Expand each drop-down for more details.

Accounting and Business

Majors and/or Concentrations

  • Major: Accounting (B.S.)
  • Major: Business Administration (B.S.)
  • Concentrations: Commerce, Economic Policy, International Business, Investments, Leadership, Sports Management
  • Minor in Accounting and Business Administration

List of appropriate major courses for first-year students:

  • BUSN 101 Contemporary Business Issues
  • FIN 201 Consumer Finance

Recommended First-Year Course Schedule for Business and Accounting students:

Fall:

  • TREK 115 Credo
  • BUSN 101 Contemporary Business Issues
  • Humanities Core
  • Natural Science OR Math (104 or 107)
  • WAC if applicable

Spring:

  • TREK 116 Challenge
  • FIN 201 Consumer Finance
  • Humanities Core
  • Natural Science OR Math (104 or 107)
  • WAC if applicable

Students with higher High School GPAs and test scores may be enrolled in courses such as ECON 211 (fall), ECON 212 (spring), and/or BUSN 223. Students with multiple commitments (e.g. athletes) may be advised to take 12-13 hours in their first year.

Economics majors are not required to take BUSN 101 and FIN 201, but they are recommended. Economics majors with ACT scores 24 or above may consider taking ECON 211 in the fall and ECON 212 in the spring in lieu of an Humanities core.

Who to contact for information:
Barbara Davis, bdavis@centenary.edu

Biology

Majors and/or Concentrations

  • Major: Biology (BS)
  • Major: Biology (BA)
  • Minor in Biology

List of appropriate major courses for first-year students:

  • BIOL 101 Principles and Methods of Biology

Students with acceptable AP credit may start their biology curriculum with BIOL 202.

Recommended First-Year Course Schedule for Biology students:

For students with a Math ACT score of 20 or higher

Fall:

  • BIOL 101 Principles and Methods of Biology
  • CHEM 121/123 General Chemistry I and General Chemistry Laboratory I
  • TREK 115 Credo
  • MATH 115 Calculus I (if ACT score of 25 or higher. Otherwise, MATH 107 Precalculus)
  • WAC if applicable

Spring:

  • BIOL 202 Structure and Function of Organisms
  • CHEM 122/124 General Chemistry II and General Chemistry Laboratory II
  • TREK 116 Challenge
  • MATH 115 Calculus I if needed or PHYS 104/114 Physics I/Physics Laboratory I
  • WAC if applicable

For students with a Math ACT score of 20 or lower

Fall

  • BIOL 101 Principles and Methods of Biology
  • TREK 115 Credo
  • MATH 104 or 107
  • Humanities or Social Sciences Core
  • WAC if applicable

Spring:

  • BIOL 202 Structure and Function of Organisms
  • CHEM 122/124 General Chemistry II and General Chemistry Laboratory II
  • TREK 116 Challenge
  • MATH 107 or 115 Calculus I
  • WAC if applicable

Who to contact for information:
Scott Chirhart, schirhart@centenary.edu

Chemistry and Biochemistry

Majors and/or Concentrations:

  • Major: Chemistry (B.S.)
  • Major: Chemistry (B.S. - ACS-accredited degree)
  • Major: Biochemistry (B.S.)

The ACS-accredited degree is appropriate for students seeking to pursue graduate work (Masters or PhD) in chemistry or to work in chemical industry immediately after graduation. Students planning to attend professional school (medical, pharmacy, allied health fields) would find adequate preparation in the shorter chemistry degree. The distinction between the two chemistry degrees need not concern 1st year students too much except that it is difficult to complete the ACS-accredited degree in 4 years if they do not start in General Chemistry in the 1st year. See advising information below.

List of appropriate major courses for first-year students:

  • CHEM 121/123 General Chemistry I and General Chemistry Laboratory I (appropriate for any of the three degrees listed above)

Good information for advisors and First-Year students:

  • Students interested in chemistry and biochemistry should enroll in CHEM 121/123 in the first semester. Biochemistry majors and Chemistry majors with interests in the health professions should also enroll in BIOL 101. Chemistry and Biochemistry majors should enroll in the appropriate math course (MATH 107 or MATH 115). CHEM 121/123 is a supportive course for other majors as well, in particular Biology. Students should not enroll in CHEM 121/123 without adequate math preparation (minimum Math ACT of 20 OR prior completion of MATH 107). It is perfectly acceptable for a student to co-enroll in MATH 107 and CHEM 121/123 IF they meet the Math ACT prerequisite. Students with low Math ACT scores should complete MATH 107 (in a few cases preceded by MATH 104) and then take CHEM 121/123 in their sophomore year. If a student has never had high school chemistry, we recommend that they take Chemistry and Society (CHEM 105/115) before they take CHEM 121/123. Students who earn a 4 or 5 on the AP Chemistry exam may start Organic Chemistry I (CHEM 201/211) in their first semester.

Who to contact for information:
Tom Ticich, tticich@centenary.edu

Communication Arts

Majors and/or Concentrations

  • Major: Communication (B.A.)
  • Concentrations: Film/Television/Video New Media Design, and Creative & Strategic Content
  • Minors: Film/Television/Video, New Media Design, and Creative & Strategic Content

List of appropriate major courses for first-year students:

  • COMM 151 Introduction to Design
  • COMM 172 Visual Culture
  • COMM 178 Film Art
  • COMM 200 Media Practicum
  • COMM 211 Scr​eenwriting I
  • COMM 216  ​Introduction to Strategic Communication
  • COMM 218 Introduction to Photography
  • COMM 219 Creative Writing: Poetry
  • COMM 220 Creative Writing: Fiction
  • COMM 221 Digital Film Production(if student has some media production experience)
  • COMM 250 Design History
  • COMM 251 Design Communication
  • COMM 262 Shakespeare and Film

Good information for advisors and First-Year students:

  • Please encourage (but do not force) students to register for FREN or SPAN 101 to begin the required 4 semester sequence
  • Transfer students should work with a primary Communication Arts Program advisor: Michelle Glaros or Jessica Hawkins

Who to contact for information:
Michelle Glaros, mglaros@centenary.edu

Economics

Majors and/or Concentrations

  • Major: Economics (B.A.)
  • Minor in Economics

List of appropriate major courses for first-year students:

  • ECON 211 Principles of Microeconomics
  • ECON 212 Principles of Macroeconomics

Recommended First-Year Course Schedule for Business and Accounting students:

Fall:

  • TREK 115 Credo
  • ECON 211 Principles of Microeconomics
  • Humanities Core or BUSN 101
  • Natural Science OR Math (104 or 107)
  • WAC if applicable

Spring:

  • TREK 116 Challenge
  • ECON 212 Principles of Macroeconomics
  • Humanities Core or FIN 201
  • Natural Science OR Math (104 or 107)
  • WAC if applicable

 

Education

Majors and/or Concentrations

  • Major: Elementary Education, Community & Social Justice concentration (licensure-eligible) (B.A.)
  • Major: Elementary Education, STEM concentration (licensure-eligible) (B.S.)
  • Major: Vocal Music Education (K-12) (licensure-eligible)(B.A.)
  • Minor in Secondary Education (licensure-eligible)
  • Minor in Education (non-licensure)

Appropriate major courses for first-year students:

Appropriate for all students:

  • EDUC 225 Education in a Diverse Society (Hicks), offered every fall, SS Core

Appropriate for majors/minors only:

  • EDUC 235 Language Arts for Children and Young Adults, offered even falls
  • EDUC 255 Foundations of Mathematical Concepts Development, offered even springs
  • EDUC 307 Teaching Children with Special Needs, offered odd springs
  • EDUC 309 Methods of Teaching Social Studies, offered odd falls
  • EDUC 335 Research and Methods in Reading and Language Arts Instruction, offered even falls

Good information for advisors and First-Year students:

  • Any student interested in a licensure-eligible education degree/program including the minor needs to schedule a meeting with Dr. Hicks as soon as possible. State-licensing requirements make it difficult for students to enter in the program late in the game.

Who to contact for information:
Michael Hicks, mhicks@centenary.edu for Elementary and Secondary programs
Cory Wikan, cwikan@centenary.edu for BA in Vocal Music Education

Engineering 3/2 Program

Majors and/or Concentrations:
Students completing the 3/2 program in Engineering can major in Math, Geology, Chemistry, or Biochemistry. They may also design an Individualized major.

List of appropriate major courses for first-year students:

  • MATH 115 Calculus I
  • CSC 207 Introduction to Computer Science
  • CHEM 121/123 General Chemistry I and General Chemistry Laboratory I
  • PHYS 104/114 Physics I and Physics Laboratory I
  • BIOL 101 Principles and Methods of Biology (if Biomedical, Chemical, or Environmental Engineering)

Good information for advisors and First-Year students:

  • Students must be prepared for heavy math concentration. It is best if students can start Calculus right away, and they must earn Bs or better in math and science classes and have 3.25 to admission to a second school.

Who to contact for information:
David Kordahl, dkordahl@centenary.edu

English

Majors and/or Concentrations:

  • Major: English (B.A.)
  • Concentrations: Literary Studies, Creative Writing, Film and Cultural Studies
  • Minor in English

Appropriate major courses for first-year students:

  • ENGL 102: Introduction to Literature [Students sometimes transfer in credit for this course]
  • ENGL 201: Literature and Culture I
  • ENGL 262: Shakespeare and Film
  • ENGL 322: British Literature
  • ENGL 323: American Literature

For students interested in Creative Writing:

  • ENGL 211: Scriptwriting I
  • ENGL 219: Creative Writing: Fiction
  • ENGL 220: Creative Writing: Poetry

For students interested in Film and Cultural Studies:

  • ENGL 172: Visual Culture
  • ENGL 178: Film Art
  • ENGL 262: Shakespeare and Film

Good information for advisors and First-Year students:

  • English serves as an excellent minor given its focus on close-reading, analysis, and writing.

Who to contact for information:
Jeanne Hamming, jhamming@centenary.edu
Jeff Hendricks, jhendric@centenary.edu

Geology

Majors and/or Concentrations:

  • Major: Geology (B.S.)
  • Minor in Geology

List of appropriate major courses for first-year students:

  • GLG 101 The Dynamic Earth plus MATH 107
  • Precalculus or MATH 115 Calculus I depending on proficiency
  • CHEM 121/123 General Chemistry and
  • General Chemistry Laboratory
  • CSC 207 Introduction to Computer Science

Good information for advisors and First-Year students:

  • Professional degree is, BA good for people who may want to go a GIS route by adding some design and CSC courses

 

Who to contact for information:
David Bieler, dbieler@centenary.edu
Scott Vetter, svetter@centenary.edu

History and Political Science

Majors and/or Concentrations

  • Major: History (B.A.)
  • Major: Political Science (B.A.)
  • Minor in Legal Studies

List of appropriate major courses for first-year students:

  • HIST 102: Western Heritage 1300-1789
  • HIST 103: Western Heritage since 1789
  • HIST 205: History of the U.S. to 1877
  • HIST 206: History of the U.S. from 1877
  • PSC 102: American Politics
  • PSC 103: Contemporary Issues in Public Policy
  • PSC 110: Introduction to Comparative Politics
  • PSC 111: Global Politics

Good information for advisors and First-Year students:

  • Sometimes AP/dual enrollment credit for “World History” can be given in place of one of the courses listed above, if the content generally overlaps with the timeframe covered in, say, HIST 102 or PSC 102. This is not always the case. Otherwise, students would receive “295” credit, which helps for hours, but does not count directly toward courses required for the major/minor.

Who to contact for information:
Chad Fulwider, cfulwider@centenary.edu [for History questions, or general questions]
Mandi Donahoe, adonahoe@centenary.edu [for Political Science questions]

Kinesiology

Freshmen KNES Major

Are you pre-med?

  • Yes: Take BIOL 101, TREK 115, CHEM 121/123, and MATH*
  • No: Take BIOL 101, TREK 115, KNES 101, and MATH*

What was your ACT score?

  • If < 20: do NOT put in CHEM 121/123. Instead take KNES 101 and MATH 104 (algebra) or 107 (pre-calc)
  • If between 20 and 25: MATH 104 or 107, depending on high school math
  • If > 25 (and has taken high school pre-calc): MATH 115

Have you taken already received credit for MATH 115 (calculus)?

  • Yes: Take BIOL 101, TREK 115, CHEM 121/123, and KNES 101, BIOL 251 or core

 

Music

Majors and/or Concentrations: 

  • Major: Music (B.A.)
    • General (music studies—no concentration)
    • Choral Music (music education w/out licensure)
    • Composition
    • Performance (voice and all instruments)
    • Sacred Music
  • Major: Vocal Music Education (K–12)(B.A.)
  • Minor in Music

List of appropriate major courses for first-year students?

Music, especially for the first two years, is sequenced and prescriptive. First-year, first-semester students should plan to enroll in:

  • MUS 001 Recital Hour—0hrs*
    • MUS 002 (spring)
  • MUS 107 Voice Lab—1hr
    • all vocalists, no instrumentalists
    • MUS 108 (spring)
  • MUS 111 Introduction to Music Theory—4hrs
    • This is a prerequisite for the required MUS 112/122 (spring)—the Hurley dean may waive this upon examination. AP courses do not necessarily waive the requirement.
  • MUS 130 Piano Class—1hr
    • all majors except those with piano as the primary instrument of study
    • MUS 131 (spring)
  • MXX 1xx Applied Lessons—1hr*
    • FOR MUSIC MAJORS (see next section for non-major lessons)
    • Email Cory Wikan for assistance—all music majors are automatically placed and registered for the appropriate level and studio
  • MUS 151 … 160 Ensemble—1hr*

*Required every semester of study for music majors.

Good information for advisors and First-Year students to know about your program:

Applied lessons for ANY student at Centenary (MXX 140)—1hr

Email Cory Wikan  for placement and registration

  • Flute
  • Oboe
  • Clarinet
  • Saxophone
  • Bassoon
  • Horn
  • Trumpet
  • Trombone
  • Euphonium
  • Tuba
  • Percussion
  • Piano
  • Voice
  • Violin
  • Viola
  • Cello
  • Double Bass
  • Organ
  • Guitar

ALL students are welcome to participate ensembles with a short audition— Contact the Hurley Dean's Office for assistance.

  • Centenary Wind Ensemble: MUS 151 A (1hr—graded); MUS 151 B (0hr—credit/no credit)
  • Centenary College Choir: MUS 153 A (1hr—graded); MUS 153 B (0hr—credit/no credit)
  • Centenary Camerata: MUS 154 A (1hr—graded); MUS 154 B (0hr—credit/no credit)
  • Hurley Orchestra: MUS 156 A (1hr—graded); MUS 156 B (0hr—credit/no credit)
  • Singers’ Workshop: MUS 157 A (1hr—graded); MUS 157 B (0hr—credit/no credit)
  • Percussion Ensemble: MUS 160 A (1hr—graded); MUS 160 B (0hr—credit/no credit)
  • MUS 111 Introduction to Music Theory—4hrs
    This course may be taken by non-majors but it is essential that the student have the ability to read music

  • MUS 143 Music Appreciation—4hrs
    This course is open to all students and Centenary, it is a Humanities Explorations course, and it does not require any previous understanding of music.

 

Who to contact for information?

Hurley Dean's Office 

Philosophy

Majors and/or Concentrations:

  • Major: Philosophy (B.A.)
  • Minor in Philosophy

List of appropriate major courses for first-year students:

  • PHIL 102: Moral Problems
  • PHIL 212: Bioethics
  • PHIL 202: Ethics [okay, though the others are better]

Academically strong students could take other courses if they have an interest and some preparation.

Good information for advisors and First-Year students:

  • It makes a good double-major. Students who have added philosophy to other areas of interest—pre-law, accounting, pre-medicine—have done well. They found philosophy especially helpful because it made them stand out, improved their interviews, and gave them the perspective to advance in their career.
  • The program is flexible so students can fit a philosophy major into their schedule.

Who to contact for information:
Chris Ciocchetti, cciocchetti@centenary.edu

Psychology

Majors and/or Concentrations

  • Major: Psychology (B.A.)

BS in Psychology is only available through the 3-2 Speech-Language Pathology program. Students interested in this program must work with a psychology advisor directly upon admission to the College (if you get “off path” you cannot complete in 3 years).

Appropriate major courses for first-year students:

  • PSY 101: Introduction to Psychology (Zunick), offered every fall, SS core. PSY 101 is not appropriate for psychology majors, it does not count toward the major
  • PSY 230: Cognition (Alexander), offered every spring, SS core
  • PSY 250: Human Growth & Development + TREK 151 Service Learning (Hammond), offered fall/spring*, SS core
    • TREK 151 is a “required” co-req at the time of registration, but students may drop service learning in first week. Weaker first-year students struggle with balancing the field-hours obligations of service-learning, so please discuss with students whether they want to/should complete the CO project or choose to do a different class-based project that will not carry CO credit. If you have students who you know should drop the CO when the class starts, feel free to email me during SOAR.
  • PSY 260: Social Psychology (Zunick), offered 3 of 4 semesters, fall heavy, SS core

Please do not enroll first-year students in:

  • PSY 210: Biological Psychology, offered every fall
  • PSY 205: Introduction to Research Methods and Lab, offered every spring

Good information for advisors and First-Year students:

  • We are happy to take first-year psychology majors on advising-wise prior to spring term registration.
    We hope that psychology majors finish all the 200-level courses (210, 230, 250, 260, 205) by the end of sophomore year and have made strong progress toward core during that time, especially completion of foreign language.

Who to contact for information:
Amy Hammond, ahammond@centenary.edu
Jessica Alexander, jalexander@centenary.edu
Pete Zunick, pzunick@centenary.edu

 

Religious Studies

Majors and/or Concentrations:

  • Major: Religious Studies (B.A.)

List of appropriate major courses for first-year students

  • REL 101: Introduction to Hebrew Bible
  • REL 102: Introduction to Early Christian Literature
    Any 200-Level Course

Good information for advisors and First-Year students:

  • We engage in an academic, scholastic investigation of religions and religious text. Do not expect these courses to resemble Sunday school or any other confessional endeavor. They require just as much reading, study and research as any other college course.

Who to contact for information?
David O. Cowles, dcowles@centenary.edu

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