FAQ: first-year writing

Q: Do I have to take a First-Year Writing course if I complete the Writing Practicum?
A: Yes. The Writing Practicum is NOT a substitute for the First-Year Writing Requirement.

Q: Can my AP Composition credits count as a First-Year Writing course?
A: No. AP Composition credits count only as elective credits toward graduation.

FAQ: quantitative reasoning

Q: Can my AP Calculus or transfer credits be used to meet the QR requirement?
A: No. AP credits cannot be used to meet the QR requirement, but you can use these credits to meet course prerequisites (for example, AP Calculus credits gives you UM credit for Introductory Calculus) and toward the 120 credits you need to graduate. In addition, most transfer credits do not automatically meet the QR requirement. For example, even if a math course you took at a community college transfers to UM as Math 115, it will not meet the QR requirement unless approved by petition to the LSA QR Committee. The only exceptions are transfer credits for Physics 125, 126, 140, 240 or any three- or four-credit Statistics course.

Q: If QR is not just Calculus, which courses meet the requirement?
A: A wide variety of courses meet the QR requirement, including, as QR/1, Math 115, 116, and 215; Statistics 100, 170, and 350; Physics 125; Physics 126; and as QR/2, Economics 101 and 102; Chemistry 130; Astronomy 101, 102, 111, and 112; and Geological Sciences 222. For a complete list of approved courses for each semester, check the LSA Online Course Guide.

Q: Can a QR course also count toward my concentration or distribution requirements?
A: Yes. For example, Statistics 350 meets the QR requirement and also counts as four credits of natural science for distribution (as long as you are not using the course toward your concentration).

Q: Do I have to take a Math or Statistics course?
A: Only if your department requires Math or Statistics courses for completion of a concentration.

FAQ: race & ethnicity

Q: Can my AP credits be used to meet the R&E requirement?
A: No. AP credits cannot be used to meet the R&E requirement.

Q: Can a transfer course meet the R&E requirement.
A: Generally, no. Transfer courses can meet the R&E requirement only if they meet a strict set of criteria established by the LSA R&E Committee. The reason for this is that two courses with a similar title could have dramatically different course content. For example, even though Anthropology 101 at UM meets the R&E requirement, many Anthropology transfer courses will not because they may not focus on the impact of racial and ethnic intolerance.

Q: Can an R&E course count toward my concentration or distribution requirements?
A: Yes. For example, Anthropology 101 meets the R&E requirement and also counts as four credits of social science for distribution (as long as you are not an Anthropology concentrator).

FAQ: language

Q: Can my AP credits be used to meet the Language Requirement?
A: Yes. If you receive AP language credit you may use those credits to meet your LSA Language Requirement.

Q: Do all students need to complete the Language Requirement?
A: The only LSA students exempt from the Language Requirement are BGS students.

Q: May I take any of my language courses Pass/Fail?
A: Yes. Although it is not encouraged, you may take any language course Pass/Fail EXCEPT the fourth semester. The fourth-semester course must be taken for a grade.

Q: Can I earn retroactive credits in a language?
A: Yes. Students who have done very well on their language placement exam (in Latin, German, Spanish, French, or Hebrew) may be eligible to receive retroactive credit. Consult your academic advisor or the LSA Bulletin for details.

Q: Can I be placed in a higher- or lower-level language course than that indicated by my placement score?
A: If the instructor of the course in which you have been placed feels that a change of level is advisable, this can be arranged during the first week or two of classes. You CANNOT take a course lower than that indicated by your placement-test score and still receive credit toward graduation without the written approval of the coordinator of the language course in which you are originally placed. Similarly, if you feel confident that your language preparation warrants taking a higher-level course than your score suggests, talk it over with your academic advisor. If he or she agrees, you may attempt the higher-level course.

FAQ: distribution

Q: Can courses from my concentration also be used to meet distribution requirements?
A: Courses from your concentration cannot be used for distribution. For example, if you are an English concentrator, no courses from the English department can be used towards distribution. The only exception to this policy is that courses that are prerequisites for a concentration and are from outside that department can be used for distribution. For example, if you are concentrating in Biology, prerequisite courses such as Chemistry 130, Math 115, Physics 125/127, etc., can be used for distribution.

Q: Can my cognates count toward distribution?
A: Even though cognate courses are from outside your concentration department, they still count as part of your concentration and, therefore, cannot be used toward distribution.

Q: If I’m planning on a double concentration, can the courses from my second concentration count toward distribution?
A: Yes. If you complete a double concentration, you can use the courses from one of the concentrations to meet distribution requirements.

Q: Can distribution courses be taken Pass/Fail or Credit/No Credit?
A: Yes.

Q: Can distribution courses overlap with the R&E, QR, First-Year Writing, and Upper-Level Writing requirements?
A: Yes.

Q: Can Non-LSA courses be used toward distribution?
A: There are a limited number of Non-LSA courses at UM that have been approved to count as Creative Expression credit for distribution. For a complete list, see the LSA Bulletin or the LSA Online Course Guide.

Q: Can transfer credits count toward distribution?
A: Typically, yes. As long as the courses are not going to count toward your concentration and are LSA courses (see your advisor if you are not sure whether your transfer credits are LSA credits), they can be used towards distribution. Courses that transfer at the 400-level cannot be used for distribution.

Q: Can AP credits count toward distribution?
A: No.