As an IDEAS student, you have certain course requirements that you will need to take at some point during your Lehigh academic career.
For the IDEAS program, you should plan to register for one of the following schedules below.
Sample Course Schedules for IDEAS:
Option 1:
| FALL SEMESTER (CREDITS) | SPRING SEMESTER (CREDITS) |
|---|---|
| IDEA 011: IDEAS Seminar I (2) | IDEA 012: IDEAS Seminar II (2) |
| MATH 021: Calculus I (4) | MATH 022: Calculus II (4) |
| PHY 011 & 012: Intro. Physics I & Lab (5) | CHM 030: Intro to Chemical Principles (4) |
| WRIT 001 (3) | CAS Concentration Intro Course (4) |
| HU/SS Course (4) | WRIT 001 (if not taken in the Fall) (3) |
| Total Credits: 15 - 18 credits | Total 14 to 17 credits |
Option 2:
| FALL SEMESTER (CREDITS) | SPRING SEMESTER (CREDITS) |
|---|---|
| IDEA 011: IDEAS Seminar I (2) | IDEA 012: IDEAS Seminar II (2) |
| MATH 021: Calculus I (4) | MATH 022: Calculus II (4) |
| CHM 030: Intro to Chemical Principles (4) ** | PHY 011 & 012: Intro. Physics I & Lab (5) |
| WRIT 001 (3) | CAS Concentration Intro Course (4) |
| HU/SS Course (3) | WRIT 001 (if not taken in the Fall) (3) |
| Total Credits: 14 - 17 credits | Total 15 to 18 credits |
** If you want to concentrate in the Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Bioengineering or follow the Pre-Health track, you need to start by taking CHM 030 or 040 because it is a required prerequisite for courses to be taken in the spring semester (BIOS 041: Bio Core I and BIOS 042: Bio Core I Lab).
IDEAS Scheduling Guide
The extensive amount of courses and variety of course meeting times may make scheduling seem overwhelming, but by following the tips below, you will be able to create a schedule that allows you to successfully begin your academic career at Lehigh!
- Review the sample schedules specific to your program on the Intercollegiate Programs page of the First-Year Student Website for an idea of the courses you should be registering for.
- Develop a few schedules with varying times! Although you may not get into your first class choice, we will make sure that you can register for all of the classes you need.
- Be sure to create a full-time (12 credit minimum) schedule with the primary classes you need. If necessary, you will be able to make changes to your schedule when you come to campus in the fall.
We recommend that you register for courses in the following order to help ease the schedule building process: (Note: This is a guide to help you plan, but it is not required that you register in this order.)
- Register for IDEA 011. This course is required for all IDEAS students, and there is only one section.
- Register for CHM 030 or PHY 011 and PHY 012. Avoid lab sections on a Tuesday afternoon, as these will conflict with IDEA 011.
- Select a section of MATH 021 (or an upper-level calculus course if AP credit was received).
- Select a section of WRIT 001, as of Fall 2024 first-year writing is now a requirement of the program. If you came in with WRIT 001 AP or transfer credit you do not have to take this course.
- Select a Humanities or Social Science course, or both! You will need 8 credits of humanities and 8 credits of social science courses, in addition to the courses you take for your concentrations as you continue in your academic career. Many students use this as an opportunity to explore an area of study for their Arts & Sciences concentration.