GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR PLANNING YOUR COURSE SELECTIONS

Please use this page as a guide to assist you as you select and register for your first semester courses. Before registration begins you will be assigned a faculty advisor. You will receive an email from your advisor with a link to Navigate to schedule your advising appointment for registration.

For the purpose of our online pre-selection process, we are concentrating only on the required core courses needed to graduate. During New and Transfer Student Advising you will meet with your faculty advisor to discuss how this first semester fits into your overall curriculum requirements. A typical full-time academic schedule for a new RSMAS student will include 4-5 courses with 1 to 2 labs (15-17 credits).

Course descriptions can be found through Canelink . CaneLink is the University of Miami's online portal for students and faculty. You will use your existing CaneID and password to log on. Please use the guide provided on the New Student Registration webpage to search for courses.

*Transfer Students* – Please make sure to visit our Transfer Students page for instructions on planning your course selections.

AP/IB/CLEP Exams, Dual Enrollment, Transfer Courses, Summer Scholars

• AP/IB (HL) or CLEP exams: If you do not know the results of AP/IB (HL) and CLEP exams at this time, you will need to make a judgment about the potential for receiving credits. Let us know which exams you have or will have taken. Upon receipt of the results, please inform the Rosenstiel Undergraduate office by e-mail at marsci@miami.edu. You may check the AP/IB (HL) credit informationin order to determine the exam scores necessary for the awarding of University of Miami credit for specific courses.
• To have AP and IB (HL) scores evaluated for UM credit, you must request that your scores be sent directly to the UM Office of Admission from the College Board or from your regional IB office  --- a notation on the high school transcript is not sufficient. To have CLEP scores evaluated for UM credit you must submit an Official Test Result Report to the UM Office of Admission. The University of Miami’s School code is 5815.
• Dual Enrollment/Transfer credits:If you took a course for college credit, you must submit official transcripts to the UM Office of Admission from the issuing College or University. A listing on the high school transcript is not sufficient to award college credit. A minimum grade of "C" is required for consideration of credit in all dual enrollment and transfer courses. Please note: All grades earned in these courses are part of your permanent record. If you plan on using a transferred science or math course as an equivalent to a course required for your major, please complete the Transfer Course Equivalency Evaluation Form. Submit the form along with the course syllabus to marsci@miami.edu for processing.  
• Summer Scholars:Students who have taken part in the Summer Scholars MSC107 and MSC115 track will be waived out of MSC112 and should not enroll in MSC112. We would ask that you identify yourself during the enrollment process to ensure this information is recorded within your student file.
• Official test scores and/or transcripts for credits earned from any college/university should be sent to: University of Miami, Office of Admission, P.O. Box 249117, Coral Gables, FL 33124-9117.

Cognates

The University General Education requirements will be completed using cognates. A cognate is a group of at least three courses for at least nine credits, related in a topical, thematic, interdisciplinary, sequential, or other fashion, so that completion of a cognate provides coherent depth of knowledge.

You will need to complete one cognate in each of the three Areas of Knowledge: Arts and Humanities, People and Society (Social Sciences), and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). All undergraduate students in the Rosenstiel School will be required to complete the Arts and Humanities and People and Society cognate but will fulfill their STEM cognate requirement through their major requirements. Students in Marine Affairs will fulfill their People and Society cognate requirement through their minor. To find out more information about cognates here.

Individualized Cognates – Beginning in Fall 2021, UM students can fulfill the Areas of Knowledge general education requirement by creating an individualized cognate. Only courses (UM as well as transfer courses) with an Area of Knowledge course attribute in CaneLink can be used in an individualized cognate. To read more about the specifics for individualized cognates and current approved courses, click here.

Required Courses for Majors

The following sections outline the recommended courses for first-year students enrolling in each major. Students beginning with transfer credit should contact the main office at marsci@miami.edu. The Written Communication Skills and Mathematics requirements for all majors are described below.

• Geological Sciences (B.A. B.S.)

  • Introductory Geology: GSC 110 or GSC 111.
  • Enroll in Written Communication Skills and Mathematics courses as described in their respective sections (See Below).
  • Take an elective towards an Arts and Humanities cognate. See cognates.
  • B.S. students consider Principles of Chemistry with lab: CHM 121 and 113 if you received credit for WRS 105 and 106/107.

  See Bulletin for
  » course description

• Marine Affairs

  • Introduction to Marine Science lecture and lab, MSC 111 and MSC 112.
  • Enroll in Written Communication Skills and Mathematics courses as described in their respective sections (See Below).
  • Introductory Biology BIL 150 or BIL 160.
  • Introductory Chemistry: CHM 110.
  • ECO 211, GSC110, GSC111 or an additional course of your choice. We suggest you begin with the introductory course in your chosen minor, or a course towards an Arts and Humanities cognate. See cognates.

  See Bulletin for
  » course description

• Marine Biology & Ecology

  • Introduction to Marine Science lecture and lab, MSC 111 and MSC 112.
  • Introductory Biology Lecture and Lab: BIL 150 and BIL 151 OR BIL160 and BIL 161.
  • Enroll in Written Communication Skills and Mathematics courses as described in their respective sections (See Below).
  • If you have credit for Introductory Biology (BIL 150/160), you may take Principles of Chemistry Lecture and Lab: CHM 121 and CHM 113.
  • If you place out of Calculus (with an AP score of 5 on Calculus BC, or an IB score of 7 on the HL test); consider taking a Statistics or Computer Science class (MSC 204 or CSC 120) if you are enrolled in 12 credits or less.
  • Students should be enrolled in a minimum of 15 credits.

  See Bulletin for
  » course description

• Marine Science/Biology

  • Introduction to Marine Science and Lab: MSC 111 and MSC 112.
  • Enroll in Written Communication Skills and Mathematics courses as described in their respective sections (See Below).
  • If you place out of Calculus (with an AP score of 5 on Calculus BC, or an IB HL score of 7), take MSC 203, MSC 204, CSC120, GSC 110 or GSC 111.
  • Principles of Chemistry Lecture and Lab: CHM 121 and CHM 113. Students with a Chemistry AP score of 5, or an IB HL score of 7, should take CHM 221 and 205.
  • Consider taking an elective towards a cognate if you place out of WRS 105 and 106/107 (with an AP score of 5 on English Composition and Language). See cognates.

  See Bulletin for
  » course description

• Marine Science/Chemistry

  • Introduction to Marine Science and Lab: MSC 111 and MSC 112.
  • Principles of Chemistry Lecture and Lab: CHM 121 and CHM 113. Students with a Chemistry AP score of 5, or an IB HL score of 7, should take CHM 221 and 205.
  • Enroll in Written Communication Skills and Mathematics courses as described in their respective sections (See Below).
  • If you place out of Calculus (with an AP score of 5 on Calculus BC, or an IB HL score of 7), take MSC 203, MSC 204, CSC120, GSC 110 or GSC 111.
  • Consider taking an elective if you place out of WRS 105 and 106/107 (with an AP score of 5 on English Composition and Language). See cognates.

  
  

  See Bulletin for
  » course description

   

• Marine Science/Computer Science

  • Introduction to Marine Science Lecture and Lab: MSC 111 and MSC 112.
  • Enroll in Written Communication Skills and Mathematics courses as described in their respective sections (See Below).
  • If you place out of Calculus (with an AP score of 5 on Calculus BC, or an IB HL score of 7), take MTH 210 or MTH 309.
  • Consider taking Introductory Chemistry, CHM 121/113 or take an elective towards a cognate if you place out of WRS 105 and 106/107 (with an AP score of 5 on English Composition and Language). See cognates.
  • Take Introduction to Programming I, CSC 120 if you place out of Calculus I (with an AP score of 5 on Calculus AB, an IB HL score or 5 or higher, or an AP score of 4 or 5 on Calculus BC). Students with an AP score of 4 or 5 on Computer Science A or an IB HL score of 6 or 7, can take CSC 220.

  See Bulletin for
  » course description

• Marine Science/Geological Sciences

  • Introduction to Marine Science and Lab: MSC 111 and MSC 112.
  • Introductory Geology: GSC 110 or GSC 111.
  • Enroll in Written Communication Skills and Mathematics courses as described in their respective sections (See Below).
  • Students who place out of Calculus (with an AP score of 5 on Calculus BC, or an IB HL score of 7), should take MSC 203, MSC 204, MTH 224 or CSC 120.
  • Principles of Chemistry Lecture with Lab: CHM 121 and CHM 113.
  • Consider taking an elective towards a cognate if you place out of WRS 105 and 106/107 (with an AP score of 5 on English Composition and Language). See cognates.

  See Bulletin for
  » course description

• Marine Science/Microbiology and Immunology

  • Introduction to Marine Science and Lab: MSC 111 and MSC 112.
  • Enroll in Written Communication Skills and Mathematics courses as described in their respective sections (See Below).
  • If you place out of Calculus (with an AP score of 5 on Calculus BC, or an IB HL score of 7), take MSC 203, MSC 204, CSC 120, GSC 110 or GSC 111.
  • Principles of Chemistry Lecture and Lab: CHM 121 and CHM 113. Students with a Chemistry AP score of 5, or an IB HL score of 7, should take CHM 221 and 205.
  • Consider taking an elective towards a cognate if you place out of WRS 105 and 106/107 (with an AP score of 5 on English Composition and Language). See cognates.

  See Bulletin for
  » course description

• Marine Science/Mathematics

  • Introduction to Marine Science and Lab: MSC 111 and MSC 112.
  • Principles of Chemistry Lecture with Lab: CHM 121 and CHM 113.
  • Enroll in Written Communication Skills and Mathematics courses as described in their respective sections (See Below). Students who place out of Calculus (with an AP score of 5 on Calculus BC, or an IB HL score of 7), should consider taking MSC 203, CSC 120, MTH 210, MTH 224 or MTH 311.
  • Introductory Geology: GSC 110 or GSC 111.
  • Consider taking an elective towards a cognate if you place out of WRS 105 and 106/107 (with an AP score of 5 on English Composition and Language). See cognates.

  See Bulletin for
  » course description

• Marine Science/Physics

  • Introduction to Marine Science and Lab: MSC 111 and MSC 112.
  • Enroll in Written Communication Skills and Mathematics courses as described in their respective sections (See Below).
  • If you place out of Calculus I (with an AP score of 4 on Calculus BC, an AP score of 5 on Calculus AB, or an IB HL score of 5 or 6) take Calculus II, CSC 120, PHY 221 or MSC 203. If you place out of Calculus (with an AP score of 5 on Calculus BC, or an IB score of 7 on the HL test), take PHY 221, MSC 203, CSC 120, MTH 210 or MTH 311.
  • Principles of Chemistry Lecture with Lab: CHM 121 and CHM 113.
  • Consider enrolling in an elective towards a cognate if you place out of WRS 105 and 106/107 (with an AP score of 5 on English Composition and Language). See cognates.

  See Bulletin for
  » course description

• Meteorology

  • Introduction to Weather and Climate: ATM 102.
  • Weather Forecasting: ATM 243.
  • Atmospheric Chemistry: ATM 265.
  • Enroll in Written Communication Skills and Mathematics courses as described in their respective sections (See Below).
  • If you place out of Calculus (with an AP score of 5 on Calculus BC, or an IB score of 7 on the HL test), we recommend that you still consider enrolling in Calculus II, (MTH162 or MTH172). You can also consider taking Linear Algebra, MTH 210. If you have this option please email the Meteorology advisor Lisa Murphy-Goes and she will contact you to discuss.
  • Consider taking an elective towards an Arts and Humanities cognate if you received credit for WRS 105 and 106/107. See cognates.

   See Bulletin for
  » course description

• Meteorology/Broadcast Journalism

  • Introduction to Weather and Climate: ATM 102.
  • Weather Forecasting: ATM 243.
  • Atmospheric Chemistry: ATM 265.
  • Communications School: JMM 108 (Writing in the Digital Age) or JMM 102 (Introduction to Electronic Media) or COM 250 (Freedom of Expression & Ethics)
  • Enroll in Written Communication Skills and Mathematics courses as described in their respective sections (See Below).
  • If you place out of Calculus (with an AP score of 5 on Calculus BC, or an IB score of 7 on the HL test), we recommend that you still consider enrolling in Calculus II, (MTH162 or MTH172). You can also consider taking Linear Algebra, MTH 210. If you have this option please email the Meteorology advisor Dr. Lisa Murphy-Goes she will contact you to discuss.
  • Consider taking an elective towards an Arts and Humanities cognate if you received credit for WRS 105 and 106/107. See cognates.

   See Bulletin for
  » course description

• Meteorology/Marine Science

  • Introduction to Weather and Climate: ATM 102.
  • Weather Forecasting: ATM 243.
  • Principles of Chemistry Lecture and Lab: CHM 121 and CHM 113.
  • Enroll in Written Communication Skills and Mathematics courses as described in their respective sections (See Below).
  • If you place out of Calculus (with an AP score of 5 on Calculus BC, or an IB score of 7 on the HL test), we recommend that you still consider enrolling in Calculus II, (MTH162 or MTH172). You can also consider taking Linear Algebra, MTH 210. If you have this option please email the Meteorology advisor Dr. Lisa Murphy-Goes and she will contact you to discuss.
  • Consider taking an elective towards an Arts and Humanities cognate if you received credit for WRS 105 and 106/107. See cognates.

  See Bulletin for
  » course description

• Meteorology/Mathematics

  • Introduction to Weather and Climate: ATM 102.
  • Weather Forecasting: ATM 243.
  • Atmospheric Chemistry: ATM 265.
  • Enroll in Written Communication Skills and Mathematics courses as described in their respective sections (See Below).
  • If you place out of Calculus (with an AP score of 5 on Calculus BC, or an IB score of 7 on the HL test), we recommend that you still consider enrolling in Calculus II, (MTH162 or MTH172). You can also consider taking Linear Algebra, MTH 210. If you have this option please email the Meteorology advisors, Tony Hynes and Dr. Lisa Murphy-Goes and they will contact you to discuss.
  • Consider taking an elective towards an Arts and Humanities cognate if you received credit for WRS 105 and 106/107. See cognates.

  See Bulletin for
  » course description

• Oceanography

  • Introductory Geology: GSC 111
  • Enroll in Written Communication Skills and Mathematics courses as described in their respective sections (See Below).
  • If you place out of Calculus (with an AP score of 5 on Calculus BC, or an IB score of 7 on the HL test), take MTH 210 or MTH 211 or MTH 311.
  • An introductory science course with lab either: BIL 160 and 161 or CHM 121 and 113. Students with Biology AP scores of 5 (IB HL score of 7), should take CHM 121 and 113.
  • Consider taking either MSC203 or MSC204 if you received credit for WRS 105 and 106/107. Alternatively, BIL 160 and 161 and CHM 121 and 113 can be taken as a replacement.

  See Bulletin for
  » course description

Written Communication Skills

Students must take two Written Communication Skills courses, WRS 105 and either 106 or 107. All incoming students must take WRS 105 unless it is waived, or you earned AP/IB credit. If you have a minimum SAT Writing score of 700 or a minimum ACT English score of 32, WRS 105 is waived; take WRS 106 or WRS 107 instead. There are selective sections of WRS 107 designated for our program (Sections that end in 9 or a letting). All other sections are reserved for Engineering. WRS 107 is a specialized version of WRS 106 focusing on the sciences. Students with an AP score of 5 on the English Language exam (IB score of 6 in HL English A1) receive credit for WRS 105 and 106.

Mathematics

• If you were admitted with an SAT/ACT test, your score may be used for math placement.
  • Option: If a higher-level math placement is desired, you can opt to take the ALEKS Math Placement Assessment for consideration.
• If you have an approved AP Calculus score of 3 or 4, your result may be used for math placement.
  • Option: If a higher-level math placement is desired, you can opt to take the ALEKS Math Placement.
• If you were admitted without an SAT/SCT test or if you are an International Student, you must complete the ALEKS Math Placement Assessment to determine the appropriate math course for you.

Please click here for more details about ALEKS to schedule an assessment and to understand how you will be placed.

All Students – Bachelor of Science majors will be required to complete one year of calculus (Calc I and II) while Bachelor of Arts majors are required to take one math course (MTH 108 or above). In addition, all undergraduate students must take one course in either statistics or computer science. For specific statistics and computer science requirements review each major.

Approved Statistics and Computer Science Courses for All Tracks

Approved Math Courses for Bachelor of Arts:

Approved Math Courses for Bachelor of Science:

CONGRATULATIONS! You now have all the information you need to start the course selection process. If you have any questions, email us at marsci@miami.edu from your Miami email account.

You will receive a copy of your schedule of classes during Orientation and will have an appointment with a faculty advisor during that time – before classes begin.