The shift from high school classes to college academics can be daunting if you don’t know what to expect.
A course catalog can only divulge so much about what classes will actually be like. Most schools have one class that every freshman has to take that’s either pure jumping through hoops, has quite the reputation — or could even be the greatest class you’ve ever taken.
Here’s a rundown of some of the most common introductory, freshman-oriented classes in each school, along with tips about finding your way in buildings that can resemble M.C. Escher drawings if you’re not familiar with their hallowed halls.
College of Education
The building: HEDCO Education Building
HEDCO is one of the newest additions to the edge of campus near 18th Avenue and Alder Street. The building boasts some magnificent courtyards outside and comfortable spaces to relax inside. So whether it’s sunny or cloudy, this building offers quiet space to take a break.
The class: EDST 111: Educational Issues & Problems
Though at first sounding like your run-of-the-mill modern problems topics class, educational issues proves to be fairly eye-opening. The topics discussed illuminate cultural awareness and makes students realize how their origins have influenced their thinking and how they’ve been educated.
Lundquist College of Business
The building: Lillis Business Complex
Lillis has a coffee shop, tons of meeting space and has a modern feel. It’s a good place to meet between classes, and it’s a great shortcut to the other side of campus if it’s rainy and you don’t want to walk around it.

The class: BA 101: Introduction to Business
This class serves as a primer to managing, marketing, finance, accounting and other business principles. The majority of the class is spent running a simulation of a business for 10 years, a hands-on experience giving students the opportunity to put their theoretical knowledge to work early on in their studies.
School of Music and Dance
The building: Music Building
Located past the Pioneer Cemetery, most University students visit the Music Building most to see various student and faculty ensemble performances in various concert halls.

The class: MUS 358: Music in World Culture
Based mainly on participation and interaction with once-weekly guest musicians, this class functions as an anthropological study through music. The professor is dynamic and knowledgeable. Taking advantage of every opportunity to learn more at optional events and concerts, and visiting office hours, can help inquisitive students get the most out of their education.

School of Journalism and Communication
The building: Allen Hall
Allen Hall is probably one of the most straightforward buildings on campus. All the room numbers are linear, and everything is easy to find. If you’re a pre-journalism major, one of the best things to know about Allen Hall is that you can get free black-and-white printing from any of the computer labs. The Brainerd Lab on the third floor is the most common.

The class: J201: Mass Media and Society
A class open to all majors because it fulfils a general education requirement, Mass Media and Society offers both a historical and modern overview of the media and its relation to our lives. Typically held in Lillis 182, the class is mainly textbook- and lecture-driven, depending on the instructor. The only downside is the expensive book, which seems to get a new edition every six months. Thanks, ever-changing media landscape.
Robert D. Clark Honors College
The building: Chapman Hall
Chapman Hall is one of the University’s greatest-kept secrets. With its own lounge, kitchen and small library, Honors College students can relax in a quiet, small environment away from the hustle and bustle of Knight Library. If you’re living in the residence halls, having access to a kitchen is a definite plus if you’ve got an urge for some home-cooked cuisine.
The class: HC 223 or 233: Literature and History
During spring term, students enroll in either the capstone history or literature course, in which they must write a 10-page original research paper with the guidance of their professor. Don’t let the 10-page requirement scare you; this whole paper writing thing will get easier as time goes on. Listening to the Lord of the Rings soundtrack on repeat for hours on end does wonders, I’m told. These classes prepare you to tackle any paper that might come your way later — including your honors thesis.

College of Arts and Sciences

The building: Friendly Hall
The College of Arts and Sciences, with its 45 different undergraduate programs in humanities, social sciences, or natural sciences, is where the majority of undergraduates end up graduating with majors from. Friendly Hall houses the CAS dean’s office, along with the offices for many of the romance language instructors. When trying to find an instructor’s office in the basement for an oral exam, remember that there is no basement access from the first floor. You have to go down a separate flight of stairs outside the building.

Humanities
The class: SPAN 201, 202, 203: Second-Year Spanish
If you’re not a romance languages major but took classes in high school, 200-level classes are your best bet. These classes challenge you just enough to expand your average foreign language skills and perhaps allow you to study abroad and not look like the dumb American. With the focus on reading and writing longer texts, you’ll need a dictionary for most assignments. The three major hurdles: three essay exams, an oral presentation about a prominent Spanish-speaking figure and an oral exam with a partner are pretty manageable. Also, the textbook has an excellent combination of culture, language, literature, art, history and music to make the subject interesting and make memorization easy.

Social sciences
The class: PS 201: Intro to US Politics
This foundational political science class counts as a general education requirement and delves in-depth into the American political structure, party system, Constitution, and roles of each of body of government. Most students who take this class are looking to build on what they already learned in high school government classes, but be prepared for far more attention given to details on exams and quizzes. That means reading the book will actually come in handy.

Natural sciences

• The class: CH 221, 222, 223: General Chemistry
Held in Columbia 150, the biggest lecture hall on campus with more than 300 seats, general chemistry makes or breaks a science major’s career. A so-called “weed-out” class, Gen Chem’s three-day-a-week lectures, plus, three-hour lab once a week challenges students to cram as much material into their heads as possible about bonds and entropy. Though similar to a high school chemistry class, the pace is much faster and the multiple choice tests are not always as cut and dry. The professors make the questions challenging to determine who has really been paying attention in lecture and reading the book. You may want to reserve a few meal points a week for the coffee fund if you’ve got an early class because falling asleep could mean missing a lot of information.
School of Architecture and Allied Arts
The building: Lawrence Hall
At the end of University Street, Lawrence Hall is filled with art displays and ever-confusing architecture studios, resembling glorified cages. The room numbers don’t
always go in the sequence you expect, so leave time to explore before finding a room.

The class: ARCH 201: Introduction to Architecture
Taught by a practicing architect, students learn modern architecture fundamentals and architecture’s impact on everyday life. Case studies and learning about famous buildings dominates the course, granting a unique blend of history, art and philosophy. Sitting back and sketching will be to your benefit, as opposed to taking ridiculously detailed notes.
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