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Open Option Program – School of Science
The Open Option – Science program is designed for first year students who are undecided about their major, but think they might want to major in, or have a career involving, one of the subjects offered within the School of Science (Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics and Statistics, or Physics). It is NOT a major with which you can graduate from The College of New Jersey. This program is designed to be followed for the first year of undergraduate study (or at most the first two years), with regular use of developmental academic advising, to explore interests until a major is declared.
First Semester Schedule:
Four courses of one course unit each, plus a seven week non-credit Orientation to Science seminar.
Most course selection will take place during June Orientation, with advisement, but you may request to be pre-registered for some courses.
Must take:
- SCI 099: Orientation to Science (0 course units)
- FSP ###: First Seminar (1 course unit)
for descriptions see: http://www.tcnj.edu/~liberal/fsp/ then select 'Course Descriptions'
Probably will take, depending upon major interests, at least one of:
- MAT 127: Calculus A (1 course unit)
Math SAT score of 650 or higher recommended but no lower than 600 and 4 years high school math - CHE 201: General Chemistry I (1 course
unit)
must have placed into MAT 096, MAT 127 or MAT 128
and, depending upon your interests, one of:
- If Comp. Sci., CSC 220: Computer
Science I: Computational Problem Solving (1 course unit)
or: CSC 250: Accelerated Computer Science I & II
see department for qualifications - If Math/Stat, MAT 200: Discrete Mathematics (1 course unit)
- If Physics or Chemistry, PHY 201: General Physics I (1 course unit) must have placed into MAT 127 or MAT 128
Finally, to explore beyond science, a Liberal Learning course from:
- Arts and Humanities
(Literary, Visual &
Performing Arts)
(World View & Ways of Knowing)
OR
- Social Sciences and History
(Behavior, Social or Cultural Perspectives)
(Social Change in Historical Perspective)
OR
- Second Language (placement testing required for any language studied in high school or other institution)
Second Semester of First Year Schedule
4 courses of 1 course unit (4 student credit hours) each.
Most course selection should take place on your own, using the advising resources discussed in SCI 099, but final selection advisement will take place during the October in a one-on-one meeting with your advisor.
Registration for selected courses takes place on your own, via TESS, according to the registration schedule.
Must take
- WRI 102: Academic Writing (1 course unit)
Unless you are exempt from the requirement(SAT scores of 580 or higher in both math & science or TCNJ writing placement test)
Probably at least one of (depending upon major interests) the second courses in a two-course sequence begun in the Fall:
- CHE 202: General Chemistry II (1 course unit)
If you are passing CHE 201: General Chemistry I in the Fall and want to continue the General Chemistry sequence. - CSC 230: Computer Science II: Data Structures and Algorithms: (1 course unit)
If you are passing CSC 220: Computer Science I: Computational Problem Solving in the Fall and want to continue the Computer Science sequence. - MAT 128: Calculus B (1 course unit)
If you are passing MAT 127: Calculus A in the Fall and want to continue the Calculus sequence. - PHY 202: General Physics II (1 course unit)
If you are passing PHY 201: Physics I in the Fall and want to continue the Physics sequence.
And depending upon your interests, one of:
- If Biology, BIO 185: Themes in Biology (1 course unit) or BIO 211, Biology of the Eukaryotic Cell, which has prerequisites BIO 185 and CHE201 and co-requisite CHE202 (1 course unit)
- If Chemistry, PHY 201, General Physics I, or PHY 202, General Physics II (1 course unit)
Note: PHY 202 must be completed by end of Fall Sophomore year for a chemistry major.
- If Mathematics, MAT 205: Linear Algebra or MAT 200: Discrete Mathematics (1 course unit)
- If Statistics, STA 215: Statistical Inference (1 course unit)
Finally, depending upon your interests and your need to explore beyond science, an additional Liberal Learning or language course from:
- Arts and Humanities
Literary, Visual & Performing Arts
World View & Ways of Knowing
- Social Sciences and History
Behavior, Social or Cultural Perspectives
Social Change in Historical Perspective
- Second Language (placement testing may be required)
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