Arts and Sciences New Student Course Planning

Anthropology concerns itself with the holistic study of the human condition—socially, culturally, linguistically, and biologically—in space and in time. Therefore students who incline toward biological or natural sciences or the humanities can all find anthropological courses that will resonate with them.

Our course offerings are not as vertical as some departments, so it’s reasonable to inquire whether a higher-level topical course of interest might be accessible to those who haven’t done prior coursework in the department. At the same time, we offer four introductory courses to the four major subfields of anthropology, and these are a great way to get some exposure to this multifaceted discipline.

Our course offerings are not as vertical as some departments, so it’s reasonable to inquire whether a higher-level topical course of interest might be accessible to those who haven’t done prior coursework in the department. At the same time, we offer four introductory courses to the four major subfields of anthropology, and these are a great way to get some exposure to this multifaceted discipline.

While our major structure will require that you take all four of the courses that introduce the major subfields, it is not required that these all be completed before students take higher level courses geared to their particular interests in the field. There are many acceptable paths through our offerings.

There are none.

Students with a strong high school science background find taking introductory biology and chemistry courses simultaneously in the first semester both useful and challenging. Other students benefit from taking only one of these courses during their first semester at Oberlin. Prospective biology majors are urged to consult with a biology faculty member during advising period to discuss these options.

The introductory course, BIOL 100 Organismal Biology, has no prerequisite and is open to non-majors. In addition, several First-Year Seminars are taught with a biological emphasis or scientific theme. Biology of Infectious Diseases and their Global Impact (BIOL 047) and Environmental Biology (BIOL 103) are courses available to non-majors.

• A checklist of the courses required for the biology major is in the Course Catalog .

• Another important resource is the Biology Majors Guidebook available on the biology department website.

With planning, the 11 courses needed to complete the major may be easily accomplished in three years. This allows flexibility for students in their paths through the major, as described below.

Students who are eager to enroll in introductory biology and have a strong science background may choose to register for both BIOL 100 and CHEM 101 in the first semester. Other students choose to take CHEM 101 and a mathematics or statistics course in the first semester, delaying BIOL 100 to the second semester.
Note: The two semester introductory chemistry series may be started only in fall semester, whereas introductory biology may be taken in either semester. Alternatively, some students prefer to begin with a single lab science course. Examples of various pathways through the major and associated information is located on pages 11-13 of the biology handbook. Your academic advisor or other biology faculty are also excellent resources to help you plan your path through the major.

None of the biology courses require testing for courses in the major. Each course in the biology department that requires a prerequisite will indicate the specific course that is required for admission to the course.
A minimum grade of C- or P is required in the prerequisite. A student may also consult with the instructor if special preparation for a course might be considered as a substitute for the prerequisite.

A four or five on the Biology AP test earns general course credit toward graduation but not toward major credit.

Chemistry is often referred to as the “central science” and has deep connections to many other fields, ranging from biology and geology to medicine and engineering. Students who are considering a major in chemistry, biochemistry, or any of the sciences are encouraged to take an introductory chemistry course early in their college career. The common starting points are CHEM 101 or 102, which are offered both semesters. CHEM 101 or 102 will provide the necessary foundation for further studies in the sciences and fulfill a prerequisite for upper-level course work in our department as well as several others.

Our introductory course, CHEM 101 Structure and Reactivity in Chemistry, is suitable for both majors and non-majors, who have some high school chemistry background. In addition, the department offers CHEM 050 Basic Chemistry and CHEM 051 Chemistry and the Environment, which are courses of general interest that do not assume any prior knowledge of chemistry and are designed for non-science majors.

Students considering a major in chemistry or biochemistry are strongly encouraged to take general chemistry during their first year at Oberlin. There are two ways to do this: the yearlong CHEM 101/102 sequence or the fall semester CHEM 102 course. CHEM 102 is designed for students with strong high school chemistry backgrounds. The fall session of CHEM 102 is open to students who 1) have taken CHEM 101, 2) meet the requirements of our placement survey, or 3) who have scored at least 4 on the Advanced Placement Exam in Chemistry or 6 on the HL IB exam.

Students who have extensive preparation wishing to begin their studies with CHEM 102, who do not automatically qualify for the course based on an AP or HL IB exam score, should take the placement exam available in Blackboard. Students are encouraged to take the exam by August 15.

Entering students who have scored a 4 or 5 on the Chemistry Advanced Placement (AP) exam or scored a 6 or 7 on the Higher-Level International Baccalaureate (IB) Chemistry exam can receive transfer credit equivalent to CHEM 101 (one full course) and begin college chemistry with CHEM 102, but should still take the General Chemistry Entrance Survey. Students will have to relinquish AP or IB credit if the corresponding coursework is repeated at Oberlin. 

Students with A-levels scores of A*, A, or B can begin college chemistry with 102.

Students with exceptional high school preparation in mathematics and chemistry, and an AP score of 5 or an IB higher-level chemistry exam score of 6 or 7 may petition the department chair to enroll in CHEM 205: Organic Chemistry.

The Cinema Studies Program at Oberlin encompasses both the critical study of cinema and the practice of filmmaking.

Our critical courses have three broadly defined concerns:  interpretation individual movies as works of art, the history of cinema as an art, a technology, and as business and social practice, and cinema as a major social and cultural force in the last one hundred and twenty-five years of global history. Our critical courses all focus on developing the individual student’s ability to deal in a self-aware way with full complexity of the cinematic experience.

Our filmmaking workshops include courses in fictional, documentary, animated, experimental, and essay films, as well as courses in screenwriting.  The program strongly believes that the critical study of movies supports the work of filmmakers and the critical studies students should have the opportunity to experience making movies as well as studying them.

The Cinema Studies Program offers about four open enrollment critical courses at the 100 and 200 level every year; our 300 level courses typically cross list with a number of other disciplines and major, and often place cinema in relation to other media and arts.  This means there are a number of different entry points at each level of our program for the study of cinema.

The filmmaking workshop courses give priority to majors but students from other majors can enroll in them.  All workshops are open to students making their first movie, as we think the best way to learn how to make movies is to make them with faculty and experienced students. Each workshop can be repeated for full credit.  Each of these courses offers instructional workshops in the basics of filmmaking for those who need this, and training specific to the specific kind of movie made in the workshop.

If you are interested in majoring in cinema you should try to take one of the open enrollment 100 and 200 level courses we offer; these courses reserve about half their seats for first year students.

Cinema 290, Introduction to the Advanced Study of Cinema is required for the major but students typically take this in their sophomore year.

Workshops in filmmaking are small intensive courses and, again, typically open up at the sophomore level. Cinema studies majors often take a semester abroad at the Prague Film School in the Czech Republic or the Tisch School of the Arts at NYU, usually in their junior year. These programs are open to any Oberlin student, not just cinema studies majors.

Other departments in the college—Russian, German, Africana studies, and others, often offer courses in cinema or in strongly related fields; Oberlin Conservatory often offers a course in film music. Courses in TIMARA and studio art are often useful for filmmakers.  The cinema studies major counts up to four courses offered by other departments and programs, and approved by the Cinema Studies Program, toward the cinema studies major.

Finally, if you want to talk about majoring in cinema, you should get in touch with the director of the program, though any of the cinema faculty will be happy to talk with you about the program.

There are no placement tests for the major.

There are no Advanced Placement tests that grant credit toward the major

Courses investigate power, inequality, and agency through the analysis of intersecting structures of race, gender, class, sexuality, and citizenship. Central to these studies are examinations of the relationship of theory and practice within the scope of historical and contemporary contexts.

I would recommend taking CAST 100, which is the introductory course and gives a broad overview of the field of American studies. Any 200 level class besides CAST 200: Theories and Methods would also be appropriate for any non-majors.

CAST 100 is the most logical point of entry, as it gives the most extensive introduction and overview of American studies, but any 200-level course besides CAST 200 Theories and Methods is appropriate, too, as these offer topical introductions to various fields.

There are none.

There are none.

Comparative Literature is a dynamic, exciting academic discipline that focuses on literary and cultural expression across linguistic, national, and geographic boundaries. At Oberlin, Comparative Literature courses span a variety of languages, genres, and traditions from around the world, and they encourage students to consider the relationships between literature and film, art, history, politics, and other subjects. Moreover, the program places special emphasis on the study of translation theory and practice and offers a concentration in Literary Translation. 

Our courses are dynamic explorations of topics, themes, ideas, and forms of artistic expression across linguistic, national, and geographic boundaries. You don’t need to know a foreign language to take them, as most are taught in English and readings are in English translation. Many of our courses have no prerequisite other than a passion for reading, discussing, and writing about a variety of texts––poetry and prose, painting and cinema, sculpture and music, to name a few. We offer an introductory course to literary translation as well. 

*Take an introductory-level literature course (e.g., a 100- or 200- level course in CMPL or an adjacent field, such as English, French, Chinese, Russian, etc.).

*After you’ve taken the prerequisite introductory-level literature course, take CMPL 200 - Introduction to Comparative Literature. It’s wise to do so in your first or second year.

*Consider your level of fluency in a foreign language. If you do not have reading and writing proficiency, make plans for language study during the school year or in the summers. You will need to take at least one foreign literature course taught in the foreign language. 

No. But please note that you need to have an advanced knowledge of a foreign language by your fourth year, as one of the requirements for the CMPL major is a foreign literature course taught in the foreign language. 

There are none.

Computer science (CSCI) as a discipline involves much more than programming, but we use programming as an entry level skill. We have a three-course programming sequence for the major: CSCI 150, 1521, and 241. We also have a pre-major course that has been the starting point for many women and underrepresented students: CSCI 140, but at our current level of staffing we can’t offer it. Students who are curious about computer science should take CSCI 150. It has no prerequisites and makes no assumptions about prior experience.

Try CSCI 150. It is more fun than you ever dreamed of having in a class.

Take CSCI 150, and if possible also MATH 133.

No. Talk to the faculty; the department chair in particular.

A four or five AP score earns one course credit toward degree requirements and the major.

Please consult the "Creative Writing - Courses’’ section in the Oberlin College Catalog for information.

Please consult the ‘‘Creative Writing Major’’ in the Oberlin College Catalog for information.

Please consult the ‘‘Creative Writing Major’’ in the Oberlin College Catalog for information.

Please consult the ‘‘Creative Writing Major’’ in the Oberlin College Catalog for information.

Please consult the ‘‘Creative Writing Major’’ in the Oberlin College Catalog for information.

Dance at Oberlin is characterized by its commitment to experimentation and creation of original work. We encourage students to create, perform, and think about movement in a manner that is consonant with their experience in the other fine and liberal arts. The Dance curriculum is organized around four areas of study: creation and performance, critical inquiry, physical techniques, and somatic studies, and is designed to be challenging for both beginners and seasoned young performers.

All our courses are open to everyone at the college, regardless if you are a major or not.

Dancing at Oberlin College is a great way to open your body, mind and heart to techniques and classes that you may never have imagined yourself taking. Try something new!

Only the advanced technique and repertory courses require an audition for placement in the class and these are usually held in the first class of the semester.

Not really, since there are no advanced placement tests in dance that I know of. However, dancers may earn credit in the major by successfully completing summer workshops and festivals that are accredited such as American Dance Festival and Bates Dance Festival.

East Asian Studies is a welcoming, academically distinguished and diverse department. We offer Chinese and Japanese language courses, as well as courses taught in English about Chinese, Japanese, and Korean history, literature, film, art history, politics, and environmental studies.

In their first year, students thinking about East Asian Studies should take an intro East Asian Studies course (100 level) taught in English. You can find intro courses about China, Japan, Korea, and East Asia as a region in these departments: EAST, HIST, ARTH, CMPL, RELG, POLT, ENVST, CINE, ANTH.

Strongly consider taking Chinese or Japanese language class in the fall semester.

Get to work on distribution requirements across the college, since that will give you maximum flexibility to study abroad in China, Taiwan, Japan, or Korea. East Asian studies strongly encourages study abroad in East Asia, especially for developing second language skills and cultural competency.

Language Placement in Chinese and Japanese Courses:

If you have no exposure to Chinese or Japanese language, register for CHIN101 or JAPN101. CHIN101 and JAPN101 are offered in fall semester only.

If you can speak or have studied the language before, take the placement exam in Chinese or Japanese language via our Blackboard platform. The placement exam will help instructors determine the best course for you to enroll in. If possible, take the online exam before Orientation week and then send an email to an EAS instructor* about meeting about placement during Orientation Week. (*Chinese: Fang Liu; Japanese: Sachiko Kondo; Korean: Sheila Miyoshi Jager)

If you have any questions about EAS courses or the major, please contact the chair or any member of the department at any time.

Economics is the study of choices. In a society of unlimited wants but limited resources, economists study how resources are allocated and the impacts of such allocations. Core courses in the department take a theoretical perspective in modeling economic decisions, while field courses in the department take an applied perspective to understanding economic phenomena.
Students who have an interest in data analysis, mathematical modeling, finance, policy evaluation, statistics and public policy will hone their skills further with courses from the economics department.

You should first take ECON 101 Principles of Economics, as that course is a stepping stone to all higher level economics courses. It is a course that provides an introduction to the theory of microeconomics and of macroeconomics. After ECON 101, student should consider a field course at the 200-level. These are courses numbered 201 to 249. They focus on a subfield of economics that the professor has particular interest or expertise in. These courses tend to be more applied, be more tailored to real-world examples and have more possibilities for the discussion of policy. These courses only require ECON 101 as a prerequisite, and so the composition of student backgrounds and interests is quite diverse.

In your first year, you should take ECON 101. You may, if you like, get a jump on the major by taking a 200-level field course (as stated above). It is also advisable to consider taking calculus (MATH 131+132 or MATH 133) or statistics (STAT 113) in your first year, as you will require them for the intermediate core theory courses (ECON 251, 253, 255).

There is none.

Economics does not accept AP credit to count toward the courses required for the major. However, if a student has taken both AP micro and AP macro and has done well in the exams (4 or higher), at the discretion of the chair and the instructor, the student may be allowed to take 200-level economics courses without needing to take ECON 101. The caveats to this are:

• The student must still meet any calculus/statistics prerequisites the higher level courses call for.
• The student must still take eight economics courses at Oberlin to complete the major.

Most broadly, courses in the English department share one thing—the medium of the English language. No matter the particular topic or angle of approach of any course you might take, you will become a stronger reader, writer, and speaker of, as well as a listener to, the English language. We offer many first-year seminars and two sorts of courses that might appeal to incoming students. These include some very popular lecture courses at the 100-level that tend to demand less writing. In these, for example 100 Poems, the professor lectures and leads more than is usual in our other classes, and will rely on exams. These sections sometimes appeal to students less comfortable in the humanities, or perhaps with second language issues, or perhaps dealing with the demands of a conservatory schedule, a heavy athletic commitment, or other demands. These are for sampling, really.
Our 200-level courses could also be of interest, and more represent the core of our offerings. The variety of subjects, teaching styles, and student experiences are extremely variable. This may feel confusing at first, because our classes do not easily line up as introductory, intermediate, and advanced levels. This is because the English department’s shared interests are in the complexity of literary and other cultural texts, their relationship to the contexts in which they are created and received, and interpretation as an exciting and useful activity, albeit one that may never resolve into a single right answer or approach.
We seek to keep barriers to enrolling in our classes low, believing that we offer skill and content experiences that benefit all Oberlin students. In any English course, even at the 300 and 400 level, it is not unusual to discover that most students are not English majors or have other majors. That delights us.

The door is absolutely open as English is one of the most important experiences available to students of any major and background. While some of our advanced courses will mostly appeal to majors in the humanities or social sciences of some sort, the majority of our courses are intended to welcome and reward students of any and all backgrounds.
We hope to be an available course option for as many students as possible throughout their career, and strive to both care for our majors but to not privilege them over all others. It would make sense to look at a course title/subject and gauge your fit with a teacher’s pedagogical style when deciding whether or not to take an English course.
We are not about Downton Abbey or nostalgia for Britain. We are about a global language, which manifests itself importantly in numerous ways, and focus on the great variety of avenues into exploring both: linguistics, sport, prayer, play, digital creativity, a focus on established and emerging histories.

None. Please don’t consider your major in your first year. Please don’t listen to me if I try to convince you to come here. Do what you are moved to do and learn to do. You don’t have to major in English to have it be a great part of your education. If you decide to do so, it won’t be because someone sold it to you. It will be because you sampled around and had the right experiences for you here.

There are none.

A five on Literature or Composition AP will earn one course credit toward general graduation requirements but not for major credit. A five in Language or Composition may earn credit toward rhetoric and composition but it is not automatic. Please consult with the Department of Rhetoric and Composition for more information.

Environmental Studies is an inter- and multidisciplinary field that draws from the humanities, social, physical and natural sciences. We believe a holistic approach to understanding the diversity of environmental issues and topics. We offer a diverse range of courses from within the core unit of environmental studies, but students would also be taking approved courses from other disciplines, such as but not limited to biology, chemistry, economics, English, geology, psychology, and sociology.

Our course offerings are not as vertical as some departments, so many of our upper division courses do not have prerequisites, though some are only open to majors. In general, we enjoy having the diverse perspectives brought by other majors within our classes. At the same time, we offer ENVS 101, Introduction to Environment and Society, twice every semester. This course is specifically designed for first-year students interested in seeing if environmental studies might be right for them.

We encourage students to take ENVS 101 as soon as possible to see if the major might be right for them. At the same time, we suggest not taking other environmental studies courses until their second year, instead focusing on taking one or more of our HU/SS electives or required natural science courses. Many of our required and elective courses fulfill college requirements such as QFR, CD, and writing, so it may mean these requirements can be fulfilled through courses that will count for the major.

There is no placement testing for any courses offered by the Environmental Studies Program.

We accept a 5 on the Advanced Placement for Environmental Sciences (APES) in lieu of taking the required ENVS 101 course. That said, we strongly encourage students who may be considering the major the take ENVS 101 because our course is unique to our program, and is organized differently than most APES courses taken in high school. Those who scored a 5 on APES and chose not to take 101 would still be required to take an additional elective course drawn from our list of electives.

Students with no prior experience in French should begin with French 101 (first semester) and French 102 (second semester). Both courses focus on immediate use of practical French for real-life communication in a variety of cultural settings: home, school, shopping, media, music, museums, arts. In-class instruction is complemented by La Table Française for meals and cultural activities at the Maison Francophone . French is an official language in 29 countries across multiple continents, most of which are members of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), the community of 84 countries that share the official use or teaching of French. French is also one of six official languages used in the United Nations. At Oberlin, French is a popular subject for students majoring in comparative literature, art history, creative writing, biology, philosophy, politics, linguistics, and computer sciences. These subjects have deep historical connections and dynamic current involvements in the francophone world.

Students not planning to major in French have found time to complete a minor in the language (five courses in total). The minor confers very real fluency in the language, a very useful lifelong skill appreciated by employers. Conservatory students are required to take French. Many studio art majors choose to learn French and spend their junior year in France.

Students can complete a major in French in four years, starting at any level of instruction, including French 101. Students with previous courses in French should take the Placement Test to find the right level of entry. The French major consists of nine courses; seven of which must be taught in French. Other courses taught in English, such as French Cinema, may count for the major or minor as well. Most French majors plan to spend one semester or summer studying in a francophone country. Oberlin has several excellent study away opportunities for French students in Paris, Rennes, Avignon, Rabat, and Dakar.

The department offers and recommends a placement exam for all students with prior knowledge of French, whether through school programs or as heritage speakers. Students will find this exam on the Cooper International Learning Center website. It can be taken at any time, but is best taken during the summer or shortly before first-year orientation. The test may also be taken in the Cooper language lab upon arrival at Oberlin.

A four or five on the French AP test earns one course credit toward graduation and toward the major.

The Department of Geosciences studies Earth and the environment. The department offers courses that examine the Earth as a series of interrelated systems that have evolved over the past 4.5 billion years. We use chemical, physical, and biological approaches in the field and in the lab to decipher histories of our planet both to better understand how it functions and to shed light on modern environmental and societal challenges. We integrate social justice topics related to the environment into many of our classes.

Any course at the 100-level is a great place to begin your study of the geosciences. GEOS 120 Earth’s Environments offers a broad overview of earth science that includes laboratory work and field trips to local sites, while GEOS/AAST 124 Earth Science and Social Justice offers similarly broad coverage and laboratory and field experiences but has a specific focus on the intersection of Earth science and critical social issues. Any other 100-level course will touch on many of the same fundamental aspects of Earth science, but will do so from a more topical perspective (e.g., GEOS 123 Geology of Natural Resources; GEOS 152 Soils and Society; GEOS 115 Coral Reefs: Biology, Geology, and Politics; and GEOS 122 Natural Hazards) using lecture, discussion, and hands-on work but without an additional lab period.

If you’re thinking about geosciences as a major, we would love to get to know you and welcome you to our community! Please send any one of us an email.

In general, there is no placement testing for any geosciences courses. However, students seeking to place out of introductory geosciences courses on the basis of secondary-school courses in geology need to pass a placement examination administered by the department. You also could choose a topical course that covers material you did not complete in secondary-school.

Students may count Advanced Placement (AP) credit earned in biology, math, statistics , chemistry, or physics toward a geosciences major following guidelines. However, credit is granted only for AP courses that these departments accept toward their major, and is subject to college limits.

Courses for first-year students in the Department of German Studies: German 101 (first semester), German 102 (second semester). These courses give students the opportunity to develop speaking, listening, reading and writing skills in German. A combination of German 101 & 102, enables students to gain access to a variety of aspects of contemporary German society as well as other fields profoundly influenced by German culture, viz., music, art, history, philosophy, literature and international studies.
Because of its strong economy–and with the recent changes in geopolitical dynamics–many countries now look to Germany as the leading and most reliable voice in the western world. An alternative to German 101 is the Winter Term Intensive German course. This covers the material introduced in German 101, though at a much faster pace. Students who successfully complete Winter Term Intensive German may then enroll, in the spring semester, in German 102.

Students not planning to major in German have found German useful and often essential to their studies in the fields listed above. Conservatory students are required to take German, and it is recommended for art majors. Germany has a vibrant art scene. Many studio art majors choose to learn German and spend their junior year there.

The department offers a major in German. The German major has as its primary focus the literature of German-speaking countries. Genres, literary movements, and individual authors and themes are examined with the aim of expanding the student’s capacity for literary analysis and appreciation.
Students may complete a major in four years by starting with German 101. For those with previous exposure to German, a placement test will determine the best entry point into the curriculum.

The department offers and recommends a placement exam for all students with prior knowledge of German, whether through school programs or as heritage speakers. Students will find this language placement exam on the Cooper International Learning Center website . It can be taken at any time, but is best taken during the summer or shortly before first-year orientation. The test may also be taken in the Cooper language lab upon arrival at Oberlin.

A four or five on the German AP test earns one course credit toward graduation and toward the major.

Our English-taught courses are open to any student interested in the culture and history of the Spanish-speaking world. Hispanic studies courses HISP 101, 102, 202, 203, and 304 comprise the language sequence; any student with previous experience learning Spanish can take the online placement exam at any time to determine what level is best for them. We encourage heritage speakers of Spanish to take HISP 334. The survey courses (309, 310, 317 and 318) as well as other Spanish-taught courses at the 300 and 400 level require HISP 304.

Take any course you find interesting, but be sure you have the right level of Spanish.

Work on your Spanish; take the placement exam right away to see at what level you should enter the language sequence. Take advantage of our winter-term language program in Mexico. Start planning now for a semester abroad, probably in your junior year.

Yes; online anytime: Access the Spanish Placement Test through this Google Form .

A five on the Literature or Language Hispanic Languages test earns one course credit toward graduation and toward the major.

History courses span the globe; our curriculum covers South Asia, China, Japan, Russia, Central Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, Latin America, Europe and North America. Our classes explore societies from pre-modern times through the very recent past. Courses take varied approaches—among them social, political, cultural, ethnic, and intellectual history. We examine a wide range of topics and themes, including urban history, war, the law, gender and sexuality, nationalism, colonialism and imperialism, race, slavery, and historical memory. Students can also be involved in hands-on learning, becoming involved in public history projects or digital humanities.

Go ahead! Most of our courses include lots of non-majors who are there because they are interested in the topic, they like history, or they want a course that will help them learn to read and think critically. Non-majors regularly take courses at every level of our curriculum, including our 300 and 400-level seminars. Anyone who is interested in a topic is welcome to take our classes and all of our 100 and 200-level courses enroll a wide range of students with varied majors and academic interests.

First-year students are welcome to take any of our first-year seminars, 100-level, and 200-level courses. All of these courses are appropriate for first-years. First-Year Seminars taught by history faculty automatically count toward the history major. The 100-level courses are introductory surveys that offer broad coverage of a geographic area. The 200-level courses are typically more focused thematic courses that cover a more focused topic than a 100-level course, but they are open to first-year students and are appropriate for them to take.

No, there are no placement tests for any history courses.

No. U.S., European, and World History AP tests can be used to count toward general credit toward graduation if you achieved a score of 4 or 5. However, AP classes do not earn credit toward the history major.

The Japanese language program offers four levels of classes, from elementary to advanced. Japanese Program is part of the East Asian Studies Program, which also offers courses taught in English about Japanese art history, cinema, environmental humanities, history, literature, religion and more. We encourage students to study abroad in Japan for a semester or a full academic year. Study abroad courses may count toward the East Asian Studies major and the Japanese language requirement.

Students from many majors in the College and Conservatory take Japanese language. If you have never studied Japanese before, JAPN101 is the best place to start learning how to speak, read, and write Japanese. If you know Japanese from high school classes or home or living in Japan, please take the Japanese placement test. The instructors will recommend the best Japanese class for you. Many students who study Japanese language at Oberlin, regardless of their major, also take advantage of our study abroad programs in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka.

East Asian Studies (EAST) majors can choose to pursue a concentration in Japanese Studies. Major requirements include Japanese language study (JAPN302 or the equivalent), and EAST classes taught in English. We encourage you to start your Japanese language studies during your first semester of college so you can work toward proficiency in Japanese during your time at Oberlin and complete the EAST major. You'll also be well prepared to make the most of study abroad in Japan in your junior year. If you are interested in an EAST major, start with one of the EAST100-level classes about Japanese and East Asian culture and society.

If you know Japanese from high school classes or home or living in Japan, please take the Japanese placement test. Students are welcome to contact any EAS faculty member about the East Asian Studies major, and Japanese instructors about placement in Japanese.

The Jewish Studies Program offer courses on a range of topics related to Judaism and Jewish culture and history. Jewish studies (JWST) draws on disciplines in the humanities and social sciences in order to provide an interdisciplinary understanding of Jewish experience and Jewish contributions to Western culture and civilization.

For an overview of Jewish religion, history and culture, a terrific place to start would be JWST 100 Introduction to Jewish Studies: Sacred Spaces and Promised Lands. It is taught in the first semester of the academic year. In addition, the following first-year seminars count toward a Jewish Studies major or minor and can serve as an excellent entry point into the Jewish Studies program:

FYSP 120: The Holocaust in American Popular Culture

FYSP 156: Jewish Identity and American Politics

Based upon a student’s interests, any 200-level Jewish studies course can also be a good option.

Students enter the major from a variety of courses. Based upon a student’s interests, any 100- or 200-level Jewish studies course could make a fine entry point. Students considering the major are encouraged to make an appointment with the chair of the Jewish Studies Program to discuss pathways through the major.

There are none.

There are none.

The recommended core introductory and intermediate law and society courses, core research seminars, and law-related courses explore philosophical, political, economic, historical, sociological, ethical, scientific, and religious issues that are central to understanding the role of law and legal institutions in society.

Core introductory courses and intermediate law and society courses and seminars are selected with the following objectives in mind: 1) center on law and legal institutions directly; 2) explore the historical, philosophical, and ethical underpinnings of the development of law, thought, and institutions; and/or 3) provide the analytic skills necessary to understand the logic and bases of legal thinking as a language in legal institutions, the broader society, and the profession of law. 

Take a course on a subject that looks interesting to you, no higher than the 200-level. We have a wide variety of offerings in many different departments. Check to make sure there is no prerequisite listed. If it’s available, look at the syllabus from a previous semester in which the course was given.

Look at the first-year seminars on our list, and or a 100-level courses listed, or a 200-level course on a subject that appeals to you.  If you choose a 200-level course, look at the syllabus to make sure you would want to take on the workload, or have the necessary background.

Mathematics is both a technical and cultural field of study. The department’s curriculum has several objectives:

1.  to introduce students to a central area of human thought;
2.  to prepare students for graduate study in pure or applied mathematics, or in related fields, including statistics and operations research;
3. to support students studying fields that use mathematics, such as the physical, biological, social and information sciences; and
4. to provide liberal arts students with an introduction to the kinds of mathematical and quantitative thinking important in the contemporary world.

Students with any questions about course selection are strongly urged to consult the department chair or any member of the mathematics department.

Options for your first Mathematics or Statistics Class

If you had a calculus class in high school but do not have AP/IB credit for MATH 133 (Calculus I) and/or MATH 134 (Calculus II), you need to decide whether you are comfortable with the material from these classes (faculty members are happy to help). If you are comfortable with the material, you may skip either of these courses. After MATH 133 and 134, potential mathematics majors should take both MATH 220 and MATH 231, in either order, followed by MATH 232. CSCI 150 should also be taken early in the mathematics major, if possible,

See specific advice in the above course information.

Yes, see the above information related to courses.

College Musical Studies is where arts and sciences students take the vast majority of their courses in the conservatory. Few courses have a CMUS designation but there are many courses which count toward the major. Indeed, while there are some required courses in music history and music theory, students can choose how they pursue their electives in consultation with their advisors. Students who wish to concentrate on specific subjects remain welcome to do so; however, students who would like to try a variety of different musically oriented courses may. Electives can be chosen from ETHN, MHST, MUTH, TECH courses, as well as arts and sciences courses with significant musical content as approved by the committee cochairs.

I would encourage all students to take courses at the conservatory regardless of their background or talent level. Some courses are difficult to get into without declaring a Musical Studies major—music theory, for example—but often not impossible. Any student can nearly always get secondary lessons with a student.  We encourage students to approach professors or departments directly to see about getting into courses that they’d like to take. A surprising number of students in the arts and sciences take courses in the conservatory already; even more should do so.

Anyone can declare the Musical Studies major. Every musical studies student must take one 200-level Music History (MHST) course and one 100- or 200-level Ethnomusicology (ETHN) course. Interested students may choose to take (although not required) MHST 100. You must also take two semesters of faculty-led ensembles, so you might think about signing up for one of the many offerings in your first year.

Anyone may audition for secondary lessons, which are NOT required for the major. Auditions are organized by the conservatory at the beginning of each semester; see Office of the Dean of the Conservatory for audition procedures and requirements.

There are placement tests for Aural Skills (send email to jeanne.rosecrans@oberlin.edu to set this up) and Music Theory (send email jeanne.rosecrans@oberlin.edu once you have taken this online placement test).

There are none.

Neuroscience is an interdisciplinary field that easily integrates with other sciences—chemistry, biology, physics and psychology. The goal of the program is to help students understand brain function, behavior, and consciousness. Some faculty focus their research and teaching in understanding how neurons (one of the main cell types in the nervous system) work at a cellular or molecular level, while other faculty focus on understanding the nervous system from a systems or cognitive perspective. We have a variety of upper-lever course offerings at both the cellular/molecular level and the systems/cognitive level. Students are able to enroll in these courses once they have taken NSCI201 The Brain: An Introduction to Neuroscience.

In years that 100-level neuroscience courses are offered, I recommend that students take those courses. If not, students in their second year and above can take NSCI201 The Brain: An Introduction to Neuroscience. This course is not recommended for students in their first year.

Students interested in majoring in neuroscience should consult with a member of the department to discuss the best courses to take. That said, they should take BIOL100 and CHEM 101/102 in their first year and take NSCI 201/NSCI 211 in their second year.

There are none.

There are none.

Philosophy has 100-level introductory courses, usually with a maximum enrollment of 30 students; 200-level courses, usually with a maximum enrollment of 30 students; and 300-level seminars, usually with a maximum enrollment of 15 students. At the introductory level, we offer a range of courses, including a broad Problems of Philosophy course as well as several more specialized courses that focus on different areas of philosophy, e.g., ethics, knowledge, and reality.
We aim to offer seven to nine sections of our introductory courses each year. All our introductory courses aim to develop students’ skills in clear and critical thinking, effective argumentation, conceptual analysis, and deep reflection. Any introductory course can serve as a prerequisite for any 200-level course.
Courses at the 200-level are focused on particular areas of inquiry or historical periods in philosophy. We have courses in Existentialism, Ancient Philosophy, Biomedical Ethics, Philosophy of Language, Philosophy of Science, Philosophy of Mind, Philosophy of Film, Philosophy of Music, Feminist Philosophy, and more. Many of our 200-level philosophy courses satisfy requirements outside philosophy.
Our courses in ethics, logic, political and legal philosophy count toward the major in Law and Society. Our courses in logic also satisfy the Quantitative and Formal Reasoning (QFR) requirement. Our courses in philosophy of mind count toward the Cognitive Sciences Concentration. Our courses in feminist philosophy count toward the Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies Program major.
Our course, Philosophy in the Schools, counts toward the Education Studies Concentration. The 300-level seminars allow for more in-depth study and discussion of a particular philosophical issue. Many of our seminars have the W-Int or W-Adv designation.

Take one of our 100-level courses—whichever one best fits your schedule. Based on the topics that most interest you in this course, choose a 200-level course to take next. Talk to the instructor of your 100-level course for particular advice. The list of available 200-level philosophy courses changes every year. Consult the department chair for information on future availability of particular courses.

See the above; the same principles apply to students considering the major.

There are none.

There are none.

Our courses typically include a lab component and weekly problem sets. There is relatively little required reading but a lot of work (often with other students) on problem- solving.

We have several “general audience” courses (below the 100 level) that are great ways to find out about the world of physics and science in general. These tend to be less mathematical and are quite popular so sign up as early as possible.

If you have Advanced Placement credit for calculus (equivalent to MATH 133) then you should sign up in the fall for PHYS 110 Mechanics and Relativity and MATH 134: Calc II. PHYS 110 is only offered in the fall so be sure to sign up for it. If you do not have calculus credit then sign up for MATH 133 (either fall or spring) and wait a year to start the physics sequence with PHYS 110 and MATH 134 in the fall of your second year.

There are none.

Several AP tests earn credit toward graduation; a four or five on the AP C-Mechanics and a five on the C-E&M test earn credit toward the major. Refer to the AP/IB chart for complete information about AP test scores.

The 100-level courses are introductory. We encourage students to move on relatively early in their careers to 200-level (intermediate) courses, which are more challenging in including theoretical as well as more complex analytical and substantive material. Political science generally divides the study of politics into four subfields:

1. American politics,
2. comparative politics (the politics of other countries besides or in comparison with the United States),
3. international politics (the politics between or among countries), and
4. political theory (the study of great ideas about politics)

Students do not need to take an introductory course in a subfield before embarking on an intermediate course therein.

Take whatever intrigues you! But avoid intermediate courses in your first semester.

In the fall, don’t attempt an intermediate course. But in the spring, venture ahead provided you’ve already had at least one course in politics or another social science. When in doubt, consult the professor.

There are none.

There are none.

The psychology department offers courses on the scientific basis for studying human behavior. It has four major domains: social, cognitive, developmental, and clinical/abnormal. We also have a very strong methodology area—you can take four of the five required courses for a Statistics Concentration within our department. We do not teach applied courses in counseling or therapy.
• The department is structured so that PSYC 100 gives you an overview of the whole field. It’s required for all upper-level courses.
• Our 200 level courses provide a more detailed introduction to each specific domain (e.g., cognitive, social, etc.). We also offer an introductory methods (Statistics) course at the 200 level. These courses are prerequisites for all our upper-level courses.
• 300 level, Advanced Methods, courses are labs and are offered in each domain. So Advanced Methods in Child Development requires both PSYC 200 (Research Methods) and a 200-level developmental psychology course. Most 300-level courses allow you to do original research in that domain. Psychometrics and Adolescent Development offer advanced training in statistics and or computational modeling and might be of interest to students who have quantitative interests. The second semester of methods is also offered at the 300 level.
•400-level seminars focus on reading and understanding the primary literature.

Our PSYC 100 course gives you a broad overview of the field. Students who take Intro and one or more 200-level courses will have a thorough acquaintance in that area. Students need a statistics or methodology course to take our upper-level classes.

Students should start with PSYC 100 to get a feel for which areas they want to specialize in–it often surprises them. They may also find psychology as a discipline is not really want they want and they might be happier with another major (we don’t teach counseling, just like biology doesn’t teach medicine). As soon as they know they want to major in psychology, they should take Research Methods (PSYC 200) so they will be able to move into our upper-level courses as soon as they have the prerequisites. One of the strengths of the department is that it is quite easy to get involved in research with faculty. They can do that as soon as their first semester.

There are none.

A five on the Psychology AP exam earns one course credit toward graduation and toward the major.

The Department of Religion offers courses covering major religious traditions from various geographical regions, over vast historical periods, and analyzed through diverse critical frameworks. Our 100-level courses presume no prior knowledge or familiarity and introduce students to the academic study of religion through investigation of at least three religious traditions.
For students seeking more focused treatments, our 200-level courses have no prerequisites and offer targeted analyses addressing a broad range of themes. These courses cultivate critical reflection and effective written communication. Advanced seminars at the 300-level require investigation of complex topics through staged writing assignments and with attention to developing facility with oral presentations.
The religion major culminates in one of two capstone options, a one-semester seminar designed to assist students in translating their religion major to postgraduation pursuits or a year-long guided research seminar culminating in a substantial written thesis and public oral presentation. These two capstone options have discrete but overlapping learning objectives designed to consolidate the skills and knowledge of a liberal arts education.

Both our 100-level introductory courses and our 200-level intermediate courses are appropriate points of entry to the academic study of religion at Oberlin. For students with a general interest in religious traditions, practices, and methods of analysis, our 100-level introductory courses will likely provide the best fit. For students curious to pursue study of specific traditions, practices, or methods, a 200-level intermediate course might prove the more apt choice.

Students considering the religion major would be best served beginning with one of our 200-level courses that intersects most closely with their interests. Intermediate (200 level) courses constitute the bulk of the major and accordingly supply a richer appraisal of the curriculum.

There are none.

There are none.

We offer a six-semester vertical language sequence consisting of RUSS 101-102 (Elementary Russian), RUSS 203-204 (Intermediate Russian), and RUSS 305-306 (Advanced Russian). If you want to learn Russian but have no prior knowledge of it you should enroll in RUSS 101 (Fall semester) or Winter Term Intensive Russian (see below). Our 400-level literature and culture courses are topical in focus and are taught in Russian. We also offer a range of courses taught in English on literature, film, and other aspects of Russian culture; these include First Year Seminars as well as larger classes at the 100 and 200 level that are open to everybody without prerequisite.   

Sign up for one of our our first year seminars, or a 200-level literature/ culture course taught in English (they are open to everyone, and assume no prior knowledge of Russia), or HIST 107 (Russian History I). Even if you don’t plan at this point to major in Russian, consider enrolling in RUSS 101 (Elementary Russian): having even a very basic command of the language will provide you with an invaluable window into Russian culture. 

We strongly recommend starting to study the Russian language during your first semester. If that isn’t possible, you can take Intensive Elementary Russian as a winter-term course and then go on to RUSS 102 in the spring semester. We also recommend taking one of our First-Year Seminars, our 100- or 200-level literature/culture courses, or a course on Russian History during your first year.  

There is no placement test per se. Students who come to Oberlin with some knowledge of Russian should consult with the Russian faculty for appropriate placement.  

No, there are not.

The discipline of sociology explores the nature, structure, and dynamics of social life, and also its causes and consequences for society. With this broad mandate, our courses cover a diversity of substantive interests, methodological approaches, and theoretical orientations. Sociologists study diverse social phenomena ranging from online conversations, friendship, and families to neighborhoods, governments, and social movements.
Our classes explore topical areas such as cities and communities, inequality, immigration, social identities such as race, class, and gender, ethnic relations and social conflict, social media and digital identities, and social dimensions of education, law, politics, culture, and sexuality.

Consider taking an introductory course to get acquainted with the discipline and understand how sociologists look at the world.

Take courses with a variety of instructors to get a sense of the broad range of methodological and theoretical approaches to the field. Don’t underestimate the value of the quantitative skills you learn in the major—they will open up many career opportunities after graduation. Sociologists are well positioned to impact public understanding of urgent problems facing our society and our courses are geared toward analyzing and promoting social change.

There are none.

There are none.

Theater offers students opportunities to study acting, directing, design and production, theater history and criticism, and playwriting within the broader context of a liberal arts education. Students engage in all aspects of performance, both artistic and technical.

Although some of our more advanced courses have prerequisites, we invite and encourage interested students to broaden their Oberlin experience by auditioning for Acting 100 or approaching the faculty for consent into our various introductory production and design classes. And, of course, auditions for department productions are open to the Oberlin community.

Audition for shows! Sign up for 199! Look for a job in one of our shops or offices. Audition for THEA 100. Take THEA 172. Volunteer for a Kander Theater director working on their capstone and learn by collaborating with someone who has been in your place just a few semesters ago. Although there are many performance and production opportunities on campus, don’t miss out on the opportunity to do some career building with our faculty and staff, who can help you make a plan for your future.