First Year Course Guide
The courses you take during your first year establish an important foundation for the rest of your time at NU. In this course guide, we've included some important tips, links to critical publications, and some factors and resources to consider in your planning.
Tips:
Meet with your academic adviser. As a new first-year university student, you probably participated in New Student Enrollment (NSE) at which time you met with an adviser and planned your schedule for the first semester. If you entered as a new student in the fall, you will register for your second semester in mid-October. Prior to registering for your second semester, you should make an appointment with your academic adviser. To learn what to expect when you visit with your academic adviser, see Academic Tips.
Prepare a tentative class schedule. Before going to your advising appointment, you should develop a tentative class schedule to discuss during your appointment. This First-Year Course Guide has been designed specifically for this purpose. It includes direct links to several university publications and links to some topics that you need to keep in mind when planning your class schedule. In addition, this would be a good time for you to reread the tips on college life with answers to some typical questions.
Publications:
- Schedule of Classes - Use to check for course prerequisites, meeting times, locations, and availability.
- Summer Sessions - Our "third semester" with 3, 5 and 8-week classes held from May through August.
- Undergraduate Bulletin - You can find course descriptions in the Bulletin along with a complete description of requirements for degrees and majors. A brief description on how to use the Bulletin is found under Academic Tips.
Factors to consider in course planning:
- Achievement-Centered Education (ACE) – ACE is the 30-hour campus-wide general education program designed to give students opportunities to develop and to apply relevant skills, knowledge, and social responsibilities no matter what their majors or career aspirations are. The program is shared by all 8 UNL undergraduate colleges, and successfully completed courses are transferable from one college to another if a student decides to complete a major in a different UNL college. Students must complete college requirements in addition to ACE courses, and they should work with their adviser to plan the course of study.
- Eligibility for courses - Generally second semester, first-year students are eligible for 100 and 200-level courses. Check prerequisites for courses (course which must be taken first) by using the Schedule of Classes. Placement exams are required prior to registering for certain courses:
- Math Placement Exams
- Language Placement Exams - Honors Classes - If you are not already in the University Honors Program and would like to take honors classes, you should discuss this option with your academic adviser or visit with an adviser at the University Honors Program.
- Learning Communities - Some learning communities require that you take courses in the second semester and have reserved spaces for you. Check this site to determine if you are required to take courses in your second semester.
- Study Abroad - Plan now to make study abroad one of your experiences!
