Arts and Letters Course Selection Guide
Use these fall and spring semester sample schedules as a guide when planning your courses. Arts and Letters college requirements and many major requirements are not strictly sequenced. These sample schedules are examples of recommended courses; your schedule might look different. Some Arts and Letters majors require specific courses in the first year. Consult the Sample First-Year Student Schedules for more information. If your major is not listed, then you have some flexibility about when you begin taking courses for your major.
Please note that Arts and Letters neuroscience and behavior majors and psychology majors cannot use AP or IB credit for psychology and must take PSY 10000/PSY 20000: Introductory Psychology at Notre Dame, ideally in their first year.
You will be able to talk through questions and unique situations with your first-year advisor before registration. Make a note of questions you have or anything you want to discuss.
Sample Fall Semester Schedule
Course 1 | First-Year Writing Requirement
Choose: Writing and Rhetoric or University Seminar
You must take a University Seminar (USEM) in your first year. If you do not have Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) credit for Writing and Rhetoric, you must also take Writing and Rhetoric in your first year.
If you need to take both a USEM and Writing and Rhetoric in your first year, you will take one in the fall semester and the other in the spring semester. You can take the USEM and Writing and Rhetoric in either order. You cannot take them both in the same semester.
If you have AP or IB credit for Writing and Rhetoric, you should take a USEM, a Core course, or an elective in the fall semester as described below. You can discuss your options with your first-year advisor.
Students are only allowed to take one USEM while at Notre Dame.
Course 2 | Calculus or Core Course
Choose: A calculus course if required for your major or a course for the Core Curriculum
Some Arts and Letters majors require calculus. Consult the First-Year Sample Schedules and Calculus Requirements by Major pages to see if you need to take a calculus course in the fall semester. A calculus course taken at Notre Dame (except MATH 10150: Principles for Calculus) will satisfy the Quantitative Reasoning requirement of the Core
If you do not need to take a calculus course, select a Core course. A Quantitative Reasoning Core course or Science and Technology Core course could provide balance to a schedule heavy on reading- and writing-intensive courses.
Course 3 | Language Course or Core Course
Choose: A language course or a course for the Core Curriculum
Choose a course for the Arts and Letters language requirement or a course for the Core. If you need to take four courses to satisfy the language requirement, you are encouraged to take a language course.
Review the Language Credit and Placement page for more information about placement into an appropriate language course.
Course 4 | Major Course or Elective
Choose: A course in your major or an elective
Consult the Sample First-Year Student Schedules to see if your major requires a specific course in the fall semester. If it does not, your first-year advisor can help you select a course appropriate for your major.
If you are not sure of your major, select an elective to explore an area of interest. Your first-year advisor can discuss your options with you.
Course 5 | Elective or Core Course or Major Course
Choose: An elective or a course for the Core Curriculum or a course in your major
Consult the Sample First-Year Student Schedules to see if your major requires a second course in the fall semester (most do not).
If you do not need to take a course for your major, select an elective to explore an area of interest or a Core course.
Course 6 | Moreau First Year Experience
Choose: A section of FYS 10101: Moreau First Year Experience based on your assigned campus neighborhood
Read the instructions for selecting a section of FYS 10101.
Sample Spring Semester Schedule
Course 1 | First-Year Writing Requirement
Choose: Writing and Rhetoric or University Seminar
If you did not take a USEM in the fall semester, you must take one in the spring semester.
If you took a USEM in the fall semester and do not have AP or IB credit for Writing and Rhetoric, you must take Writing and Rhetoric in the spring semester.
If you took a USEM in the fall semester and have AP or IB credit for Writing and Rhetoric, you should take a Core course or an elective in the spring semester as described below. You can discuss your options with your first-year advisor.
Students are only allowed to take one USEM while at Notre Dame.
Course 2 | Calculus or Core Course
Choose: A calculus course if required for your major or a course for the Core Curriculum
Some Arts and Letters majors require calculus. Consult the Sample First-Year Student Schedules and Calculus Requirements by Major pages to see if you need to take a calculus course in the spring semester. A calculus course taken at Notre Dame (except MATH 10150: Principles for Calculus) will satisfy the Quantitative Reasoning requirement of the Core.
If you do not need to take a calculus course, select a Core course. A Quantitative Reasoning Core course or Science and Technology Core course could provide balance to a schedule heavy on reading- and writing-intensive courses.
Course 3 | Language Course or Core Course
Choose: A language course or a course for the Core Curriculum
You should take a course for the Arts and Letters language requirement or a course for the Core. If you need to take four courses to satisfy the language requirement, you are encouraged to take a language course.
Review the Language Credit and Placement page for more information about placement into an appropriate language course.
Course 4 | Major Course or Elective
Choose: A course in your major or an elective
Consult the Sample First-Year Student Schedules to see if your major requires a course in the spring semester. If it does not, your first-year advisor can help you select a course appropriate for your major.
If you are not sure of your major, select an elective to explore an area of interest. Your first-year advisor can discuss your options with you.
Course 5 | Elective or Core Course or Major Course
Choose: An elective or a course for the Core Curriculum or a course in your major
Consult the Sample First-Year Student Schedules to see if your major requires a second course in the spring semester (most do not).
If you do not need to take a course for your major, select an elective to explore an area of interest or a Core course.
Course 6 | Moreau First Year Experience
Choose: A section of FYS 10102: Moreau First Year Experience
There are no neighborhoods for Moreau in the spring semester. You can select any section that is available and fits your schedule.