Your academic advisor will help you select courses that are appropriate for a person with your goals and interests. But ultimately you are responsible to see that you are selecting the right classes. Here are some tips.
What classes do I need to graduate?
Find your program of interest in the catalog and follow the recommendations listed. Keep in mind the general education requirements and the required technical courses if you are in a career program.
If I’m not certain about my major, what courses should I take?
Follow the general recommendations in the catalog for the associate of arts degree and the “Liberal Arts and Sciences” program. Test various areas of study by taking a beginning level course. These often have titles like “Introduction to _____” or “Principles of _____.”
Are there any courses that I cannot take?
Basically all courses are available to all students with two exceptions. First, some courses list prerequisites. A prerequisite is a course, an experience, or status that you must have before you are permitted to enroll in a particular course. For example, to enroll in General Chemistry II, you must have taken General Chemistry I. To take the second Hesston College distinctive course, you must be a sophomore. The second reason you may not be able to enroll in a course is if it has already reached the enrollment limit. Many courses have restrictions on how many students can enroll because of lab space, computers available, and instructor work loads.
Courses are numbered in the 100s and 200s. Courses at both levels are generally available to freshmen and sophomores.
Can I take courses at other colleges while I’m a student at Hesston?
Yes, under certain restricted conditions. Some commuting students take courses at community colleges that are nearer their homes. This should be discussed carefully with your academic advisor. Hesston also cooperates with Bethel College, a four-year college seven miles away in North Newton. Courses may be taken at Bethel if they are a required part of your program and they are not taught at Hesston. Approval by the Hesston College Academic Dean is required. Stop by the Registrar’s Office to see a copy of Bethel College course offerings. Courses taken at Bethel are enrolled through Hesston by a special arrangement.
Should I take College Learning Strategies?
College Learning Strategies is a useful course for any student. It is especially recommended for those who did poorly in high school or who have been away from formal education for a few years. And it is required if you have been admitted on academic probation and/or if:
- your ACT Composite is below 18
- your SAT VERBAL is below 350 or
- your ASSET Reading Skills is below 13
Which writing course is right for me?
The standard writing course for most students at Hesston is Engl 125 College Writing I. However, under-prepared students should take Basic Writing first. Select Engl 100 Basic Writing if your ACT ENG is below 17, SAT VERBAL is below 350 or ASSET Writing Skills is below 18. Otherwise, select College Writing I.
Will I need a second writing course?
If the school to which you plan to transfer after Hesston requires six hours of writing, take College Writing I and College Writing II.
Do I need to take a math course? If so, which one?
To earn the A.A. and the A.S. degrees, you must complete a math course. For the A.A.A.S. degree you can meet the math requirement in other ways.
There are many good reasons to take a math course even if you do not need to do so to graduate from Hesston. You may need a math course to provide background for other course work. You may need a math course in order to graduate from a transfer school. And you may just find the topic interesting. Here is additional information to guide your selection of a math course:
- MaSc 050 Basic Math: For students with limited math background. Prepares them to take the Hesston College math comp exam.
- MaSc 105 College Algebra: For the student with one year of high school algebra (or two years but with low grades) and an ACT Math score of 17 to 21 or SAT Math score of 380 to 540. Transfers well and meets math requirements at most four-year schools. Applications oriented. For the student who likely will not take more math.
- MaSc 115 Precalculus: For the student with high school Algebra II and an ACT Math score of 22 to 25 or SAT Math score of 550 to 610. Course includes trigonometry. Good review for the student who will need to take Calculus.
- MaSc 116 Introduction to Mathematics: A liberal arts math course for the general student. The prerequisite is one year of high school algebra, an ACT Math score of 17 or better, or SAT Math score of 380 or better. Course meets the math requirement at most four-year schools. Is especially desired for elementary education majors.
- MaSc 141 Calculus I: For the student with a B or better in a senior-level high school math course (e.g. Advanced Math, Analysis) and an ACT Math score of 26 or better or SAT Math score of 620 or better. Essential for the student majoring in math, computer science, and many of the natural science fields.
- MaSc 142 Calculus II: For the student who has completed one year of high school calculus successfully, has Calculus I to transfer from another college, or who presents an AP calculus score of 3 or better. Visit with the math department to make sure you are ready for Calculus II.
- MaSc 210 Elementary Statistics: Recommended for any student needing a background in statistical methods. Good algebra skills are needed and an ACT Math score of 20 or better or an SAT Math score of 500 or better.
Which computer course should I take?
Introduction to Computers is a prerequisite for most other computer courses. However, you may begin with higher level courses instead if you have had background like either of the following:
- Experience with Windows and Microsoft Office
- Experience with data base management, word processing, spreadsheet applications, and presentation software and have at least been introduced to Windows.
Programming courses may be taken concurrently with either Introduction to Computers or individual software courses.
Do I need a foreign language course? If so, at what level do I start?
Hesston does not require a foreign language for graduation. But taking a language course opens windows into other parts of the world and that’s always a good idea. And it may be a requirement at the school to which you will transfer.
As a general rule, one year of high school foreign language is roughly equivalent to one semester of the same language at the college level. If you have no experience, you should begin with a course at the elementary level. If you have one year of high school language, you may be ready to enter Hesston’s Spanish sequence at the elementary level during the second (spring) semester. With two years of high school language, you may be ready to enroll fall term at the intermediate level.
How well you are actually prepared to do college level work depends on the quality of your high school language program and the extent to which you have used the language in other settings. The foreign language instructor at Hesston College has developed written and oral tests to help determine proper placement. If you or your advisor are in doubt about your ability, contact the instructor. He or she can help you determine the appropriate level at which to begin.