Orientation FAQs
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1. Can I use AP credit for distribution?
Yes.
2. How do I try out for Marching Band?
Marching Band auditions are held on the third day of Orientation. For more information, contact Maggie St. Clair at mstclair@umich.edu or (734) 764-0582.
3. Can I take an art class or a music class?
Yes you can. Some classes in the School of Art and Design or the School of Music are actually set aside for non-art or non-music students.
4. What is an average course load for first-year students?
12-18 credits is considered full-time and costs the same amount of money. Most first-year students take 12-15 credits. Don’t be afraid to take fewer credits first semester as you make the transition to college.
5. Can I take back-to-back classes?
Yes, you can. At Michigan classes finish on the hour and begin at ten minutes past the hour, so you have a ten-minute passing time. Classroom buildings that are on Central Campus are all within walking distance. If you are going to a class on North Campus you will need to leave more room in your schedule.
6. What are the advantages of a First-Year Seminar?
First-Year Seminars are small (about 20 students per class) classes that are discussion-based and taught by professors. This is a chance to get to know a faculty member well and to study something in-depth from the very beginning of your college education.
7. Do I have to take Math?
You do not necessarily have to take a math class. Some majors require it or you might want to. Our Quantitative Reasoning requirement can be fulfilled with other types of classes, economics, astronomy or statistics, for example.
8. What is the difference between ENGLISH 124 and 125?
The biggest difference is that ENGLISH 124 is literature-based and ENGLISH 125 is non-fiction based. Both are writing courses but if you enjoy writing about literature you should pick 124.
Some other course options for your first-year writing class are:
- CLCIV 101 (Classical Civilization: The Ancient Greek World – honors section only)
- COMPLIT 122
(Comparative Literature: The Writing of World Literature)
- GTBOOKS 191 (Great Books)
- HISTORY 195 (The Writing of History)
- LHSP 125 (College Writing)
- RCCORE 100 (First Year Seminar)
- SLAVIC 151 (First Year Seminar)
9. What is the Writing Practicum?
The Writing Practicum (SWC100) is a 2-credit course that is not graded. It is offered for credit or no-credit. It is a very small class with a lot of one-on-one time with an instructor. You will do a lot of revising of your writing. If you elect SWC 100 you still need to take a First-Year Writing course the following semester.
10. Does my AP English credit meet the First-Year Writing requirement?
No, AP credit does not meet this requirement.
11. What if I can’t take First-Year Writing during the Fall semester?
If you can’t take your writing class during the Fall, you can take it Winter Term.
12. What are language retro-credits?
You might be eligible to receive retroactive credits in French, German, Hebrew, Latin or Spanish if you place into the fourth term of that language or higher. You must take the appropriate language course and receive a B or better to be eligible for the credits. You might receive up to 8 credits. Talk with you advisor for more details.
13. Do I have to take the General Chemistry Lab (Chem 125/126) with the General Chemistry class (Chem 130)?
You do not have to take these classes together although it is preferable to do so. You may split them up and take the lab in a subsequent term. If you are a pre-med student, then you are required to take the lab at some point.
14. What should I take if I am pre-med?
Most pre-med students start the fall term with General Chemistry (Chem 130) and the General Chem Lab (Chem 125/126). You do need to take the lab for Medical School. If you have AP credit for General Chemistry or test out on the placement exam, then you might take an introductory Biology course (Bio 171 which focuses on Ecology and Evolutionary Biology or Biology 172 which focuses on Cellular, Molecular and Developmental Biology) or Organic Chemistry (Chem 210/211). Another science you could consider would be Physics. Try out the LSA pre-health web site for more details. And be sure to discuss your options with your advisor at orientation.
15. What are the pre-law requirements?
There are none. You may take whatever you like and still apply to Law School.
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16. What is the difference between a 100-level class and a 300-level class?
Most of the time 100 level classes are introductory, 200 level are intermediate, and 300 and 400 level are upper level. Always check the prerequisites and descriptions of courses you are interested in before registering for the course.
17. What classes do I take?
If you know what you want to study, you can find your degree requirements on the Kinesiology website listed under Academic Programs. The courses required for the major are listed. We encourage you to know your degree requirements but also encourage you to meet with your Office of Student Services (OSS) or Faculty Advisor who can assist you in selecting courses for the semester. Your advisor will work with you to choose courses that make the most sense for you to take. Please be aware that this doesn’t mean that you will get the courses you choose. Also, please come to your advising session prepared and have a plan of courses you’re considering for the term. You should always have a back-up option, in case the courses that you want fill up or are for some reason are unavailable to you.
18. Who is my advisor?
You will have an Office of Student Services (OSS) advisor assigned to you at orientation. In addition, once you declare your major you will be alphabetically assigned a Faculty Advisor. Athletic Training and Physical Education students begin meeting with faculty advisors during their freshman year, Sport Management during their junior year, and Movement Science when they declare. See the Advising section for more information on advising assignments.
19. What are my requirements?
Your requirements are listed on the Kinesiology website in several locations:
- listed under each major
- the Kinesiology Bulletin
- handouts are also available in the Kinesiology Student Study and Career Resource Center (1150 Observatory Lodge) or outside 1128 Observatory Lodge.
It’s your responsibility to know and meet your requirements; however, students are strongly encouraged to consult with their faculty or Office of Student Services (OSS) advisor each term to plan an individualized curriculum and monitor progress toward a degree. Beyond the approval of course elections, the relationship between advisor and student can be a valuable aspect of the educational experience.
20. Which Kinesiology Bulletin do I follow?
Your degree requirements are in the Kinesiology Bulletin in effect when you entered the program. If the requirements change before you graduate, you have the option of following the original degree program or meeting the new requirements.
21. What are distribution requirements and how do I know what counts as distribution?
Students in Kinesiology must complete a minimum of 12 credit hours in courses designated as Humanities (HU), Natural Science (NS), and Social Science (SS), except for those in Physical Education who must complete 9 HU, 12 NS, and 9 SS. Language (LR), is not required; however, if you take a language course, it will fulfill a HU requirement. Creative Expression (CR) courses also fulfill HU requirements. Math, Quantitative Reasoning (QR), and Computer Science (EECS) courses also fulfill NS requirements.
* Note: All English composition courses designated as EXCL or HU may be counted as HU, but courses designated as Introductory Composition (CLCIV 101, COMPLIT 122, ENGLISH 124, ENGLISH 125, GTBOOKS 191, HISTORY 195, LHSP 125, RCCORE 100, SLAVIC 151) may not be counted.
22. Where can I find distribution requirements?
Most of these courses will be taken in the University’s College of Literature, Science and the Arts (LS&A). Students may consult either the LS&A Bulletin (published yearly) or the University Course Guide. Courses with the designation EXCL, N EXCL and Introductory Composition may not be used to fulfill the distribution requirement; however, there are exceptions, so please, if you have questions or need help determining distribution credit, please consult with an Office of Student Services (OSS) advisor.
23. Where can I find descriptions for Kinesiology courses?
You can find course descriptions for each major in the Undergraduate Academic Program section.
24. What is waitlisting?
If a course you want to register for is closed in web registration, you will want to get on the waitlist. You should do one or all of the following:
- get on the waitlist through web registration, then attend the first class meeting;
- go to the department office to get on the waitlist, then attend the first class meeting;
- visit the faculty/instructor office or email the instructor about getting an override for the course;
- wait until classes start, and then attend the first class meeting.
Policies and procedures will be explained by each department or instructor.
25. When do I declare my major?
Many students declare a major at the time of enrollment and all are encouraged to choose a program of study by the end of their first year. You can download the declaration form and return to the Office of Student Services (OSS) or obtain one from your OSS advisor.
26. How do I get involved in Kinesiology student groups?
Check out the Student Groups page on the Kinesiology web site and contact the appropriate representative for more information.
27. What do I do if I’m having academic difficulty with a course?
If you are having difficulty in a course, you should see the instructor and/or graduate student instructor (GSI), immediately. It is important to talk with them about your performance in the course and request assistance or determine what options are available to you. Once you talk with your instructor, see an Office of Student Services (OSS) advisor to discuss your options IMMEDIATELY, especially if you’re considering dropping the course.
- OSS determines if a drop will be allowed; therefore, the sooner you address the issue with them, the better.
- There are deadlines you must meet when you want to drop a course therefore, DO NOT wait until late in the semester or at the end of the semester to decide you want to drop a course.
Take appropriate action immediately in order to prevent dealing with a difficult situation down the road.
28. Who can I talk to if I’m having personal issues?
If you feel comfortable, talk to a faculty member, Office of Student Services (OSS) advisor, or graduate student instructor (GSI). There are other resources on campus such as:
The important thing for you to remember is that unresolved personal issues can interfere with your academic performance. There are many resources available to you and there are people here who want to help you, but you need to take the initiative and ask for assistance.
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