A group of four students work in a lab with high-tech equipment.

Your talent for math and curiosity for science drew you to this starting point. Now, the fun begins. You get to explore subject areas, work with advisors to find the major that fits you best, and build connections with other students who are explorers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, just like you.

The courses below are just the beginning.

First-Year Course Guidelines

Below, you'll find the typical first-year courses taken by students in Exploratory Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. Your courses may be slightly different, based on placement testing and courses you've already taken through dual enrollment or Advanced Placement (AP).

First Semester (Fall)

  • DVST 160 Learning Strategies (1cr)
  • EXPL 281 Pathways in STEM (1cr)
  • ENGL 101 OR ENGL 100 (based on placement) (3cr)
  • Fine Arts Course (3cr)
  • Social Science Course OR Major Course (as advised) (3cr)
  • Math Course (based on placement and potential major) (3cr)

Second Semester (Spring)

  • HIST 196 OR HIST 197 OR HIST 198 (3cr)
  • Dimensions of Wellness Course (3cr)
  • Social Sciences Course/GMA (3cr)
  • Potential Major Course (as advised) (3cr)
  • Natural Science Course (as advised) (3cr)

Courses are part of the required First-Year Experience

Liberal Studies Courses to Consider Your First Year

Social Science Electives

As an IUP student, you'll need to take three classes to fulfill your social science requirements. Some may be required or strongly recommended by your major. It's wise to mark required or recommended courses as your first choices for registration. If additional classes interest you, you can add them later as electives. It is not necessary to take a social science now, but, if you have room in your schedule, this is one area to consider. Note that you may use a prefix (such as ANTH or GEOG) only once. Courses marked (GMA) also fulfill the Global and Multicultural Awareness requirement.

  • ANTH 110 Contemporary Anthropology (GMA)
  • ANTH 211 Cultural Anthropology (GMA)
  • ANTH 213 World Archaeology
  • CRIM 101 Crime and Justice Systems
  • ECON 101 Basic Economics
  • ECON 121 Principles of Economics I
  • GEOG 101 Geography of Human Environment Interaction
  • GEOG 102 Geography of US and Canada
  • RGPL/GEOG 103 Global Cities: Issues in Planning and Development (GMA)
  • GEOG 104 World Geography/Global Context (GMA)
  • JRNL 105 Journalism and the Mass Media
  • PSYC 101 General Psychology
  • PLSC 101 World Politics (GMA)
  • PLSC 111 Power and Democracy in America
  • SOC 151 Principles of Sociology
  • SOC 231 Contemporary Social Problems

Natural Science Electives

Students must complete one of two options:

  1. Option 1(8cr): two laboratory courses, may be non-sequential -OR-
  2. Option 2 (7cr): one laboratory course (4cr) and one non-laboratory course (3cr)

Either option usually begins with a laboratory course, but option 2 may start with a non-laboratory course.

Listed below are some of the options for lab sciences you may consider. All of these courses are designed from a liberal studies perspective and are open to non-majors.

  • BIOL 103 Life on Earth
  • BIOL 104 Human Biology: How the Human Body Works
  • BIOL 106 Human Genetics and Health
  • CHEM 101 College Chemistry I*
  • CHEM 111 General Chemistry I*
  • CHEM 113 Advanced General Chemistry*
  • GEOS 101/102 The Dynamic Earth + lab
  • GEOS 103/104 Oceans and Atmospheres + lab
  • GEOS 105/106 Exploring the Universe + lab
  • GEOS 201 Foundations of Geology*
  • PHYS 111/121 Physics I + lab
  • PHYS 131/141 Physics I + lab (needs calculus)
  • SCI 105 Physical Science I (physics)
  • SCI 107/117 Chemistry for Everyone *

*Typically restricted to certain majors or minors; on limited occasions others may receive special permission. CHEM113 requires that students be able to enroll in a calculus course—students not meeting this requirement should be advised to schedule CHEM111.