

      Many of our Performing Arts Majors are audition-based. Please consult the information you received from your program coordinator and/or Admissions about first-semester courses. Those who have successfully applied will often be pre-enrolled in many of the major requirements for first-semester students. Students will then finish building their schedules with ELN 1010 and other Core Curriculum courses.

      The initial courses for these majors satisfy the Expression requirement of the Elon Core Curriculum. Such majors will need to complete a Literature class prior to graduating in order to complete the Expression category.

      Performing Arts majors that do not require an audition are Drama and Theatre Studies and Music in the Liberal Arts. Students can enroll in Music Production & Recording Arts classes if they have not yet been admitted to the program.

      The BA and BFA in Art do not require an audition or portfolio.

      Dance Science also does not require an audition.
      Students interested in this program and coursework should seek enrollment in DAN 1020: Somatic Theories I within their first two years at Elon.

      Arts Administration majors should seek to enroll in AAD 1100: Intro to Arts Administration. This major does not require an audition but students are required to complete a concentration in the arts via a double-major or minor.

      School of Communications

      The curriculum for Communications majors starts off the same for all 5 majors:

      • COM 1000: Communications in a Global Age
      • IDS 1150: Public Speaking
      Communication Design

      Communication design majors can also pursue:

      • ART 1120: Fundamentals of Design (Expression)
      • ART 2600: Introduction to Intermedia and Photography (Expression)
      Strategic Communication

      Strategic Communication majors can also pursue:

      • ECO 1000: Principles of Management (Society)

      Sport Management

      Students interested in the Sport Management major within the School of Communications can explore:

      • SPT 2120: Contemporary Sport Management
      • IDS 1150: Public Speaking

      STEM Majors outside of Health Professions

      Applied Mathematics, Mathematics, or Mathematics Secondary Education
      • MTH 1510 or STS 1100 if that is the placement (First-Year Foundations Math)
      Astronomy, Astrophysics, and Physics
      • MTH 1510: Calculus I
      • PHY 2210: University Physics I (Science/Analysis Lab); same section letter as PHYL 2210
      • PHYL 2210: University Physics I lab (Science/Analysis Lab); same section letter as PHY 2210
      Computer Science
      • CSC 1300: Computer Science I (Science/Analysis Non-Lab)
      • First-Year Foundations Math
      Data Analytics
      • CSC 1100: Data Science and Visualization (Science/Analysis Non-Lab
      • STS 2120: Statistics in Application or STS 1100 if that is the placement (First-Year Foundations Math)
      Statistics
      • STS 2120: Statistics in Application or STS 1100 if that is the placement (First-Year Foundations Math)