What are typical courses for a first-year student to consider?

In general, a typical first-year student schedule for fall will focus on the requirements for the General Education Program.  Find the pink General Education Program brochure you previously received in the freshman registration mailing from the Admissions Office. Study your choices in each section.  Selected General Education courses may fulfill some of the core requirements of the College for your intended program of study.  Your advisor in the afternoon will be able to identify these courses if applicable.  Most often the choice will be yours.  General Education courses are intended to prepare students for life beyond the university.  Look up course descriptions. If you view General Education courses as hoops to jump through instead of opportunities to challenge yourself, you are losing out on one of the best components of your education as a college student. 

Some of the General Education courses your advisor recommends will be introductory courses for your major.

You will also have the opportunity to choose classes that don’t count toward the major or General Education requirements but do count toward your degree.  These courses are called electives.  They will be explained in the "What are Electives" section of this tutorial.