First Year Advising and Registration Guide

All students will be assigned a Summer Advisor to assist with course selection based on the preferences you indicate in the First-Year Dashboard.

• The advisor’s contact information will be sent via email by the end of the week ending on June 2.
• Students are responsible for reaching out to the Summer Advisor.
• Students should review the First Year Advising and Registration Guide prior to meeting with the summer advisor.
• Students should come to the meeting with a few classes they have found interest in through exploring Campus Experience.

Summer Advisor’s Role:

• Assists with course planning for the fall semester
• Interacts with incoming students during the summer via zoom, phone and/or email

All students will be assigned a Faculty Advisor based on academic interests and the fall course schedule. Faculty Advisors will be assigned in early August, and students will meet them during Orientation. Advisor assignments can be viewed in Student Center or Navigate, once finalized.

Faculty Advisor’s Role:

• Help students finalize the fall schedule during Orientation
• Remains the advisor until a major is declared
• Can help with a variety of academic areas, including questions and concerns
• Provides support in the transition to college and encourages academic exploration

As you plan your first semester at Gettysburg, focus on laying out some preliminary goals and taking stock of your interests. It is important for you to be mindful of goals when selecting courses, but do not get stuck trying to make "perfect" choices. Select courses that engage your attention, excite your curiosity, and connect to what matters to you.

Keep in mind that many courses open to First-Year students meet Gettysburg Curriculum requirements, so by choosing courses that suit your interests you will also begin to make good progress toward completing requirements:

• Take the time NOW, before the online registration system opens, to review classes and Gettysburg Curriculum requirements and create a plan prior to meeting with your advisor.
• Note which curriculum requirements your First-Year Seminar (FYS) will fulfill. All FYS courses will meet the FYS requirement and many will meet a second curriculum requirement.
• First-Year Friendly Courses to Explore
  With very rare exceptions, 100-level courses are available and appropriate for first-year students, and students are encouraged to explore. This page offers some supplemental information on some interesting options for first-year students, including some 200-level courses that departments have designated as appropriate options for incoming students.
• Prepare back-up courses in case you are not able to enroll in a class that you had planned.

• Register for 4 full one-unit courses. The FYS counts as one of the four courses, and you will be automatically enrolled, so you will need to select 3 more courses.
• We do not recommend putting your name on a waitlist for a course or a particular section of a course that is full. Once you register for 4 courses, you can track courses you prefer to see if a space opens and then exchange courses if you choose to do so. Putting yourself on a wait list will take up one of the four course spots. Please see the waitlist section of this page for information regarding BIO 111 and CHEM 107 waitlist suggestions.
• Review the Department Advise section of this page to see if your intended major/program requires or strongly encourages students to take specific courses in their first and second years.
• Discuss your questions with the Summer Advisor to get your questions answered.

For instructions on how to register, view the Registration Video Tutorial on the Registrar’s Office website, or follow the steps below:

1. Begin at gettysburg.edu. Click on the 3 lined menu icon in the upper right corner and select “Current Students” from the drop down.
2. On the left-side panel, click on “Campus Experience”. Log in using your Gettysburg credentials – you should not use @gettysburg.edu for the User ID.
3. Once you are logged in, click on “Class Information” on the right-side panel, followed by “Class Search”.
4. In the “Term” dropdown, select “Fall 2025” and use the other dropdowns as you see fit:
   • Subject: Search by department
   • Course Attribute: Classes that are open to first-year students, and classes that meet your Gettysburg Curriculum requirements.
   • Course Attribute Value: Further narrowing the Gettysburg Curriculum requirements but what courses meet specific requirements.
   • By simply clicking “Search” you will be able to see all the classes that have seats available.

To view the details of the course, click on the > symbol to the left of the section number. Here you can see:

• Course description
• Gettysburg Curriculum requirement (Course Attributes) the course fulfills, if any
• Any prerequisite courses
• Number of open seats
• Number of students on the waitlist
• How many seats (if any) are reserved for your class year.

To enroll in a course, add the course to your shopping cart:

• In the section that you would like to enroll in, click on the three dots at the end of the row, then “Add to Cart”
• If you have clicked the > button to view details, you can click “Add to Cart” in the details section, too.
• Once you have added all your courses to your shopping cart, click on “Enrollment” on the left-hand panel, followed by “Shopping Cart”.
  • Tip: Add all your classes to your shopping cart PRIOR to July 16^th, so when you log in that morning to register, your classes are already in your cart.
• Check the box by the course and hit “Enroll”.
  • Tip: Check off all your first-choice classes and hit “Enroll”, and you’ll be added to them all at the same time.
  • Tip: Keep your back up courses in your shopping cart, so that you have them ready if needed. Just be careful that you do not check off one of your backup courses during your initial enrollment selection
  • Tip: If the enrollment period has already started, you can “Enroll” in a course directly from the search – you do not need to add it to your cart first.

How many language courses are required?

Gettysburg College requires that all students take two sequential courses of non-native language in the same language.

For example, if a student takes the placement exam and places into French 201, that student will take French 201 and French 202. If a student starts a new language, that student will take 2 semesters of that language, such as Italian 101 and 102.

What languages are offered at Gettysburg?

Gettysburg College currently offers its students the following languages on campus: ancient Greek, Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Latin, and Spanish. Many other languages are available to students through our study abroad programs. Keep in mind that you need two consecutive classes in the same language to complete the requirement.

When do you recommend that students take a language at Gettysburg?

The faculty highly recommends that students begin foreign language study during their first semester. For some languages, such as Italian Studies, if you do not enroll in a section of a beginning level your first semester, your chances to enroll as a sophomore are drastically reduced.

How do I decide to continue a language that I have already studied or start a new one?

Personal aptitude, interest, and study-abroad desires usually serve as guides for students to decide whether to continue a language they have studied in the past. Some students wish to perfect their speaking, listening, reading and writing skills in that language at Gettysburg College. Many of these students will finally have the chance to study abroad in a country where their language is spoken. In some cases, students have studied a particular language for years and have simply lost interest in continuing to study it. Many of these students are excited to start anew. Students should weigh their language learning options based on the above considerations, knowing that they are welcome to fulfill their language requirement by studying any language Gettysburg College offers, or another language through study abroad.

Are there any exemptions to language study?

International students with F-1 visa status from a country where English is not the native language may be exempt from the language requirement. Please contact the Office of the Registrar (registrar@gettysburg.edu) for additional information.

Does the College accept AP credit for a language?

If you earned a 4 or 5 on an AP language test, the College may grant credit toward one language course. You will then need to take one further course in that language to fulfill the language requirement. Students with AP credit will also need to take the language placement exam to determine where they should best be placed for their remaining language course. Some language departments will also conduct an assessment interview on campus in addition to the placement exam. Please contact the individual language departments for further information. Contact information for each department is listed at the bottom of this section.

Language Placement Exams

On the First-Year Dashboard, you will be able to provide information about your language skills and previous study so that we can assist you in making choices about your language study and provide you with access to the appropriate placement tests.

In what form is the placement exam given?

• Online placement exams are available for Chinese, Japanese, French, German, Italian, Latin, and Spanish.
• For ancient Greek and Arabic, placement tests are offered during the on-campus Orientation period in August.

How long will the online placement exam take?

Time limits vary depending on the language, typically ranging from 45 minutes to an hour and a half. When the designated time expires, the computer-generated exam process automatically stops. For students who have previously studied Arabic or Greek, please contact the department chair to arrange a time to take the placement test once you have arrived on campus. These tests should take approximately 1 hour and may include an interview.

NOTE: Students who will be seeking academic accommodation should take the appropriate placement exams online and contact the Center for Student Success (717 337 6579). Individual adjustment regarding your placement will be made as appropriate.

When will I hear about language placement?

Results for Italian, French, and Spanish will be available on the Dashboard immediately after you complete the placement test. Latin, German, Japanese, and Chinese results will be available after the exams have been scored. Language placement results will be posted in the Student Center (see below) once they are entered. Students taking the online placement exams will also be notified via e-mail of their placement. For those students who take the placement exam on campus in August, results will be made available within twenty-four hours.

To view your placement in Student Center:

1. Log into Campus Experience:

• From the main Gettysburg website, click on the 3-line menu icon in the upper right corner, followed by “Current Students” in the dropdown that appears.
• On the left side navigation, click “Campus Experience”

2. Enter your Gettysburg login information (note: do NOT include @ gettysburg.edu in your username), and click “Sign In”
3. Once you have logged in, click on “Student/Faculty Center”. You will be brought to a screen of tiles.
4. Click on the “Student Center” tile.
5. There is a heading that reads “Other Academic Information” with a dropdown menu – in the dropdown menu, select “Lang. Placement Exam” and hit the >> icon.
6. Your placement test results will be available on this screen once your test has been graded and entered in the system.

I know I want to start a new language at Gettysburg. What should I do?

You should take a required placement exam for any of the languages that the College offers that you studied for more than one year in high school, and then enroll in a first-level course for the new language that you desire to study. If you only studied Latin in high school, and you do not wish to continue to study it here, enroll in another first-year language course.

Below is list of contact information for the administrative assistants of each language; they will forward student questions to faculty members who will answer them:

• Ancient Greek and Latin: Kari Greenwalt [kgreenwa@gettysburg.edu; 717.337.6565]
• Arabic: Lin Meyers [lkmeyers@gettysburg.edu;717.337.6788 ]
• Chinese and Japanese: Kathy Ambrose [kambrose@gettysburg.edu; 717.337.6750]
• Spanish, French, German, and Italian: Robin Oliver [roliver@gettysburg.edu; 717.337.6850]

First-Year Seminars (FYS) offered only to students in their first semester at Gettysburg, provide an opportunity to work closely with a faculty member and a small cohort of peers to explore a topic that they all find interesting. All students must take a FYS in their first semester at Gettysburg. A list of the Fall 2025 FYS offerings can be found here.

Students will rank their First Year Seminar preferences on the First-Year Dashboard. You will be notified of your seminar placement prior to your summer course registration. If you have concerns that your seminar placement conflicts with your other course selections, please contact your summer advisor or the Center for Student Success.

Notes on First-Year Seminars:

• Unlike your other courses, you will register for a seminar by submitting a ranked list of your preferences through the Dashboard. The course will automatically be added to your schedule.
• First Year Seminars are courses that have the same expectations in terms of workload as your other courses, and they count as one of the four courses you take in the fall semester.
• All First Year Seminars satisfy one or more of the Gettysburg Curriculum requirements. You can find which Curriculum requirement your FYS completes in the Student Center.
• Some, but not all, seminars satisfy the First Year Writing (FYW) or First Year Data Science (FYDS) requirement. Students who do not complete the FYW or FYDS requirement through their FYS will need to take another course that meets each of these requirements.
  • FYS courses numbered FYS-DS met FYDS requirement 
  • FYS courses numbered FYS-W meet the FYW requirement 

  In addition to the FYS requirement, all students must complete their FYW and FYDS requirements in their first year. Unlike the FYS, the FYW and FYDS can be completed in either semester.

Gettysburg College may award one course credit in each subject area for higher level examination scores of 5 or higher. For IB Transfer Credit equivalencies, please click here. For IB courses not listed, please contact the Registrar’s Office.

Some IB courses have been deemed equivalent to courses we offer at Gettysburg. If you enroll in the equivalent course here, you will cancel out your IB credit; you cannot earn credit for the same course twice.

You may not know your IB test scores when you register for classes. If you took an IB exam and expect to receive the necessary score to earn credit, it is okay to register under that assumption. If you find out later that you did not earn a qualifying score, you can adjust your schedule. 

If you are hoping to use your IB exam score as a pre-requisite for a course, but you do not have the score yet, you will need to contact the department for next steps.

All entering students who submit a score of 4 or 5 on AP tests may receive one course unit towards the 32-course graduation requirement. Some AP courses have been deemed equivalent to courses we offer at Gettysburg. If you enroll in the equivalent course here, you will cancel out your AP credit; you cannot earn credit for the same course twice.

You may not know your AP test scores when you register for classes. If you took an AP exam and expect to earn a 4 or 5, it is okay to register under the assumption that you will earn credit. If you find out later that you did not earn a 4 or 5, you can adjust your schedule accordingly.

If you are hoping to use your AP exam score as a pre-requisite for a course, but you do not have the score yet, you will need to contact the department for next steps.

Please review the Registrar’s website for the most common AP courses that our students have taken by clicking here. For questions about AP courses not listed here, please contact the Registrar’s Office.

If you have AP, IB, or A-Level scores to report, or took dual enrollment classes during high school, send the scores and/or transcript directly to Gettysburg from the testing agency/school. Some helpful tips on making those requests can be found below. 

If you have additional questions, please contact the Office of the Registrar at registrar@gettysburg.edu. 

AP Scores:

• Please make your request through the CollegeBoard website to have your official score report sent to Gettysburg College.

IB Scores:

• Please contact International Baccalaureate to have your official score report sent to Gettysburg College.

A-Level Exams:

• Students typically complete the requests through Cambridge or Pearson. 
• Send the official certificate directly from Cambridge or Pearson.
• Copies cannot be accepted from your high school.

Dual Enrollment Credits

• Students are responsible to request official transcript(s) from your previous institution(s).
• Please request the college or university send an electronic copy to registrar@gettysburg.edu, or they may mail a hard copy to thr following address:
  
  Gettysburg College 
  300 N. Washington Street 
  Registrar’s Office - Box 419 
  Gettysburg, PA 17325. 
• Grades earned in dual enrollment classes that are reported on your high school transcript cannot be evaluated – the transcript must come directly from the college or university.

Upper class students have already scheduled their courses for next year, so you may find that some courses already have waitlists. Some of those courses will have seats reserved for first-year students. If you wind up on a waitlist for a course you really want to take:

1. First see if there is another section of the course open and consider adjusting your other courses if needed.
2. If there is no open section of a waitlisted course you wish to enter, WE STRONGLY URGE that you find some other course that suits your interests and has open places and that you enroll in such a course instead of the waitlisted course (exceptions to this will be noted in the Departmental Advice).

There will be fewer possibilities as the summer progresses, so it is best to enroll in four courses now. The waitlists allow us to track how many students need, or want, particular courses.

Special information regarding Biology waitlists: Students planning on majoring in Biology, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology (BMB), or Health Sciences should enroll in the appropriate BIO 111 class in the fall OR join the waitlist for that class.

Our department chairs have provided the following information for first year students interested in pursuing courses in these areas. Pay close attention to the advice provided and visit each department’s website for additional information.

Why take an Africana Studies course or become a major or minor? Africana Studies at Gettysburg College offers the opportunity to learn how to analyze problems from a variety of disciplines such as economics, history, sociology, linguistics, music, political science, and literature. Africana Studies focuses on African American, Caribbean, Latin American, and continental African experiences, institutions, and perspectives. It is broadly defined as the study of people of African descent, with a goal of participating in the process of improving life opportunities for people of African descent as a part of working toward a more just world. Interested students and prospective majors and minors can begin their exploration with AFS 130, 131, 132, or any 200-level AFS course. AFS alumni have gone on to graduate study in international affairs, human rights, and anthropology at schools such as Columbia University and Tufts University. AFS alumni currently work in education, law, psychiatry, and sales. For advising help, contact Prof Hakim Williams (hwilliams@gettysburg.edu.

Click here to explore more details by visiting the department website.

Those interested in learning more about Anthropology should take one of our introductory courses, Anth 103 or Anth 106, during the first year. These courses satisfy the Social Sciences requirement of the Multiple Inquiries goal.

Taking at least one of these introductory courses makes it possible to enroll in any 200-level course in subsequent semesters since either Anth 103 or Anth 106 is a prerequisite for most courses at that level. Some 200-level anthropology courses are cross-listed with Asian Studies, Classics, French, Latin American Studies, and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. For advising help, contact Andrea Switzer (aswitzer@gettysburg.edu). Click here to explore more details by visiting the department website.

Students expecting to major or minor in studio art should take ARTS 141 in their first year. ARTS 141 is also open to students with general interest in studio art. There are sections of ARTS 141 in both the fall and spring semester and some enrollment spaces have been reserved for first year students. This course is a pre-requisite for upper-level studio art courses.

Students expecting to major or minor in art history should take ARTH 125 Survey of Western Art, ARTH 131 Introduction to Asian Art, and ARTH 126 Introduction to Modern and Contemporary Art. Enrollment spaces have been reserved for first year students in these three classes. These courses satisfy pre-requisites for upper-level art history courses. Students expecting to major in art history and museum studies should consider take ARTH 215 Introduction to Museum Studies.

For information, please contact Leslie Casteel (lcasteel@gettysburg.edu) or call 717-337-6121.

Click here to explore more details by visiting the department website.

Prospective Biology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BMB), and Health Science majors should be sure to enroll in Bio 111 (Introductory Biology for Life Sciences) in the fall, to be followed with BIO 112 (Form and Function in Living Organisms) in the spring. Both courses have weekly labs. Chemistry 107 and 108 are also required for the Biology major, and many Biology students choose to enroll in both Bio 111 and Chem 107 in the fall of their First Year. Taking Chem 107 is not, however, imperative, and students can delay taking Chemistry 107 until their sophomore year, if they desire. Delaying Chemistry will, however, have implications for course scheduling during the junior and senior years, and may reduce students’ flexibility to do other things, like study abroad, during those years. We encourage students to discuss this decision with their FY advisor or with someone in the Biology Department.

Students interested in the Neuroscience minor and students considering Medical or Veterinary School after graduation, regardless of your planned major, should also enroll in Bio 111.

Prospective Environmental Studies and Psychology majors might also consider taking BIO 111, though it’s not required for either major; see guidelines for those majors elsewhere.

If you want to take some Biology, but are NOT planning to major or minor in Biology or a related field, the following are the most appropriate courses; both fulfill one of the Gettysburg Curriculum Natural Science requirements:

• Bio 101 (Basic Biology - Fall course) is geared towards non-science majors who do not intend to take Bio 112. It makes no assumption about your science background and is a stand-alone course. It has a weekly lab component.
• Bio 102 (Biological Basis of Disease - Spring course) is geared towards non-science majors. It makes no assumption about your science background- it has no prerequisite. It has an "every other week" lab component.

For Advising Help: contact Prof. Kazuo Hiraizumi (hiraizum@gettysburg.edu) or visit the Prospective Student tab at the Biology Department web site.

Students planning to major in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology should take Biology 111 AND Chemistry 107 (any themed section) in the fall semester, followed by Biology 112 and Chemistry 108 (any themed section; it does NOT need to be the same theme as your Chemistry 107 section) in the spring semester. Since Mathematics through 112 is required for the BMB major, students are strongly encouraged to complete Math 111-112 (or their equivalent) by the end of their first year. While it is possible to complete the 18-course BMB major if one chooses to begin biology, chemistry, or math in the sophomore year, this may present challenges in junior and senior year scheduling, and may prevent a BMB major from being able to study abroad. For advising questions or help, contact Prof. Kate Buettner (kbuettne@gettysburg.edu), Interim Chair of the BMB Program. Click here to explore more details by visiting the department website.

General Chemistry (Chemistry 107 and Chemistry 108) is required or recommended for students studying Biology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BMB), Chemistry, Environmental Studies (BS degree), and Health Sciences (BS degree). Chemistry and BMB majors should taking Chemistry 107 in their first semester. We strongly recommend that Biology majors take Chemistry 107 in their first semester, too, especially if they are interested in molecular biology or any molecular-level research. If you are considering attending professional school in a medical field (medical, dental, optometry, veterinary, nursing, physician assistant, physical therapy, or pharmacy school), you will need to take at least a year of chemistry, including Chemistry 107 and 108. Students planning on attending medical, dental, or veterinary school directly after college (with no gap year) must take Chemistry 107 in their first semester.

Since the Chemistry Placement Test is required to enroll in CH107, it is suggested that anyone planning on enrolling in CH107 in their first or second year should take it this summer. If you do not take the test, but change your mind and decide to take CH107, the Placement Test can be taken any time prior to registering for the course the semester you plan on taking it. The placement test can be accessed through the First-Year Dashboard. If the Dashboard has closed, please contact Lea Czar (lczar@gettysburg.edu) to get access to the test.

The Chemistry Placement Test—a 40-question, 60-minute, multiple-choice test—allows us to place you in a section of Chemistry 107 that is appropriate for your background. We offer two levels of Chemistry 107: Chemistry 107 sections A–D and Chemistry 107-I. Chemistry 107-I is an “intensive” section with its own labs and discussion sections designed to provide extra support for students with limited chemistry and quantitative problem-solving experience in high school. Other Chemistry 107 sections are for students with stronger chemistry and quantitative problem-solving backgrounds. All Chemistry 107 sections prepare students to be successful STEM majors.

You will be informed of your placement test results by your Gettysburg College email a few days before registration. We will let you know whether you should register for Chemistry 107-I or one of the other Chemistry 107 sections.

The Chemistry major builds upon itself, and therefore certain courses need to be taken in a specific order. Students planning a major in Chemistry should take Chemistry 107 (any themed section) or Chemistry 107-I and Mathematics 111 or a higher-level mathematics course during the fall semester of their first year. During the spring semester students should register for Chemistry 108 (any themed section; it does NOT need to be the same theme as your Chemistry 107 section) or Chemistry 108-I and Math 112 or a higher-level mathematics course. Chemistry majors must ultimately take mathematics through Math 112 (for the BA degree) or Math 211 (for the BS degree) and a year of calculus-based physics in preparation for Physical Chemistry. Physics courses are often taken during the sophomore year along with Chemistry 203 and 204 (Organic Chemistry).

Students who are interested in taking a chemistry class to fulfill the Natural Science with a Lab Multiple Inquiries requirement should also take the Chemistry Placement Test, which will place you into either Chemistry 107 or Chemistry 107-I. While all sections of Chemistry 107 cover the fundamentals of the discipline (such as exploring the atom, molecules, chemical bonds, the properties and theories of matter, and chemical reactions), each section approaches the topics through a different theme such as art, consumer products, medicine, or the environment.

If you have a question about the Chemistry major or minor, please see the Department website or contact the Chair, Prof. Don Jameson (djameson@gettysburg.edu).

Cinema, television and other media, arguably the most ubiquitous and globalized cultural forms in our world today, are often not well understood and frequently understudied. Gettysburg College offers a program in Cinema and Media Studies that will provide a broad liberal arts perspective on a powerful part of students’ lives today. This program offers both a major and minor in Cinema and Media Studies that include approaches from both Cinema Studies and paradigms for studying popular culture commonly known as Cultural Studies. Students will understand these media as not merely artistic forms, but also as cultural, economic and socio-political entities. Students interested in a major or a minor are advised to take CIMS 101 (offered every semester) as early as possible. Students can take CIMS 220 (Video Production) early on as well, also offered every semester. Students may contact Prof. James Udden, Chair of CIMS at (judden@gettysburg.edu), or administrative assistant, Denise Wood, at (dwood@gettysburg.edu. Click here to explore more details by visiting the department website.

There is no better place to learn about the American Civil War than Gettysburg College. CWES 205 offers a sweeping exploration of the Civil War Era. Students will investigate the coming and consequences of the Civil War while also studying the military dimension of the conflict through immersive experiences on the Gettysburg battlefield. CWES 205 brings an interdisciplinary approach to the classroom. Students will watch films, read popular literature, examine wartime photographs and illustrations, and explore the psychological dimensions of warfare. CWES 205 may also count towards the History major. Prospective minors in Civil War Era Studies should plan to take this course as soon as their schedule allows. A course for incoming students is a Civil War-related First-Year Seminar, FYS 184-4: Remembering Slavery & the Civil War Since 1865. For advice during the summer, please contact Dr. Peter S. Carmichael at pcarmich@gettysburg.edu.

Click here to explore more details by visiting the department website.

Classical Studies is a multi-disciplinary field that includes History, Archaeology, and Literature as well as ancient Greek and Latin language studies. At Gettysburg, while the study of Latin and Greek are not required for the Classical Studies major and minor, any Latin and Greek courses starting at elementary level 102 count toward the Classical Studies major; and both 101 and 102 count for the Classical Studies minor. Students can also minor in Greek or Latin. Any student interested in exploring Classical Studies or thinking about a major or minor should enroll in one or two 100 or 200-level CLA, Latin, or Greek courses during their first year. ANTH 106 also counts for the CLA major. Note: 200-level CLA courses have no pre-requisites and are open to any student. Some CLA courses are cross-listed with Anthropology, History, or Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and also count toward majors and minors in those fields. Classical Studies courses meet the Humanities Requirement, and some also meet the Conceptualizing Diversity or Global Understanding requirements. Students who wish to begin study of Latin or Greek or continue their high school studies should see the information under the Greek and Latin headings below. For advising help, please email Prof. Ben Luley, Chair. Click here to explore more details by visiting the department website.

First-year prospective majors in Computer Science should schedule CS 111-112, and Math 111 during the first year. It is possible to begin the CS major at any point during the first three semesters, although a later start will limit course choices and increase scheduling constraints.

CS111, "Computer Science I", is the first course in the Computer Science sequence for major/minor. The course assumes no prior background and introduces the fundamental principles of programming, algorithmic-thinking, and problem solving using a high-level programming language (currently Java). Students with Advanced Placement Computer Science A exam scores of 4 or 5 will receive credit for CS 111 and place into CS 112. Students without such AP scores may still place out of CS 111 with demonstrated proficiency in CS 111 topics based on formal instruction in Java and permission of a CS faculty member.

CS 107, "Introduction to Scientific Computation", will be of interest to prospective majors in Mathematics or the Natural Sciences. Such students are strongly encouraged to take CS 107. Please note that CS 107 does not count towards CS major/minor requirements.

To learn more about the Computer Science major, please consult any CS faculty member (717-337-6630), the CS chair, Prof. Sunny Kim (skim@gettysburg.edu, 717-337-6631), or read our Department website.

Students who major or minor in East Asian Studies must specialize in either Japan or China, and they should consider taking either AS 150 Japanese Culture and Society or AS 151 Chinese Culture and Society in their first or second year.

All students who have previously studied Japanese or Chinese and wish to continue the language MUST take our online placement exam to determine the proper level to register for. For borderline test scores, a follow-up email notice will be sent for the final decision and, if needed, an interview will be held during Orientation Week.

Those who have never taken Japanese or Chinese before and would like to start at Gettysburg College must register for Japanese 101 or Chinese 101, which meet five days a week.

We expect that all majors will study abroad in either Japan or China during their college career; because HIST 224 Modern Japan and HIST 223 Modern China are not necessarily offered every year, students are strongly encouraged to enroll in HIST 224 or HIST 223 (based on their area of specialization) at their earliest convenience.

East Asia related courses are also available in other departments including History, Political Science, Religious Studies, and Art History. For further information, please consult our Department webpage or contact Prof. Jing Li (jli@gettysburg.edu) or Prof. Eleanor Hogan (ehogan@gettysburg.edu).

Students who major in economics have two degree options: they may choose the Economics major for the Bachelor of Arts degree or the Mathematical Economics major for the Bachelor of Science degree. We strongly encourage students who wish to pursue graduate study in Economics to choose the Bachelor of Science degree option.

Prospective majors in Economics should take Economics 103 and Economics 104 in the first year, in either order. Students looking primarily to understand nation-level issues of growth, employment, and prices should take Economics 104 (macroeconomics); students looking primarily to understand individual-level decision-making, economic incentives and the role of the marketplace in society should take Economics 103 (microeconomics). These courses meet the social sciences multiple inquiries requirement, and are prerequisites for 200 level courses in regional economic issues (e.g. Asia, Latin America, Africa) that meet some of the diversity curriculum goals.

Students with AP or transfer credit in Introductory Microeconomics receive credit for Economics 103 and so should first choose Economics 104, and similarly students with AP or transfer credit in Introductory Macroeconomics should first choose Economics 103. Students are also encouraged to take Econ 241 (Statistics) as early as possible. In addition, majors are required to demonstrate achievement in Mathematics by taking Math 111.  It is important to satisfy this Math requirement early since it is a prerequisite for admission to some sophomore courses in the department. The Economics Department strongly recommends Math 111. For advising help, contact Prof. Linus Nyiwul (lnyiwul@gettysburg.edu) or Sue Holz (sholz@gettysburg.edu).

Click here to explore more details by visiting the department website.

The Education department offers an educational studies minor program and teacher certification programs. Please use this link to access the most up to date information, including the teacher certification programs. For advising help, contact Divonna Stebick, dstebick@gettysburg.edu.

Click here to explore more details by visiting the department website.

This guide includes a list of English literature and writing classes appropriate for first-year students as well as first-year seminars that fulfill the first-year writing requirement and count towards the English major. Those students potentially interested in majoring in English should consider taking a 200-level English class their first semester. If you have questions, please contact the English Department Chair, Chris D’Addario at cdaddari@gettysburg.edu.

Literature Classes

200-level English literature classes are introductory courses, open to incoming, first-year students. Students do not need to have fulfilled the first-year writing requirement to take these courses and should start their study of English literature with these courses. All 200-level literature courses fulfill the Multiple Inquiries Humanities requirement.

Fall 2024 literature courses for incoming first-year students:

• English 216: The Thief with a Heart of Gold? The Fact and Fiction of Robin Hood, Christopher Fee, MWF 11-11:50am. Course charts the development of Robin Hood, beginning with the earliest sources and analogues through to modern popular entertainment and Outlaw Heroes from around the globe. Fulfills the Humanities requirement.
• English 255: Coming of Age: The Global Bildungsroman, Sushmita Sircar, TuTh 11:30am-12:45pm. The bildungsroman is a literary genre that tracks the coming of age of a character and has been adapted across a range of settings spanning Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean. Reading contemporary works such as Elena Ferrante’s My Brilliant Friend, Arundhati Roy’s The God of Small Things, Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis, and Lisa McGee’s Derry Girls, this class will ask how the bildungsroman is used to give form to a postcolonial, globalized world. Fulfills the Humanities and Global Understanding requirements.
• English 267: Identity and Difference: Ethnic Literature of the United States, Aristides Dimitriou, TuTh 10-11:15am. This course will survey a number of works from African American, Native American, Latinx, and Asian American literary canons. Each unit will investigate how minoritarian experiences are constructed through literary forms and representations across diverse twentieth- and twenty-first-century American literatures. Fulfills the Humanities and Conceptualizing Diversity requirements.
• English 271: Transnational Writing in the Americas, 1850-1917, Matthew Harrington, TuTh 2:30-3:45pm. Steam, ships, railroads, cotton—these were the stuff of dreams beyond the nation in the nineteenth-century Americas. Join us in this introduction to transnational writing to explore how the plot thickens when authors wrestle with global webs of political and economic interest woven from rivers, oceans, and the desires created by the soaring production of raw materials. We’ll zoom in on a moment when authors charted the contest between imperial forces and rebel alliances for the future of the world. Fulfills the Humanities and Global Understanding requirements.

First-Year Writing Requirement

The first-year writing requirement may be fulfilled with one of the writing courses listed below, or with a First Year Seminar (FYS) with a writing emphasis.

• English 101 - Introduction to College Writing
• English 111 - Writing Through Literature. Counts as an elective for the English major.
• English 113 - Writing in and about the Native American Tradition. Fulfills the Global Understanding and Conceptualizing Diversity requirements. Counts as an elective for the English major.

Twenty-five of the Fall 2024 First-Year Seminars fulfill the first-year writing requirement (see the Announcement of First-Year Courses for more information).

Six of these seminars focus on literature too and count as an elective toward the English major:

• FYS 123-4, The Hidden Costs of Endless Labor
• FYS 126-5, Out of Context
• FYS 159-4, A Day in the Life: 24 Hours in Literature and Film
• FYS 181-3, Whale’s Tales: Reckoning with the World’s Largest Creatures in History, Literature, and Science
• FYS 193-3, Science Fiction Beyond Genre: Exploring What It Means to be Human
• FYS 198-2, Tryin’ to Find a Way Back Home: Introduction to the Literature and Legacy of Homelessness in America

Prospective English majors and minors who wish to focus on writing are encouraged to complete their first-year writing requirement in the Fall semester of their first-year, so that they can enroll in a 200-level writing course in the Spring.

Writing Courses for Students Exempted from the First-Year Writing Requirement

Students who have been exempted from the first-year writing requirement can enroll in the following Fall writing courses:

• English 203, Journalistic Writing, Thomas Barstow, TuTh 1-2:15pm. Instruction in basic skills for writing news and feature stories. Students develop an understanding of what makes news; how to analyze news stories; how to conduct interviews and gather information; and how to construct stories, both in traditional and alternative forms. Trips to newspaper offices in the area are offered. Fulfills the Humanities requirement.
• English 205, Introduction to Creative Writing, multiple sections and instructors. Workshop in the writing of short stories, verse, and plays, with an analysis of models. Fulfills the Arts requirement.

For advising help, contact Chris D’Addario, Department Chair at cdaddari@gettysburg.edu.

Prospective majors and minors should take ES 196 as soon as possible, preferably in the first year. Note that ES 121 and most other 100-level ES courses are designed for non-majors and typically do not count toward the ES major. Students interested in the Bachelors of Science degree should take two semesters of a basic natural science in their first year (Bio 111-112, or Chem 107-108, or Phys 103-104 or 109-110. (Note: Phy 111 and Phy 112 is recommended for Physics double majors only). Students interested in the Bachelor of Arts degree should take courses that satisfy their Informed Citizenship requirements. For advising help, please contact Prof. Salma Monani (smonani@gettysburg.edu).

For more information, read the full major/minor requirements on the Department webpage.

All students who have previously studied French and wish to continue the language MUST take a placement test and register at the level where they placed. Placement in 103 or 104 reflects previous exposure to French; however, those courses still cover beginner content. Placement in a 300-level course is reflective of a good level in French language. It is not unusual for First-Year students to be placed in such a course and do very well. Prospective French majors should have completed French 202 by the first semester of their Sophomore year to ensure smooth planning for study abroad. Those who have never taken French before and would like to start at Gettysburg College must register in French 101 which meets five days a week.

Any questions should be directed to Ms. Robin Oliver(roliver@gettysburg.edu).

Click here to explore more details by visiting the department website.

The German Studies Major consists of eleven courses, and the German Studies Minor consists of six courses. Majors are strongly encouraged to spend one semester studying in Germany or Austria. Prospective majors may enter with any level language ability, including students who have never previously studied German. A language placement test is required of all students who have previously taken German. GER 101, Elementary German, meets four days per week and is well suited to beginners and those with minimal prior knowledge. Depending on placement, prospective majors or minors should begin with GER 201 (Intermediate) or 301 (Advanced) in the fall. Students interested in German might also consider enrolling in GER 240 “Intro to German Studies: Methods and Theories,” GER/CIMS 260 “Media Violence,” or GER 285 “European Jews: History, Holocaust, Future” (all offered in English in Fall 2024). Please contact the Department Chair, Prof. Kerry Wallach (kwallach@gettysburg.edu), with any questions.

For more information, please consult the German Studies webpage.

Beginning Ancient and New Testament Greek 101-102 are appropriate for students who have never studied ancient Greek and prepare students for reading ancient Greek literature. These courses meet the second language requirement. Greek 102 counts toward the Classical Studies major; and Greek 101-102 count toward the Classical Studies minor or the Greek minor. Students who have studied ancient Greek previously should consult with the Chair about appropriate placement. There is no online Placement Test for Greek. For advising help or to discuss placement, contact the Classics Department Administrative Assistant, Kari Greenwalt (kgreenwa@gettysburg.edu )

https://www.gettysburg.edu/academic-programs/classics/programs/greek-minor

Prospective Health Sciences BA or BS majors should take Bio 111 (Introduction to Ecology and Evolution) in the fall and Bio 112 (Form and Function) in the spring. These courses are pre-requisites for sophomore-level HS core courses in anatomy and physiology.

Prospective Health Sciences BS majors, particularly students interested in going to medical school, may also consider taking Chem 107 in the fall and Chem 108 in the spring. We encourage students to discuss the decision to take chemistry in their first year with their FY advisor or with a Health Sciences professor. If you plan on taking Chem 107 during your first semester at Gettysburg College, you must take the chemistry placement test (see chemistry department information).

Prospective Health Sciences BA students may consider taking HS 120 Public Health in the fall or spring.

Students should take other courses needed to satisfy the requirements of the Gettysburg Curriculum. Students can contact the Chair of the Heath Sciences Department, Prof.Amy Dailey (adailey@gettysburg.edu) with questions. For more information, see the Department's webpage.

All 100 and 200- level courses have no pre-requisites and fulfill the Humanities requirement for the Multiple Inquiries-Humanities Goal. Many of these courses also fulfill the Global Understanding, Conceptualizing Diversity, or STS requirements. History majors may count one AP History credit as a 100-level elective toward the major, but regardless of any AP credits received, all History majors must have one of the History Department’s 100-level courses. Students who are claiming an AP credit for U.S. History should not take History 231: U.S. to 1877 or History 232: U.S. since 1865. Prospective majors should take one 100-level and one 200-level course during their first year. FY students can take 300-level courses only with permission of the instructor.

For advising help, please email Prof. Dina Lowy, History Department Chair. Click here to explore more details by visiting the department website.

Courses listed in the College Catalogue under the category of Interdisciplinary Studies involve subject matter and methods of study from more than one discipline or department. Some courses with an IDS indicator address the Integrative Thinking Goal through the interdisciplinary courses option, please refer to the Registrar’s page for details. 200-level courses without prerequisites are appropriate for First Year students. Students may create their own major through the individualized major program, which is administered by the Interdisciplinary Studies Committee. Students who wish to pursue an individualized major should plan to be in touch with a member of the IDS committee sometime in the first or second year.

For advising help contact our Administrative Assistant, Christine Hopkinson, chopkins@gettysburg.edu, or Professor Vernon Cisney, Chair of Interdisciplinary Studies, vcisney@gettysburg.edu. Students are also encouraged to consult the Department's website for more information about Gettysburg’s interdisciplinary programs.

Interested in international affairs and global issues? This multi-disciplinary, partially self-designed major might be for you! Prospective International & Global Studies majors should consider taking the four foundation courses: Anthropology 103, Economics 104, History 103 or 110, and Political Science 103 or 104. These may be taken in any order and ideally should be completed by the end of the second year. Students should be aware they must complete an application for the major in consultation with a faculty member appointed by the Chair. For more information on the major, contact the Chair of International & Global Studies, Prof. William Bowman (wbowman@gettysburg.edu) or IGS Administrative Assistant, Christine Hopkinson, chopkins@gettysburg.edu.

Click here to explore more details by visiting the department website.

Italian Studies offers a dual track Major and Minor: Italian Language and Italian Studies.

The Italian Language Major consists of nine (9) courses which includes 101, 102, 201, 202, and then five (5) courses at the 300/400 level taught in Italian. The Italian Studies Major consists of ten (10) courses: 201, 202, four (4) courses at the 300/400 level taught in Italian and four (4) 200 topics courses taught in English. Students who pursue a major in either track must spend a semester of study in Italy.

The Italian Language Minor consists of six (6) courses which includes 101, 102, 201, 202, and two (2) courses at the 300/400 level taught in Italian. The Italian Studies Minor consists of six (6) courses which includes 201, 202, two (2) courses at the 300/400 level taught in Italian and two (2) 200 level topics courses taught in English. While study abroad is not required for students interested in a minor in either of the two tracks, we highly encourage students to study in Italy for a semester. Please plan on enrolling in an Italian language course your first semester to begin to complete the language requirement and to ensure the possibility of taking more language courses in future semesters to complete a Major or Minor in one of the two tracks. Chances to study in a beginning level Italian course diminish significantly after the first year with priority given to incoming first year students.

If you wish to study Italian but are unable to register for a section matching your language placement results, you can contact the Department Chair, Prof. Lidia Anchisi (hanchisi@gettysburg.edu). For more information on our Italian Studies Majors and Minors, please consult the information on the Department webpage.

Beginning Latin 101 is appropriate for students who have never studied Latin in high school and is offered in the SPRING. No placement test is required for students who have not studied Latin in high school. Students who studied Latin in high school and wish to continue their study should take the online Placement Exam. Students will be notified by email about what course level is most suitable for them.

In the Fall, we are offering Latin 102. In the Spring, Latin 101, and Latin 204/304 Seneca’s Medea.

Latin courses meet the second language requirement. Latin 102 and higher-level courses count toward the Classical Studies major; and Latin 101-102 count toward the Classical Studies minor or the Latin minor. To integrate a study abroad program into their course work, students are advised to complete at least Latin 101-102 by the end of their second year. For advising help or to discuss placement, contact the Classics Department Administrative Assistant, Kari Greenwalt (kgreenwa@gettysburg.edu). Click here to explore more details by visiting the department website.

First-year students wishing to pursue the combined Latin American, Caribbean, Latino Studies/Spanish major which consist of 12 credits (4 Latin American courses, 4 Spanish courses, and 4 LAS/Spanish electives taken abroad or on campus), should take the Spanish placement test and sign up for the appropriate level Spanish-language course their first semester. If the student places in Spanish 202/301, you can enroll in Spanish 202 or Spanish 301 in the fall or spring as a sequence each semester.

If the student is a Spanish heritage learner/ speaker, there are two sections of Spanish 302 Composition and Conversation, designed for heritage learners, offered in the fall only. Sign up for LAS 145: Introduction to Latinx Studies (offered in the fall only) or LAS 140: Introduction to Latin America: Social Sciences focus (offered in the Spring only). Both of these courses fulfill the required introduction to Latin American, Caribbean, and Latino Studies for majors and other Gettysburg curriculum requirements and are strongly recommended for minors as well. The LACLS minor consist of 6 course that have a Latin American focus. Students should contemplate studying abroad in Latin America on a college-affiliated program (required for majors) second semester sophomore year or during their junior year. For advising help or any other questions about courses or the major / minor, contact the Chair, Prof. Verónica Calvillo, vcalvill@gettysburg.edu or the program’s Administrative Assistant, Robin Oliver, roliver@gettysburg.edu.

Click here to explore more details by visiting the department website.

The Department of Management offers a major in Business, Organizations, and Management and a minor in Business.

Business, Organizations, and Management major:

Prospective majors in Business, Organizations, and Management will need to take Econ 103 and MGT 155 in their first year. The earliest a student may take MGT 155 is the spring semester of their first year because of the Econ 103 prerequisite. Students considering Business, Organizations, and Management as a major must complete Econ 103, MGT 155, MGT 235, and MGT 270 by the end of their sophomore year. MGT 235 is restricted to first- and second-year students. For advising help contact Prof. Heather Odle-Dusseau (hodle@gettysburg.edu).

Business minor:

Prospective minors in Business should take Economics 103 in their first year. For advising help, contact Prof. Bennett Bruce (bbruce@gettysburg.edu).

Click here to explore more details by visiting the department website.

The Department of Mathematics does not have a placement exam. Rather, we believe that students should self-place themselves into the class that best fits their background and interests with help from their advisor and faculty in our department. Students considering a mathematics course should refer to the Mathematics Course Section Guidelines on the Department webpage to determine the appropriate selection or consult with a member of the department at 717-337-6630 or email Professor Beth Campbell Hetrick (bcampbel@gettysburg.edu). Please note that Calculus I (Math 111) is intended for students who have not previously taken any Calculus. In general, students who have taken calculus should place themselves into Calculus II or into a 200-level math course (see calculus selection chart below). Students who place themselves into Calculus II and are considering a major in Mathematics, Physics, or Computer Science should enroll in the Honors section if possible.

In majors that require first-semester calculus, completion of a higher-level calculus course also satisfies that requirement. Accordingly, students should not place themselves in an inappropriately low-level course merely to satisfy the stated requirements of another major. Incoming students may confirm with departmental chairs in other majors that their math plans satisfy those majors’ requirements.

The best math course in which to start depends on your goals, motivation, and background. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to discuss your individual situation with a math faculty member.

Step 1 (Goals): What are your goals in taking a math course at Gettysburg College?

If your goal is further study in mathematics, computer science, economics, or the sciences, you should take:

• Calculus (Math 111, 111H, 112, 112H, or 211; see selection chart); or
• Linear Algebra (Math 212, see selection chart); or
• Differential Equations (Math 225, see selection chart); or
• Abstract Mathematics I (Math 215, see selection chart); or
• Introduction to Research in Mathematics (Math 201, see selection chart).

If you are interested in data science, you should take:

• Any of the courses listed above; or
• Applied Statistics (Math 107).

If your goal is to satisfy the College’s Qualitative, Inductive, and Deductive Reasoning (QIDR) requirement, you should take:

• Any of the courses listed above; or
• Mathematical Ideas (Math 103); or
• Courses in other departments (such as certain courses in Computer Science, Economics, Health Sciences, Philosophy, Political Science, etc.) See Registrar’s website for eligible courses.

Step 2 (Aptitude and Motivation):

These are only guidelines to help you decide where it is best for you to start; you may want to keep the following points in mind.

1. Your motivation (drive and determination) is a very important factor in your success no matter which course you select. Many students are more motivated to work (and will attain higher grades) in a course where the material is new to them as opposed to a course where they have already seen much of the material.
2. Good study habits and the ability to handle challenges go a long way toward filling occasional gaps in knowledge. If you are unsure about the strength of your background, you should consider your study habits and whether you are diligent in seeking out help.
3. When choosing a calculus course, keep in mind that it is easier to move down than it is to move up. When choosing between two calculus courses, the department’s general recommendation is to take the higher course, because you will have the opportunity to move down to a lower-level course through the sixth week of classes. If you start in a lower course, you will not be able to move up to a higher course after the second week of classes.

Step 3 (Calculus Selection): This step only applies to students who wish to take calculus or higher-level math courses. If you do not plan on further study in mathematics or in a field that relies on calculus (such as economics or the sciences), courses such as Math 103, Math 107, or First-Year Seminars that satisfy the Quantitative, Inductive, and Deductive Reasoning requirement (QIDR) might be more useful and fulfilling.

Calculus I with Companion Course

When Calculus I is the right choice given your interests and goals, occasional gaps in knowledge can be addressed with extra effort and seeking help at appropriate times. However, if you feel that your math background has considerable gaps, then we recommend taking Math 110 (Calculus I Companion) and Math 111 (Calculus I) together. Taking these courses in the same semester gives you the opportunity to meet your goals for taking Calculus I while also providing the support to fill in those background knowledge gaps in Math 110. Math 110 is also a good choice if you want extra time and opportunity to practice skills necessary to succeed in Math 111. Math 110 is open to everyone who enrolls in Math 111 and thinks taking this companion course could help them succeed with the calculus material.

Note: Math 110 is a half-credit course and so it would not count as one of the four courses that make up a full-time course load.

 

Calculus Placement Chart
Highest Level Background with B or Better	Starting Course
Algebra II Note: If you have completed Algebra II, and want/need to take calculus, but you do not have a B or better in any of the courses listed in this column, you should register for Math 111 as well as the half-credit course Math 110: Calculus 1 Companion Course.	Math 111 (Calculus I) AND Math 110 (Calculus I Companion) Note: Students enrolling in Math 110 must be enrolled in Math 111 in the same semester.
Precalculus (also taught under titles such as Math Analysis, or Functions, or College Algebra/Trig), including the topics: • Functions, graphs, and shifting/stretching Polynomial and rational functions • Exponential and logarithmic functions • Trigonometric functions and identities	Calculus I (Math 111) Note: A score of 4 or 5 on AP Calculus AB exam gives credit for Math 111. If you take Math 111, you will lose this credit.
Calculus: full year course in high school (not necessarily AP), including the following topics: • Limits and continuity • Derivatives • Increase/decrease, max/min, and concavity • Antiderivatives • Definite integrals • Fundamental Theorem of Calculus	Calculus II (Math 112) Note: A score of 4 or 5 on AP Calculus BC exam gives credit for Math112. If you take Math 112, you will lose this credit.
Calculus + Highly Motivated: If you earned a 4 or 5 on the AB Calculus test or If you took a year of calculus, are highly motivated, and have a Math SAT score of 650 or higher.	Honors Calculus II (Math 112H)
AP Calculus BC course, including all Calculus topics listed above plus: • Integration techniques • Applications of integration • Infinite sequences and series	Multivariable Calculus (Math 211), Linear Algebra (Math 212), Differential Equations (Math 225), Abstract Mathematics I (Math 215), or Int. Research in Math. (Math 201).

The Sunderman Conservatory offers opportunities for all students, regardless of major. If you are not a music major or minor, please see below, Music Information for All Incoming Students, to learn about courses and ensembles for the upcoming year.

Please note: An audition is required for admission into the Conservatory as a music major or music minor. If you are interested in majoring or minoring in music and have not already auditioned, please contact Dr. Amanda Heim, Coordinator for Recruitment and Outreach (aheim@gettysburg.edu) for information on auditioning in August.

Information for Incoming First-Year Music Majors and Minors (Class of 2026)

The Sunderman Conservatory of Music offers three music major programs, including the Bachelor of Arts in Music, the Bachelor of Music, and the Bachelor of Music Education, as well as a minor in music. Advising and course registration for music majors (all programs) and minors is very specific and dependent on each student’s individual degree program. Because of the multi-faceted needs of 1^st Year music majors and minors, advising information can be found entirely online.

Incoming music majors (including all degree programs) and music minors must refer to the New Student Orientation page on the Sunderman Conservatory website for 1^st year fall advising information.

For additional summer advising help, contact Conservatory Director Dr. James Day (jday@gettysburg.edu) or Administrative Assistant Shelley Stoner in the Conservatory office (mstoner@gettysburg.edu).

Applied (Private) Lessons

Students should not pre-register for applied (private) lessons. Students register for applied music courses (private lessons) in Voice, Piano, Organ, Guitar, Woodwinds, Brass, Percussion, or Strings at the first meeting with your studio teacher in the fall semester.

For all students except those in the Bachelor of Music program: applied (private) lessons are 0.25 credits and count neither toward nor against the number of courses a student may (or must) register for to earn full-time status. In other words, applied lessons do not count as your fourth course, nor will enrolling in applied lessons prevent you from taking four courses. For students in the Bachelor of Music program, applied (private) lessons count as the fourth course; these students should only pre-register for three courses during summer registration.

Music Ensembles

The Conservatory offers a number of music ensembles, including choirs, orchestra, wind bands, marching band, jazz ensemble, and more. All ensembles in the Sunderman Conservatory are open to students from all majors. Auditions for ensembles are scheduled by ensemble directors at the beginning of the fall semester. For information on ensemble auditions, please check the ensemble pages on the Conservatory website.

Students should not pre-register for ensembles; ensemble course registration will take place in the fall once ensemble auditions are complete and rosters are finalized. Music ensembles are 0.25 credits and count neither toward nor against the number of courses a student may (or must) register for to earn full-time status. In other words, a music ensemble cannot count as your fourth course, nor will enrolling in one or more ensembles prevent you from taking four courses.

Music majors and minors have specific ensemble requirements and should review the ensemble participation requirements found on the Sunderman Conservatory website (see Current Students>Music Performance>Ensemble Participation Requirement).

Music Information for All Incoming Students

The Sunderman Conservatory of Music offers several courses that fulfill requirements of the Gettysburg Curriculum for students who are undecided or in majors outside of music, including MUS_CLAS 101 Introduction to Music Listening and MUS_CLAS 102 World Music.

All ensembles in the Sunderman Conservatory are open to students from all majors (see ensembles information, above). For more information, visit the Sunderman Conservatory website. For additional summer advising help, contact Conservatory Director Dr. James Day (jday@gettysburg.edu) or Administrative Assistant Shelley Stoner in the Conservatory office (mstoner@gettysburg.edu).

Do you care deeply about the world and want to make a difference? Are you interested in exploring the causes and nature of violence, conflict and war, and models of peacebuilding, healing, and conflict resolution and transformation? Then this may be the program for you! Out of about 40 minor programs at the college, Peace and Justice Studies (PJS) is the 3rd largest, and our students are some of the most active on campus. We are the only minor that requires students to create, implement and assess a project before graduating; this way, students get to put theory into practice. We offer about 9 core courses such as Introduction to Peace and Justice, Philosophical Perspectives on Justice, Education for Social Change, Philosophy of Peace and Nonviolence. The other 5 courses to complete the minor can be chosen from a list of over 100 courses and students often transfer courses from their study abroad programs. We have hundreds of alumni all over the world, doing amazing work in policy making, international affairs, immigration services, education, and law, just to name a few.

For more information, please visit the Department website and/or contact the Director, Dr. Hakim Williams, at hwilliam@gettysburg.edu.

Come and be the kind of leader that our world needs!

All introductory 100-level courses and many 200 level courses are open to first-year students. All students are encouraged to consider a Philosophy course early in their college career as an opportunity to develop skills in reasoning and argument, explore a new field, and expand intellectual perspective. Completion of a 100-level course or a First-Year Seminar taught by a philosopher entitles a student to enroll in any Philosophy course at any level. Any student completing an introductory level course should feel encouraged to explore all other course offerings in the department. Prospective majors in philosophy should enroll in an introductory-level course in their first year, although students may begin the program in their sophomore year. For advising help, contact Prof. Gary Mullen (gmullen@gettysburg.edu).

Click here to explore more details by visiting the department website.

Students planning to major in Physics should take PHY 111 and MATH 111 followed by PHY 112 and MATH 112 (or a higher-level math sequence) in their first year.

All dual-degree engineering students must take Physics 111, 112, 211 or Physics 109, 110 (depending on engineering field this is likely the preferred option for non-physics majors); Mathematics 111, 112, 211, (plus 212 and 225 for many engineering fields); Chemistry 107; and Computer Science 107 or 111 (depends on engineering field).

Students interested in the Dual-Degree Engineering Program should attend the dual-degree advising session and make an appointment to discuss their plans with Dr. Yoshihiro Sato (ysato@gettysburg.edu), the dual-degree advisor. There are fifteen engineering majors that students can pursue across our four affiliate programs, so prospective dual-degree students are highly encouraged to make an appointment with Dr. Sato and their academic advisor to ensure they are enrolled in the correct sequence of courses that will transfer to their intended engineering major. As with all students, prospective dual-degree students must enroll in a First Year Seminar, complete the first-year writing requirement, pursue a major at Gettysburg College, and complete a second language along with the other general Gettysburg College curricular requirements.

Intro Physics courses:

• Physics 103/104: For Biology, Environmental Studies, Health Science majors, algebra-based sequence; sophomore status required; does not count toward the Physics major/minor.
• Physics 109/110: For Chemistry and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology majors, calculus-based sequence; sophomore status required. Depending on the path, this sequence does count toward the Physics major/minor.
• Physics 111/112/211: For Physics majors/minors and most dual-degree Engineering students; this is a three-semester calculus-based sequence starting in the first year.

Click here to explore more details by visiting the department website.

Any student may enroll in Political Science 101,102,103 or 104. Prospective majors must take three of these introductory courses which are intended to introduce the student to the major subfields of political science and prepare the groundwork for their concentration in two of those subfields. They may be taken in any order, but should be completed by the end of the sophomore year. POL 215, Methods in Political Science, should also be completed by the end of the sophomore year. For advising help contact Prof. Caroline Hartzell (chartzel@gettysburg.edu) or Valerie Andrews (vandrews@gettysburg.edu).

Click here to explore more details by visiting the department website.

Students planning to attend medical school should complete the following courses by the end of junior or senior year, depending on when they plan to take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT).

• Biology 111 and 112
• Chemistry 107 and 108
• Chemistry 203 and 204
• Physics 103 and 104 (or Physics 109 and 110 if majoring in Chemistry or BMB, or Physics 111 and 112 if majoring in Physics)
• Biology 211 and 212 (Note: Chemistry 333 and 334 may substitute for Biology 212)
• Psychology 101
• Sociology 101 or 102 or 103

First-year students should take Biology 111 the first semester. Students with strong science backgrounds typically also take Chemistry 107 the first semester.

Completing these courses by the end of the junior year will prepare students to take the MCAT in the spring of the junior year and apply to medical school the summer between the junior and senior year. If accepted, the student would then attend medical school immediately after graduating from Gettysburg College (no gap year). Completing these courses by the end of the senior year will prepare students to take the MCAT in the spring of the senior year and apply to medical school the summer after senior year. If accepted, the student would then attend medical school one year after graduating from Gettysburg College (gap year). Careful planning is needed to ensure students complete the courses needed for medical school. While medical schools require students to take specific courses to gain admission, they do not require any major.

*Some medical schools may require Biochemistry as well as other courses not necessarily listed here, such as Math and/or English. It is important that students review required courses and pre-requisites for particular schools in the years prior to applying to medical school.

For advising help, contact Kristi Waybright (kwaybrig@gettysburg.edu) or Katy Mattson, Health Professions Advisor (kemattso@gettysburg.edu).

https://www.gettysburg.edu/academic-programs/pre-health/

Psychology 101 is an appropriate starting place for students interested in Psychology. Students who have received a 4 or 5 on the Psychology Advanced Placement Exam may register for 200-level psychology electives in the fall. If you have taken the AP exam and believe you have done well, but have not yet received your score, please contact Amanda Whitcomb,  (awhitcom@gettysburg.edu) before it’s time to register for courses. We can arrange permission for you to enroll temporarily in a 200-level elective until your scores arrive.

Prospective majors may elect to take Psychology 101 in either the fall or spring. New first-year students, with AP, IB, or transfer credit for Psychology 101 may not take Psychology 205 until they are declared majors in psychology. We strongly encourage students to wait until their sophomore year to take Psychology 205. Although the College grants course credit for AP Statistics if students receive a 4 or a 5 on the AP Statistics exam, psychology majors must still take Psychology 205 as an additional course.

In addition to psychology courses, psychology majors must take two natural science courses with a lab component. Appropriate courses for the fall include Biology 101, Biology 111 (for those considering a major or minor in biology), Chemistry 107, Physics 103, and Astronomy 101. Prospective psychology majors are not required to take a natural science course in the first semester, but they may find these courses easier to schedule as first-year students than later in their career. Please note that the Gettysburg curriculum requires students to take one natural science course with a laboratory and one natural science course that may or may not have a laboratory. Psychology majors take both their natural science courses with laboratories. Natural science courses without laboratories fulfill the Gettysburg curriculum requirement but do not meet the psychology major's requirement.

For advising help, contact Prof. Daniel McCall (dmccall@gettysburg.edu). Click here to explore more details by visiting the department website.

Public Policy students study how communities and societies define and respond to complex “wicked” social problems. Students generally begin taking courses specific to the Public Policy major in their first or second year, and it is a good idea to take some of the foundational courses as soon as possible. You should take PP 221 (Introduction to Public Policy) as soon as possible, but it cannot be taken until after you take an introductory POL class or notify the Chair of a 4 or 5 AP score. For the introductory POL class, students must take either POL 101 (American Government), or POL 103 (Introduction to International Relations), or POL 104 (Introduction to Comparative Politics). However, students who score a 4 or 5 on the AP American Government Exam or Comparative Government exam do not have to take an introductory POL course. Public Policy students also take one or two ECON classes at some point, depending upon their area of concentration. Students who are certain that they want to focus deeply on economic aspects of their policy studies should take ECON 103 (Microeconomics) and ECON 104 (Macroeconomics). Students who are not sure of their level of interest in Economics should consult with the Chair of Public Policy to discuss which Economics class they should take. Public Policy is a dual major, meaning that it must be taken alongside another major, but you can start taking Public Policy classes right away before declaring any major. If you try to register for PP 221 but it is full, you may consider putting yourself on the waiting list because spaces often become available. For advising help, contact Dr. Anne S. Douds (adouds@gettysburg.edu).

Click here to explore more details by visiting the department website.

The Department of Religious Studies offers courses that explore religious and spiritual traditions around the world and across time. Our approaches are non-sectarian, and they are grounded in the historical, analytical, and cross-cultural perspectives of the academic study of religion. Our courses explore a wide variety of religious and spiritual expression from all parts of the world, from ancient texts to modern religious controversies. We offer survey courses in Christianity, religions of the Americas, Islamic traditions, South Asian traditions, and East Asian traditions, and we also offer courses organized around particular themes. In our classes, we examine many different kinds of sources: religious and philosophical texts, historical documents, autobiographies, poetry, fiction, theoretical studies, ethnographic materials, material and visual objects, the archeological record, and so on. In our courses, students engage in descriptive analysis, interpretation, and inter-culture awareness as they encounter different ways of perceiving the world. Students develop skills in close textual analysis, discussion, presentation, and writing.

REL 101, Introduction to Religion, introduces students to the academic study of religion and explores religious and spiritual traditions from around the globe from a comparative perspective. It is not a prerequisite for our 200-level courses. First-year students should note that most of our 200-level courses are open to first-year students. All courses in the department fulfill the Humanities requirement, and many others fulfill the Global Understanding or Conceptualizing Diversity requirements.

For summer advising help, contact the chair, Prof. Deborah Sommer, at dsomme@gettysburg.edu. See the Department's webpage for more information.

As a first-step to enroll in the ROTC program, please complete the Central PA Consortium form and return to the Office of the Registrar at Gettysburg College, registrar@gettysburg.edu. You should also email Mr. Erik Rodney (rodneye@dickinson.edu) the ROTC program coordinator that you are enrolling in ROTC classes. You may scan the completed form and return to the Registrar via email (breese@gettysburg.edu); fax to 717-337-6245; or mail to: Gettysburg College, Office of the Registrar, Box 419, 300 N. Washington St., Gettysburg, PA. 17325.

• Once the Consortium Exchange Form is complete, the Registrar will send the form to Dickinson College and they will begin the process to enroll you in Military Science (MISC) courses at Dickinson College.
• ROTC students may earn up to 4.00 units/credit at Gettysburg College via the ROTC program; with credit earned for MISC 102, 202, 302, and 401.
• See the Military Science curriculum website for details on the curriculum.
• You must be enrolled as a full-time student at Gettysburg College (3.00 units/courses) to earn credit for 102, 202, 302, or 401. In other words, you cannot enroll in two courses at GC and count MISC 102 from Dickinson College as your 3rd course for a semester.
• The meeting times and locations will be determined as we approach the beginning of the fall semester. We typically work with the folks at Dickinson to identify a time that works for our Gettysburg College students, then develop a schedule with courses/training exercises at both Gettysburg College and Dickinson College.

For further information about the ROTC program and expectations, etc., contact Erik Rodney at Dickinson College (rodneye@dickinson.edu).

Sociology 101 (or SOC 102 or SOC 103, which are equivalent to 101) is appropriate for any student interested in exploring this discipline and meets the Social Science requirement for the Multiple Inquiries Goal. Students interested in majoring in Sociology should take Soc 101 (or 102 or 103) during the first year since it is a prerequisite for almost all other Sociology courses. Sociology majors planning to study abroad during the junior year ideally should complete Sociology 101 (or 102 or 103), and at least two 200 level Sociology courses (one of which should be either SOC 296 or SOC 298 or Soc 299) by the end of the sophomore year. For advising help, contact Prof. Craig Lair (clair@gettysburg.edu).

Click here to explore more details by visiting the department website.

Placement in Spanish is based on a combination of students’ placement test scores and the number of years that they have taken Spanish in high school. A Spanish placement test is required of all students enrolling in Spanish, except for those who have never studied Spanish. Students will receive their placement-level after completing the online test and should register according to their placement level.

The Spanish Major consists of a minimum of 9 courses, beginning with Spanish 301 or Spanish 302. Prospective majors should take Spanish 301 or Spanish 302 in the fall, or as soon as possible, pending placement at that level. Students who are heritage learners of Spanish placed at 302 or 301 level should enroll in Spanish 302 (only available in the fall), a section specifically designed for heritage learners. Students who begin at a lower level (201-202) can still schedule the remaining coursework for the major or minor program without difficulty, but should consult with the Department of Spanish for advising. Students who have taken AP Spanish and have scored a 4 or 5 should request their scores to be sent to the college. Students who have taken Spanish as college credit through their high school should still take the placement exam to ensure proper placement and transfer of credits, and request college transcripts to be send to Gettysburg College as well. Any questions should be directed to the Spanish department chair, Prof. Alvaro Kaempfer (akaempfe@gettysburg.edu) or Ms. Becky Best (bbest@gettysburg.edu).

Click here to explore more details by visiting the department website.

Students interested in exploring the Theatre Arts program are encouraged to enroll in one of the following theatre courses during the first semester:

• Theatre Arts 105, Introduction to the Theatre
• Theatre Arts 120, Fundamentals of Acting
• Theatre Arts 163, Introduction to the Dance
• Theatre Arts 212, Fundamentals of Directing

All students interested in acting in campus productions are encouraged to attend auditions for the fall production and/or short plays which will be directed by the students in the Fundamentals of Directing class. Auditions for our fall production will take place during the first week of classes. Instructions for the auditions will be sent out via email to interested students and posted in the basement of Kline Theatre (Brua Hall) and the digest. First-years are often cast in fall productions. There are also opportunities to work for the department in the scene shop, costume shop, lighting or administrative office.

There will be an ice-cream social sponsored by the campus theatre group, The Owl and Nightingale Players. It will take place in the afternoon on the Sunday of Orientation. For more information about classes, auditions, or events, please contact Carol Coon, Academic Office Administrator, (ccoon@gettysburg.edu).

Click here to explore more details by visiting the department website.

Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies is an interdisciplinary program which examines historically marginalized genders and sexualities from the perspective of critical gender studies. The Program has a special focus on women and LGBTQ communities and on intersections of gender, sexuality, race, class, ethnicity, age, and ability. The curriculum emphasizes critical thinking, multiple perspectives, and the diversity of human experience. Students learn a number of methods for examining and strategies for modifying the conditions that affect all of our lives.

The Program has several sexuality studies courses that may be of interest to students as they make their course selections. In addition to regular course offerings, students may take Program-approved cross-listed and affiliated courses (offered by other departments) which count toward the major and minor. The WGS website provides the schedule of all the courses that count on the major/minor for the coming academic year.

Prospective majors and minors in WGS are strongly encouraged to talk with a WGS advisor as early as possible in their academic career. There is a preferred sequence of courses, all courses require careful planning. Students are strongly encouraged to take WGS 120 (Intro) in the first or second year, WGS 300 or WGS 310 (Theories) (Fall) and WGS 320 (Practicum) (Spring) in the third year, and WGS 340 (Methods) (Fall) and WGS 400 (Capstone) (Spring) in the senior year. *WGS 300 (Feminist Theories) and WGS 310 (Queer Theories) are offered alternating years in the Fall. Students planning to study abroad are encouraged to do so in their sophomore year or in the spring of their junior year.

Our 200-level courses do not have pre-requisites and work towards an array of Gettysburg College Curriculum goals, notably the Interdisciplinary, Conceptualizing Diversity, Global Understanding, Humanities, and Social Science requirements. For advising assistance over the summer, please contact Nathalie Lebon, Program Chair, (nlebon@gettysburg.edu) or Lin Myers, Academic Office Administrator (lkmyers@gettysburg.edu).

Click here to explore more details by visiting the department website.