Some General Advice
Your PIN for registering through PackTracks comes from your CALS adviser. Jefferson Scholars may register early.During your first 2 years, before you have declared your CHASS major, you need to ensure that any Humanities & Social Sciences courses you take also meet the CHASS degree requirements. These are listed in your copy of the CHASS "Key Points of Information" advising handbook that you will get during Orientation. You should keep your own copy because your graduation requirements are fixed at your date of entering NC State. It will also help your CALS adviser in planning appropriate courses for the CHASS general requirements. Dr. Kimler also will be happy to assist you in picking courses.
Some special advice for first-year Jeffersons:
In general, don't worry about your Humanities & Social Science (CHASS) major during your first semester. It's a good idea to take those math and chemistry courses you need for biology, and "General Education Requirement" courses. The math and science courses in your College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) major will take care of those requirements in your CHASS major.
If you do have room in your Fall schedule, Foreign Language is a really good idea to take while it's fresh from high school. The requirement for at least one semester of foreign language at the 201-level is one of the big differences in the requirements between your two degree requirements. If you made good grades in language in high school, you have been notified that you have met the University proficiency requirement. This is not the same as satisfying the CHASS requirement.
If you have not taken the SAT II or the AP test in Foreign Language, you should take a placement test during Orientation (it takes about 30 minutes). We offer computerized placement tests in French, German, Spanish, and Latind. For all other languages, see the Foreign Language Lab website.
If you have space or would rather take an introductory (200-level) History or English or social science class in the Fall, make sure that the one you pick meets the distribution requirements for CHASS. You need to satisfy the CHASS requirements in the humanities and social sciences, which will be more than adequate for your CALS curriculum. For guidance, see the CHASS Keypoints booklet.
One thing to remember is that CHASS has lists of required "groups" of courses in History and Literature. For example, the History requirement is for two 200-level courses (6 hours): one about non-Western societies and one about European or American societies. Check carefully to see which courses will be satisfied by any of your AP or IB credit.
If you want to start in the social sciences, do not take ANT 252 (Cultural Anthropology), because we have a special, required section of that for you in your second year.
Another course to avoid, for efficiency in satisfying required credits, would be anything on the STS (Science, Technology, & Society) list of courses. The required course for your third year as a Jefferson Scholar will be a special history of biology course with Dr. Kimler, and it satisfies the STS requirement.
Many of you know what your CHASS major is going to be. There will be plenty of time during the Fall to declare it, and acquire an advisor in that major.
If you don't already know what humanities or social science major you want, don't worry! Take some intro courses, explore, talk to other Jeffersons and the faculty, and think about it. There will be time to declare it during your first year. The older Jefferson Scholars are a wonderful source of information and advice, so ask away!
You must declare a major in CHASS by the end of your second year. Go to the CHASS Dean's Office and tell the receptionist you're a Jefferson Scholar and need to get approval for a major in CHASS. After that, you'll get an adviser in the Department of your major. It's a good idea to declare the major as soon as you are sure of your choice.
If you decide to design your own Interdisciplinary Studies Self-Designed
Degree Program (BA
or BS
degree), Sandy Stallings
(208 Winston, 515-9739, stallings@social.chass.ncsu.edu)
will help you find a sponsor and prepare your proposal [theme and courses]
to be submitted to the IDS Self-Designed Major Committee.
Even after declaring your CHASS major, you will continue to get your PIN through your CALS major adviser. Of course, you need to meet with your CHASS major adviser before registration, to keep on schedule to complete those requirements.
It is your responsibility to let Dr. Kimler know when you will wish to do the independent study for the Jefferson senior paper, either in Fall or Spring of your last year. In general, it is a good idea to keep the advisors well-advised of your plans, your schedule for graduating, and any problems or special needs you have.
Dr. Kimler and Dr. Beckmann are available at any time for advice on majors, courses, and problems you're encountering in the program.
