First Year Advising and Registration Guide

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 Jill Titus at jtitus@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.

For information, please contact Rachel Lesser(rlesser@gettysburg.edu) or call 717-337-6121 or visit the Prospective Student tab at the Department web site.

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 any 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 strongly 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 2025 200-level Literature Classes for First-Year Students:

ENG 231 Introduction to 19th Century Women writers: Angels, Madwomen & Queens, Jesse Cordes Selbin – TR 1:10p – 2:25pm

While women of the nineteenth century were commonly confined to the domestic sphere, vast swathes of the globe were also ruled by the most powerful queen of the modern era. This class explores paradoxes of gender in the age of early feminism, from the “angel in the house” to the “madwoman in the attic” and the fallen woman to the New Woman. While gender is our primary focus, we will also ask how nineteenth-century constructions of femininity intersected with contemporaneous questions of race, class, and sexuality. Featured authors hail from around the English-speaking world, from famous figures like Jane Austen, Charlotte Brontë, and Harriet Beecher Stowe to long-neglected writers like Frances Harper, Toru Dutt, and Zitkála-Šá. FULFILLS CONCEPTUALIZING DIVERSITY AND HUMANITIES. MEETS ENGLISH PRE-1900 REQUIREMENT. COUNTS TOWARDS WGS MAJOR/MINOR

ENG 237 American Realism & Naturalism: Outliers, Captives and Rogues, Jack Ryan — MW 1:10p – 2:25pm

A close study of American Literature from the end of the Civil War to the 1920s. The course will examine two major literary movements, Realism, which favors verisimilitude and social responsibility over escapism and exaggeration, and Naturalism, which embraces determinism, objectivism, and social commentary. Both terms are unstable and are deployed differently depending upon who is using it. The range of topics and styles available to realists and naturalists varies widely, as does the aesthetic and social aims of the writer. We will examine the work of Mark Twain, Henry James, William Dean Howells, Edith Wharton, Kate Chopin, Jack London, Frank Norris, and Stephen Crane, among others. FULFILLS HUMANITIES. MEETS ENG PRE-1900. Counts toward CWES major/minor.

ENG 245 Arcs of Injustice: Race, Ideology, and Structures of Power in American Literature, Aristides Dimitriou – MW 2:35p – 3:50pm

In 1965, Martin Luther King Jr. declared that “the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.” Yet many writers have explored how injustice persists, emphasizing that our shared “moral universe” requires active guidance to secure greater freedoms for all. This course examines the work of these writers as they give voice to the relationship between race, ethnicity, and unequal structures of power. Students will read literary works by Black, Indigenous, Latino/a/x, Asian American, Arab American, and Jewish authors. Along the way, we will engage with literary representations of racialization, double consciousness, cultural bias, code-switching, migration, alienation, and assimilation. We will also explore historical connections between the U.S. and global colonial legacies, as well as how race and ethnicity intersect with class, gender, and sexuality. In this way, the course investigates how twentieth-century American authors invoke yet challenge the systemic structures that reproduce power inequitably. FULFILLS HUMANITIES AND RACE, POWER, AND EQUITY REQUIREMENTS.

ENG 253 The World in Translation: Introduction to World Literature, Sushmita Sircar -- TR 2:35p – 3:50pm

This class will read a number of Nobel prize-winning authors to consider how translation shapes how they are interpreted across the world. Reading Han Kang, Pablo Neruda, Orhan Pamuk, Kazuo Ishiguro and José Saramago, among others, we will consider how their place in world literature is mediated by literary prizes, academic syllabi, and popular circulation in the literary market. We will ask how the dominance of English is the implicit structuring condition for a global literature to emerge. The class will also provide the option of creating your own translations. Knowledge of other languages is welcome, but not required. FULFILLS HUMANITIES REQUIREMENT.

ENG 282 Ecocriticism: An Introduction to Environment Literature, Stefanie Sobelle – TR 11:30a – 12:45pm

Ecocriticism is a term that refers to the study of the relationship between literature and the environment, taking an interdisciplinary point of view by analyzing works of fiction, poetry, and scholarship in the context of environmental issues. This course introduces students to key ecocritical concepts and how 1) to employ ecocriticism as a tool for reading and interpreting literature and 2) to read literature for how it imagines the shape of the world in which we live. Over the course of the semester, students will be introduced to literature that centers on environmental issues from the late nineteenth century through the present. The course itself is organized after the six topics central to Greg Garrard’s book Ecocriticism: 1) Pollution, 2) Wilderness, 3) Apocalypse, 4) Dwelling, 5) Animals, and 6) Earth. FULFILLS HUMANITIES REQUIREMENT

First-Year Writing Requirement

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

• 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-three of the Fall 2024 First-Year Seminars fulfill the first-year writing requirement (see the Announcement of First-Year Courses for more information). These are labeled as FYS-W.

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

• FYS 123, The Hidden Costs of Endless Labor
• FYS 124, Curious and Curioser: Children’s Literature and the Invention of the Modern Child
• FYS 181, Whale’s Tales: Reckoning with the World’s Largest Creatures in History, Literature, and Science
• FYS 191, Through the War-drobe: The Words and Worlds of J.R.R. Tolkein and C.S. Lewis
• FYS 193, Science Fiction Beyond Genre: Exploring What It Means to be Human

Writing Courses for Students Interested in the English Major/Writing Minor:

All incoming First-Years can enroll in the following writing courses in the Fall:

 ENG 200 Writing Across Media

WAM is a survey course introducing students to multimodal literacies. Bolstered by theoretical readings, students will develop critical vocabularies for and then practice composing in different media, including graffiti, podcasts, and comics. We will also spend time unpacking the invisible elements of media students already compose in on a daily basis, such as typography and document design. FULFILLS ARTS REQUIREMENT.

English 205, Introduction to Creative Writing, multiple sections and instructors.

Prospective majors and minors should take ES 196 as soon as possible, preferably in the first year. Note that ES 121 is designed for non-majors and 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). For advising help, please contact Prof. Andy Wilson (awilson@gettysburg.edu).

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

Students who major in Finance have two degree options: they may choose the Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree or the Bachelor of Science (BS) degree. We strongly encourage students who wish to pursue graduate study in Economics to choose the Bachelor of Science degree option.

Prospective majors for either degree in Finance should take Economics 103 (microeconomics) and Economics 104 (macroeconomics) in the first year, in either order, as well as Mathematics 111 (calculus). These students should also take Management 155 (accounting), either Management 235 or Economics 241 (statistics), and Economics/Management 267 (introductory finance) by the end of sophomore year. For advising help in the BA should contact Prof. Patturaja Selvaraj (pselvara@gettysburg.edu) , and for the BS, students should contact Prof. Brendan Cushing-Daniels (bdaniels@gettysburg.edu).

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 in the fall and BIO 112 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 Health 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, contact the Chair of International & Global Studies, Abdulkareem Said Ramadan (aramadan@gettysburg.edu) or IGS Administrative Assistant, Kari Greenwalt, kgreenwa@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.

For more information, contact the Chair of International & Global Studies, Alan Perry (aperry@gettysburg.edu).

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).

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. 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).

Note: The College’s Qualitative, Inductive, and Deductive Reasoning (QIDR) requirement no longer applies to incoming students, who are now working to fulfill the new curriculum.

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.

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 2029)

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 Liz Hedin-Schmidt in the Conservatory office (lhedinsc@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

All ensembles in the Sunderman Conservatory are open to students from all majors (see ensembles information, above). Applied lessons are also open to students not majoring or minoring in music on a space available basis. These lessons also carry a fee of $275 a semester and interested students should contact the Conservatory Office for more information. Students can complete the Multiple Inquiries-Arts credit by participating in the same ensemble or music lessons for four semesters. For additional summer advising help, contact Conservatory Director Dr. James Day (jday@gettysburg.edu) or Administrative Assistant Liz Hedin-Schmidt in the Conservatory office (lhedinsc@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 Katy Mattson, Health Professions Advisor (kemattso@gettysburg.edu).

If you are a student considering a career in health professions, be sure to Sign up for Communication to receive email updates and information about various programs, lectures, and events both on and off campus.

Guide to Pre-Health Professions

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.

For more information, contact the Chair, Nathalie Goubet (ngoubet@gettysburg.edu).

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. We also encourage you to take one entry-level POL class as soon as possible. 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. 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.

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

First-year students interested in exploring this major can begin by taking PHP 120 Public Health which is offered in both semesters and fulfills the First Year Data and Society requirement. PHP majors must also take an introductory biology class (BIO 111 or BIO 102). BIO 111 Introductory Biology for Life Sciences is offered in the fall semester and BIO 102 Contemporary Topics in Biology: Biological Basis of Disease is offered in the Spring. Students may also consider taking PHP Introduction to Public Policy (offered in fall and spring semesters) and PHP 222 Health Organizations and Policy (offered in fall semester). For advising help, contact Dr. Amy Dailey (adailey@gettysburg.edu) or Dr. Anne Douds (adouds@gettysburg.edu).

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 Megan Adamson Sijapat, at msijapat@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)

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.

For more information, contact the Chair, Alecea Standee (astandle@gettysburg.edu).