Getting Started with Your Classes
You might have initial questions about registering for classes or have concerns about the process. The FAQs below will hopefully answer many of your questions!
1. How do I know which undergraduate College or School I'm entering?
Mercer has five undergraduate Colleges/Schools: the School of Engineering (EGR); the Stetson School of Business and Economics (BEM); the Tift College of Education (EDM); the College of Liberal Arts (CLA); and the Townsend School of Music. If you are not interested in studying engineering, education (other than secondary education), music or business, then you will likely be enrolled in the College of Liberal Arts. CLA houses twenty-seven majors ranging from art to physics, just to name a few. It is also a great place to start if you are undecided about a major!
2. What if I start in a particular College/School and then want to change my interest to a different College/School once I start classes?
That's not a problem! General Education requirements - those courses required of all students regardless of major - are very similar in all the Colleges/Schools. Because there are exceptions that apply to the School of Engineering, please follow-up with an academic advisor regarding your potential switch.
3. What if I have no idea what I want to major in?
That's not a problem either! Many entering students are undecided about their major, and many change majors even after declaring. There are ample opportunities to explore different subject areas and many campus resources that will help you eventually narrow your field of study. Students in the College of Liberal Arts are not expected to declare a major until the end of their sophomore year.
4. What if I'm still not sure what I want to take my first semester?
Make choices with which you are most comfortable at this point. Staff members and academic advisors can help clarify your selections at designated times during Summer and Fall Orientations.
5. What if I make a mistake and choose a wrong class?
Your schedule will be checked and rechecked by academic advisors with your interests in mind. Because you're just getting started, it will be almost impossible to make a "wrong" choice! We will, however, help you make "better" choices!
6. Can I talk to a "real, live" academic advisor about this "stuff?"
You will meet with an academic advisor for the first time during Summer Orientation and have several additional opportunities once you have returned to campus.
7. What mathematics course(s) should I take and should I take the math placment exam?
Mathematics Placement Policy: Success in any mathematics course depends on the student’s understanding of skills and information that was taught in previous mathematics courses. In order to ensure this success, we calculate the Math-Index score (100*HS-GPA Math-SAT) and use it to place the students as follows:
- Math-Index < 850: The student may take MAT 095 or 104
- 850 Math-Index < 950 The student may take MAT 126, 131, 133, or CSC 204
- 950 Math-Index: The student may take MAT 141, 191, or CSC 204
If a student wishes to change this initial placement, the student can take a written placement test online which is used as follows:
- 11 Score on test: The student may take MAT 126, 131, 133, or CSC 204
- 15 Score on test: The student may take MAT 141, 191, or CSC 204
Advanced Placement Exam A student will receive credit for MAT 192 with a score of 4 or 5 on either the AP Calculus AB or BC Placement Exam. With a score of 5 on the BC Placement Exam, a student may receive additional credit to be determined by interview with the Department Chair. A student will receive credit for MAT 121 with a score of 3.
In order to complete the Common Core in the General Education Program, every student in the College of Liberal Arts must receive credit for one of the following mathematics courses:
- Finite Mathematics (MAT 104)
- Statistics (MAT 126)
- Calculus (MAT 121, 141 or 191)
- Computer Programming (CSC 204)
The Math Department will assess the student's level of preparation according to the policy described above. The student will then be placed into one of the classes listed above or into one of the following classes (none of which satisfies General Education requirements) to prepare the student for one of the Calculus or Statistics courses:
- PreCalculus (MAT 133) teaches algebra and trigonometry and prepares a student to take MAT 191 Calculus.
- College Algebra (MAT 131) teaches algebra and prepares a student to take MAT 141 Calculus for the Social Sciences.
- Intermediate Algebra (MAT 095) teaches basic algebra skills and prepares the student to take MAT 126 Statistics, MAT 131 College Algebra, or MAT 133 PreCalculus (no college credit is given for MAT 095).
We recommend the following choices, but encourage you to talk to an academic advisor if you have any questions:
- Physics and Chemistry majors, Mathematics majors, Computer Science majors, and PreHealth majors should take MAT 191 Calculus.
- Biology majors must take or exempt MAT 133 Pre-Calculus, but may take MAT 126 Statistics or MAT 191 Calculus to fulfill General Education requirements.
- Social Science (Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology) majors should take MAT 126 Statistics or MAT 141 Calculus for the Social Sciences, but may take MAT 191.
- Majors in the Humanities and Fine Arts should take MAT 104 Finite Mathematics, but may take MAT 126 Statistics, MAT 141 or 191 Calculus, or CSC Computer Programming.
- Undecided students should talk to their academic advisors about this choice, but might consider taking MAT 191 Calculus since it provides the most flexibility in terms of future choices.
8. Do I need to take the Foreign Language Placement Exam?
The Foreign Language Placement Exam is required of all students who have studied French, German, Latin, or Spanish in high school for two or more years and to whom one of these situations applies:
- They wish to continue study of that language, or
- They wish to prove basic competency in that language, thereby exempting the foreign language requirement (111-112) for the College of Liberal Arts.
The Foreign Language Placement Exam is not required of students who meet any of these criteria:
- They wish to begin the study of a new language,
- They have had less than two years of formal study in the language,
- They are International students who made a score of at least 550 on the TOEFL, or
- They are not required by they school or college or residence to prove basic competency as part of their curriculum.
The department uses the scores on the test to determine the student's level in the language and to ensure that the student begins language study at Mercer in the appropriate course. Students may be placed in 111, 112, 251, (FL requirement satisfied) or higher. Placement exam results are binding. Students who place into and successfully complete 251 or above will receive four additional hours of credit towards graduation. Students who have extensive experience in the language (4 years) or who are native speakers should speak to the chair of the department (Dr. Achim Kopp, 301-2761) or a professor in that language for further advice on placement.
This exam will be offered during Summer Orientation sessions. Please come prepared to take the foreign-language placement exam on the morning of your summer orientation.
9. What happens to my Academic Profile once I submit it?
Staff members from Academic and Advising Services will review your Profile and support your choices and/or make better recommendations. They may even call you about your choices. A group of faculty and staff members will then work to register all new students before the first Summer Orientation is held. New students will meet with an academic advisor during Summer and Fall Orientations to ask questions about the courses, clarify meeting times, change schedules, etc.
10. When will I see my schedule?
Be prepared for the "unveiling" during a Summer Orientation session!
11. When can I make changes in my schedule?
You can make changes with an academic advisor during Summer Orientation. Schedule. You will have ample time to work with a skilled academic advisor on your fall schedule at that time. Schedule adjustments will not be made over the phone.
12. Will I get all of my top choices?
Not necessarily. We make every effort to honor your requests, but depend on your providing a variety of course interests in the event certain courses are full/closed. Many things will go into creating the best schedule for you, including appropriateness of courses, availability of courses and prerequisites that might be required of some courses.
13. Can I just register myself?
After your first semester at Mercer, you will begin using the online registration system.
14. What if I still have questions after reading all of this registration information?
Please call the Office of Academic and Advising Services at (478) 301-2078. Staff members will be more than happy to assist you. Engineering students should email Mr. David McClellan at mcclellan_dm@mercer.edu or call (478) 301-2153.
Mercer University