Registrar's Office

First-Year Experience

The First-Year Experience focuses on preparing students for success in their collegiate endeavors while also engaging them in their chosen academic major. Courses recommended for the first year include the following.

Michigan Tech Seminar

Required: 1 credit

This requirement is designed to help students explore their interests and map out their path through college, to develop the habits and mindsets of successful students, and to build a sense of community and belonging at Michigan Tech. Seminar courses are primarily offered by academic units and will incorporate a shared set of common modules, equating to roughly one-third of a 1-credit course, with the rest of the course content determined by the department. University-wide (UN 1013) and transfer student specific (UN 2013) courses will be offered to first-year students where their academic units do not have a seminar course offering, ensuring all incoming first-year students engage in a seminar course. These courses are currently being developed and will be available in fall 2025.

Seminar
Course Number Course Title Category Credits
BL1580 First-Year Experience in BioSciSeminar1
BL1600 First-Year Experience in MLSSeminar1
CH1134 Professional Development Seminar for ChemistsSeminar1
CMG1000 Introduction to Construction ManagementSeminar2
CS1000 Explorations in ComputingSeminar1
DATA1000 Explorations in Data ScienceSeminar
DATA1201 Explorations in Data Science Seminar2
ENG1101 Engineering Analysis and Problem SolvingSeminar3
FW 1050 Natural Resource Professional Seminar2
GE1100 Geo-orientationSeminar1
HF1999 Introduction to HF MajorSeminar1
HU1000 Introduction to HumanitiesSeminar1
KIP1000 Introduction to Exercise ScienceSeminar1
KIP1010 Introduction to Sport & Fitness ManagmentSeminar1
MA19XX Exploring (Mathematical Topic) (3) [4 courses, offered in rotation]Seminar3
NUR1100 First-Year Experience in NursingSeminar2
PH1162 1st year Physics SeminarSeminar1
PSY1999 Intro to the Psychology MajorSeminar1
SA 1000 Exploring MajorsSeminar1
SAT1000 Intro to Applied ComputingSeminar1
SS1001 Orientation to the Social SciencesSeminar1
THEA1001 First Year Arts SeminarSeminar1
UN1013 Michigan Tech SeminarSeminar1
UN2013 Michigan Tech Transfer SeminarSeminar1

Math

Required: 3 credits minimum

This list includes introductory math courses.

Math
Course Number Course Title Category Credits
BUS2100 Business StatisticsMath
BUS2300 Quantitative Problem SolvingMath
BUS3000 Introduction to Business AnalyticsMath
EC4100 Mathematical EconomicsMath
EC4200 EconometricsMath
MA1020 Street MathMath
MA1031 College Algebra II with Trigonometry (3)Math
MA1032 Precalculus (4)Math4
MA1135 Calculus for Life Sciences (4)Math4
MA1160 Calculus with Technology I (4)Math4
MA1161 Calculus Plus with Technology I (5)Math5
MA2160 Calculus with Technology IIMath
MA2720 Statistical Methods (4)Math4
MA3810 Introduction to Actuarial MathematicsMath
MIS4400 Business Intelligence and AnalyticsMath
PSY2720 Statistics for the Behavioral SciencesMath4
SS2720 Statistics for Social SciencesMath4
SS4010 Applied Statistics for Social SciencesMath

Natural and Physical Science

Required: 3 credits minimum

This list includes introductory natural and physical science courses from a variety of disciplines. A lab course is not specifically required.

Nat/Phys Sciences
Course Number Course Title Category Credits
BL1100 General Biology INatural/Physical Science
BL1200 General Biology IINatural/Physical Science
BL1400 Principles of BiologyNatural/Physical Science
BL2010 Anatomy & Physiology INatural/Physical Science
BL2160 BotanyNatural/Physical Science4
BL2170 ZoologyNatural/Physical Science4
BL2940 Human NutritionNatural/Physical Science
BL4090 Tropical Island BiologyNatural/Physical Science2
CH1000 Introductory ChemistryNatural/Physical Science
CH1112 University Chemistry – Studio Lab INatural/Physical Science5
CH1122 University Chemistry Studio Laboratory IINatural/Physical Science5
CH1150 University Chemistry INatural/Physical Science
CH1160 University Chemistry II Natural/Physical Science
CH2590 Color ChemistryNatural/Physical Science
FW1035 Wood Anatomy and PropertiesNatural/Physical Science
FW2060 Fundamentals of Environmental SustainabilityNatural/Physical Science
FW2081 Introduction to Circular EconomyNatural/Physical Science
FW3330 Soil ScienceNatural/Physical Science4
FW3610 OrnithologyNatural/Physical Science4
FW4120 Tree PhysiologyNatural/Physical Science
FW4128 Conservation GeneticsNatural/Physical Science
FW4240 MammalogyNatural/Physical Science4
GE2000 Understanding the EarthNatural/Physical Science
GE2300 Mineral ScienceNatural/Physical Science
GE3320 Earth HistoryNatural/Physical Science
GE3850 GeohydrologyNatural/Physical Science
GE4150 Natural HazardsNatural/Physical Science
PH1090 The Physics Behind MusicNatural/Physical Science
PH1110 College Physics I (plus PH1111)Natural/Physical Science4
PH1140 Applied College Physics I (plus PH1141)Natural/Physical Science4
PH1160 Honors Physics I-Mechanics (plus PH1161 or PH1100)Natural/Physical Science5
PH1210 College Physics IINatural/Physical Science
PH1600 Introductory Astronomy (plus PH1610**)Natural/Physical Science
PH2100 University Physics I-MechanicsNatural/Physical Science3
SS3250 Biological AnthropologyNatural/Physical Science

STEM

Required: 3 credits minimum

This list includes all courses from the Math list and the Natural and Physical Science list, as well as other courses from science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) disciplines.

STEM
Course Number Course Title Category Credits
All MathSTEM
All Natural and Physical ScienceSTEM
ACC2000 Accounting Principles ISTEM
ACC2100 Accounting Principles IISTEM
ACC3000 Intermediate Accounting ISTEM
ACC3500 Managerial Cost AccountingSTEM
BL2000 Biology of Movement and MeditationSTEM
BL3XX1 Emergency Medical TechnicianSTEM
CS1111 Programming in C/C++STEM
CS1121 Introduction to Programming ISTEM
CS1122 Introduction to Programming II STEM
CS1131 Accelerated Introduction to ProgrammingSTEM5
DATA1200 Data Science with PythonSTEM
DATA1202 Data Science with Python STEM
DATA2201 Foundations of Data ScienceSTEM
EET1121/1122 Circuits Lecture and LabSTEM4
EET1411 Basic ElectronicsSTEM4
ENG1102 Engineering Modeling and DesignSTEM
FIN4000 Investment AnalysisSTEM
FIN4200 Derivatives and Financial EngineeringSTEM
FIN4500 Risk ManagementSTEM
FIN4600 FinTech FoundationsSTEM
FIN4700 Global FinanceSTEM
FW3075 Introduction to BiotechnologySTEM
GE1200 Intro to Data Sci Earth ResourcesSTEM1
GE2010 Intro to GISSTEM
KIP1500 Foundations of KinesiologySTEM
KIP3100 Exercise Assessment and PrescriptionSTEM
MIS2000 IS/IT ManagementSTEM
MIS2100 Introduction to Business ProgrammingSTEM
MIS2200 Web ProgrammingSTEM
MIS3100 Business Database ManagementSTEM
MIS3200 Systems Analysis and DesignSTEM
MIS3500 User-Centered DesignSTEM
MIS4000 Emerging TechnologiesSTEM
MIS4200 Management of Cyber SecuritySTEM
OSM3000 Operations & Supply Chain ManagementSTEM
OSM3600 Procurement & Supply ManagementSTEM
PSY3060 Brain and BehaviorSTEM
SAT1610 Computer and OS ArchitectureSTEM
SAT2711 Linux FundamentalsSTEM
SND1150 Sound TechnologySTEM
SND4121 Transducer Theory Lab STEM
SS2050 Fundamentals of GISSTEM
SS3221 Archaeological Sciences (plus SS3222) STEM
SS3510 History of American TechnologySTEM
SS3511 History of Science in AmericaSTEM
SS3800 Energy Policy and TechnologySTEM

Composition

Required: 3 credits

Foundations of the Human World

Required: 3 credits

The Foundations of the Human World requirement gives students a choice between several courses. These courses are gateways to the disciplines that comprise SHAPE: Social Sciences, Humanities, and the Arts for People and the Economy/Environment. They are offered by the Departments of Social Sciences, Humanities, Visual and Performing Arts, Psychology and Human Factors, as well as the College of Business and College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science.

Foundations
Course Number Course Title Category Credits
ART1000 Art AppreciationFoundations
BUS1100 Introduction to BusinessFoundations
EC2001 Principles of EconomicsFoundations
FIN2400 Financial LiteracyFoundations
HF2000 Introduction to Engineering PsychologyFoundations
HU2130 Introduction to RhetoricFoundations
HU2200 Introduction to World CulturesFoundations
HU2241 Level I-A Less Commonly Taught LanguagesFoundationsvar
HU2242 Level I-B Less Commonly Taught LanguagesFoundationsvar
HU2271 Level I-A French Language & CultureFoundations
HU2272 Level I-B French Language & CultureFoundations
HU2273 Transitional Level I French Language & CultureFoundations
HU2281 Level I-A German Language & CultureFoundations
HU2282 Level I-B German Language & CultureFoundations
HU2291 Level I-A Spanish Language & CultureFoundations
HU2292 Level I-B Spanish Language & CultureFoundations
HU2293 Transitional Level I Spanish Language & CultureFoundations
HU2324 Introduction to FilmFoundations
HU2400 Conversations On Culture and DiversityFoundations
HU2503 Introduction to LiteratureFoundations
HU2505 Humanities, Science, and TechnologyFoundations
HU2700 Introduction to PhilosophyFoundations
HU2701 Logical and Critical ThinkingFoundations
HU2702 Ethical Theory and Moral ProblemsFoundations
HU2820 Communication and CultureFoundations
HU2825 Technology and MediaFoundations
MUS1000 Music AppreciationFoundations
MUS1140 Popular SongwritingFoundations
PSY2000 Introduction to PsychologyFoundations
SAT1700 Cyber EthicsFoundations
SND1000 Sound in Art and ScienceFoundations
SS1500 Introduction to HistoryFoundations
SS2100 Introduction to Cultural AnthropologyFoundations
SS2200 Introduction to ArchaeologyFoundations
SS2210 Community Development and PlanningFoundations
SS2300 Environment and SocietyFoundations
SS2400 Introduction to Human GeographyFoundations
SS2450 Introduction to Sustainable TourismFoundations
SS2500 United States History to 1877Foundations
SS2501 US History Since 1877Foundations
SS2502 European History to 1650Foundations
SS2503 European History Since 1650Foundations
SS2504 World History to 1500Foundations
SS2505 World History Since 1500Foundations
SS2600 American Government and PoliticsFoundations
SS2610 Introduction to Law and SocietyFoundations
SS2625 Introduction to American Foreign PolicyFoundations
SS2635 Comparative PoliticsFoundations
SS2700 Introduction to SociologyFoundations
SS2750 Racial InequalityFoundations
THEA 1140 Foundations in Entertainment DesignFoundations
THEA1000 Theatre AppreciationFoundations
THEA1400 Acting IFoundations