Science Sequencing

Placement in the appropriate section and the correct sequencing of Math and Science courses is critical for first-year students.

Below is information on the sequence of the introductory curriculum in Math, Chemistry, Physics, Engineering, Computer Science, Biology and pre-health.

If questions arise it is appropriate to contact or to have the student make an appointment with the appropriate departmental advisor or contact.

Math: Scott Pauls (646-1047)
Chemistry: Jon Kull (646-1552)
Engineering: Erland Schulson (646-3677)
Computer Science: Chris Bailey-Kellogg (646-0245)
Biology: Elizabeth Smith (646-1129)
Pre-Health: Stacy Barton (Career Services, 646-3377)

Traditional Sequencing for Math:

3-8-13 (or 14)
11 or 12 (advanced placement)

NB:
MATH 3 (or 1 if a student is doing the 1-2 IAS sequence) is the prerequisite for all Chemistry and Physics courses that are part of the pre-health requirements.
MATH 11 is designed specifically for first-year students who placed out of 3 and 8 (and covers the same materials as would be covered through MATH 13)
MATH 12 is the honors section of MATH 11.

See Math Placement and Sequencing for more information on Math classes.

Traditional Sequencing for Chemistry:

5-6-51-52 or 5-6-57-58 (traditional)
2-5-6-51-52 or 3-6-57-58 (IAS – Integrated Academic Support supports CHEM 2)
10-51-52 or 10-57-58 (Honors)

NB:
In terms of covering prerequisite material for higher level Chemistry courses, CHEM 2, an invitation-only course, is a pre-cursor to CHEM 5, and is supported by the Integrated Academic Support Program run through the Academic Skills Center. A student invited to take CHEM 2 must successfully complete the course in order to then take CHEM 5.
CHEM 10 is the honors section for first-year students with a strong background in Chemistry and Mathematics. In one term, the course covers selected General Chemistry topics important for higher level Chemistry courses. Mathematics preparation equivalent to MATH 3 is required. Successful completion of CHEM 10 results in credit for both CHEM 5 and CHEM 10.
Prerequisites for the Chemistry major vary depending on the track, but at a minimum include: CHEM 5-6 (or 2-5-6, or 10), MATH 3 and 8 (or equivalent), and PHYS 13-14 (or 3-4, or 15-16).
CHEM 2 is only offered in the fall, CHEM 5 is offered only fall and winter, CHEM 6 is only offered spring.
For those students who want to fulfill pre-health requirements, it is often useful to work backwards from when they want to take the Organic Chemistry sequence (CHEM 51-52 or 57-58).

Traditional Sequencing for Physics:

13-14 (traditional)
15-16 (honors)
3-4 (terminal – often for the pre-health track and non-physical science majors)

NB:
Prerequisites for the Physics major include MATH 3, 8, 13, and 23, and PHYS 13 (15) and 14 (16).
13-14 is available fall-winter or winter-spring. The fall-winter offering requires placement into MATH 3. MATH 8 is a co-requisite for PHYS 13.
15-16 is available fall-winter only. The entrance exam offered during orientation must be taken for admission to PHYS 15.
PHYS 3 is available summer or fall and PHYS 4 winter or spring. Pre-health and non-physical science majors often take these courses after the first year, sometimes starting with the sophomore summer.

Traditional Sequencing for Engineering in the First-Year:

MATH 3-8-13, PHYS 13-14, ENGS 20 (With no advanced placement)
MATH 8-13/14 with PHYS 13-14; ENGS 20 or 21 (With AP credit for MATH 3)

NB:
First year should include at least MATH 3-8 and PHYS 13-14. (In which case, MATH 13, ENGS 20 and 21 can be taken in the second year.)
A student who has credit for MATH 3 will help him/herself out by also doing MATH 13 and/or either ENGS 20 or 21 in the first year.
Students interested in Computer Science as well as Engineering should take COSC 5 instead of ENGS 20.
Students interested in pre-health or chemical/biochemical engineering may be advised to take CHEM 5-6 in the first year instead of Physics, or take PHYS 13-14 in the second year.

Traditional Sequencing for Computer Science

5-8-19-25 (No AP credit)
5-8-23 (No AP credit)
5-8 or 37 (No AP credit)
AP credit begins with 8 and/or 19.

NB:
Students with AP credit for COSC 5 will see a placement on their record for COSC 8 and 19.
COSC 19 may be taken either concurrently with COSC 8 or afterward.
MATH 19 is equal to and interchangeable with COSC 19.
Though sequencing may vary, a major must take: COSC 5, 8, 19 (or MATH 19), 23, 25, 37, 39, and 57/78.
Sec http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/ug_faq.php#sequences for more information

Biology:

There is now a single entrance into the major, BIOL 11 (The Science of Life). From here, a student can take any of the Biology “foundation” courses (numbered 12-16), and these can be taken in any order.

NB:
Prerequisites for the Biology majors include: CHEM 5-6, plus a quantitative course (e.g. MATH 4 or higher, COSC 5, BIOL 29) and so a potential major should begin these in the first year.

Pre-Health:

See Required Courses for Medical, Dental, and Veterinatry Schools for more complete information.

These courses below are offered in the following sequences:

MATH 3: offered fall and winter. It (or placing out of it) is a prerequisite for most science sequences.
MATH 8: offered fall, winter, and spring.
MATH 11 (12): offered fall term only (intended for first-year students)
MATH 13: offered fall, winter, and spring.
CHEM 5-6: offered fall-spring (with a gap winter term) or winter-spring. Note that CHEM 6: offered only in the spring.
CHEM 2-5-6: a fall-winter-spring sequence. Placement into CHEM 2 is by invitation only, and will be noted on a student’s placement record. A student invited to take CHEM 2 must successfully complete the course in order to then take CHEM 5.
CHEM 10: offered fall only, and only to first-year students.
CHEM 51-52: offered fall-winter, and spring-summer.
CHEM 57-58: offered fall-winter.
PHYS 3-4: can be taken fall-winter, or fall-spring (with a gap in the winter) or summer-winter or summer-spring.
PHYS 13-14: offered fall-winter, or winter-spring
BIOL 11 is offered fall, winter and spring. This is the prerequisite for all the “foundation courses” (12-16).

General Principles for Advising and Scheduling Courses in the Sciences