Courses for first years (Fall 2026) (#1423)

Topics/tags: Registration, Data

The class of 2030 will soon be on campus [1]. And in about a week, they will register for their courses.

Why didn’t they register for courses over the summer? Because the faculty, as a whole, believe the conversations with their advisors about the liberal arts are an essential part of the registration process. How can we say that we have an Individually Advised Curriculum if individual advising isn’t part of the process? [2]

In any case, I thought it would be useful to see what courses are currently available to incoming first years and reflect a bit on demand.

I heard that we have about 460 incoming first-year students. If each of them enrolls in three four-credit courses beyond Tutorial, we’ll need about 1,380 slots. Ideally, we’ll have more slots than that available, since we want student (and advisor) agency in students getting classes. Let’s see what four-credit courses are available [3,4,5].

I’ve grouped the courses according to my somewhat-arbitrary classifications. I’ve also skipped some courses available to first years, such as CHI-461, Classical Chinese, and CSC-161, Imperative Problem Solving, because I assume the audience for those courses is small. Aren’t assumptions wonderful?

I also realize that courses within a category are not necessarily equivalent. For example, a student who wants to continue in their study of calculus is unlikely to want a course in computer science, a student who wants to explore acting is unlikely to want a course in drawing, and a student interested in intermediate Arabic is unlikely to want to take introductory classical Greek. Still, the numbers provide a broad sense of availability.

Fine Arts: 71 slots available

• [07/30 available] ART-111, Introduction to the Studio
  • [05/15 available] ART-111-01, Introduction to the Studio
  • [02/15 available] ART-111-02, Introduction to the Studio
• [10/30 available] ART-134, Drawing
  • [05/15 available] ART-134-01, Drawing
  • [05/15 available] ART-134-02, Drawing
• [12/30 available] MUS-100-01, Introduction to Music Studies
• [18/18 available] THD-111-01, Introduction to Movement for the Performer
• [09/12 available] THD-115-01, World Dance Traditions
• [07/14 available] THD-120-01, Introduction to Acting
• [08/16 available] THD-130-01, Behind the Curtain: Performance Design

Humanities: 244 slots available

I’ve placed the fine arts and most languages in separate sections.

• [34/50 available] ARH-103, Introduction to Art History
  • [21/25 available] ARH-103-01, Introduction to Art History
  • [13/25 available] ARH-103-02, Introduction to Art History
• [07/30 available] CHI-195-01, ST: Three Kingdoms in Popular Culture
• [38/60 available] ENG-120, Literary Analysis
  • [17/20 available] ENG-120-01, Literary Analysis
  • [13/20 available] ENG-120-02, Literary Analysis
  • [08/20 available] ENG-120-03, Literary Analysis
• [30/40 available] ENG-121, Introduction to Shakespeare
  • [16/20 available] ENG-121-01, Introduction to Shakespeare
  • [14/20 available] ENG-121-02, Introduction to Shakespeare
• [13/20 available] HUM-101-01, HUM 1: Ancient Greek World
• [30/50 available] PHI-102, Symbolic Logic
  • [15/25 available] PHI-102-01, Symbolic Logic
  • [15/25 available] PHI-102-02, Symbolic Logic
• [28/50 available] PHI-111, Introduction to Philosophy
  • [16/25 available] PHI-111-01, Introduction to Philosophy
  • [12/25 available] PHI-111-02, Introduction to Philosophy
• [31/75 available] PHI-121, Philosophy for Life
  • [09/25 available] PHI-121-01, Philosophy for Life
  • [16/25 available] PHI-121-02, Philosophy for Life
  • [06/25 available] PHI-121-03, Philosophy for Life
• [13/25 available] REL-103-01, Studying Religion: Middle East
• [20/25 available] REL-105-01, Studying Religion: East Asia

Interdisciplinary: 176 slots available

• [13/25 available] ADS-195-01, Introduction to African Diaspora Studies
• [15/25 available] AMS-130-01, Introduction to American Studies
• [39/75 available] FMS-155-01, Introduction to Film Studies
  • [16/25 available] FMS-155-01, Introduction to Film Studies
  • [11/25 available] FMS-155-02, Introduction to Film Studies
  • [12/25 available] FMS-155-03, Introduction to Film Studies
• [12/25 available] FMS-195-01, ST: Lights/Camera/Wanderlust!
• [49/75 available] GWS-111-01, Introduction to Gender, Women’s, and Sexuality Studies
  • [20/25 available] GWS-111-01, Introduction to Gender, Women’s, and Sexuality Studies
  • [08/25 available] GWS-111-02, Introduction to Gender, Women’s, and Sexuality Studies
  • [21/25 available] GWS-111-03, Introduction to Gender, Women’s, and Sexuality Studies
• [24/50 available] LIN-114, Introduction to General Linguistics
• [02/25 available] LIN-114-01, Introduction to General Linguistics
• [22/25 available] LIN-114-02, Introduction to General Linguistics

Languages: 431 slots available

I’m excluding English, which I put in the Humanities.

• [22/25 available] ARB-101-01, Beginning Arabic I
• [15/20 available] ARB-221-01, Intermediate Arabic I
• [17/25 available] CHI-101-01, Beginning Chinese
• [41/48 available] FRN-101-01, Introduction to French I
  • [21/24 available] FRN-101-01, Introduction to French I
  • [20/24 available] FRN-101-02, Introduction to French I
• [20/24 available] FRN-103-01, Accelerated Introduction to French
• [24/30 available] FRN-221, Intermediate French I
  • [11/15 available] FRN-221-01, Intermediate French I
  • [13/15 available] FRN-221-02, Intermediate French I
• [23/30 available] FRN-222, Intermediate French II
  • [10/15 available] FRN-222-01, Intermediate French II
  • [13/15 available] FRN-222-02, Intermediate French II
• [07/12 available] FRN-295-01, ST: Experiencing French
• [17/20 available] GRE-101-01, Elementary Greek
• [27/40 available] GRM-101-01, Introductory German I
  • [11/20 available] GRM-101-01, Introductory German I
  • [16/20 available] GRM-101-02, Introductory German I
• [31/40 available] GRM-221, Intermediate German I
  • [13/20 available] GRM-221-01, Intermediate German I
  • [18/20 available] GRM-221-02, Intermediate German I
• [31/40 available] JPN-101, Beginning Japanese I
  • [12/20 available] JPN-101-01, Beginning Japanese I
  • [19/20 available] JPN-101-02, Beginning Japanese I
• [12/18 available] JPN-221-01, Intermediate Japanese I
• [17/20 available] LAT-103-01, Elementary Latin
• [17/20 available] RUS-101-01, Beginning Russian I
• [16/20 available] RUS-221-01, Intermediate Russian I
• [32/40 available] SPN-105-01, Introduction to Spanish Language I
  • [14/20 available] SPN-105-01, Introduction to Spanish Language I
  • [18/20 available] SPN-105-02, Introduction to Spanish Language I
• [34/40 available] SPN-106-01, Introduction to Spanish Language II
  • [15/20 available] SPN-106-01, Introduction to Spanish Language II
  • [19/20 available] SPN-106-02, Introduction to Spanish Language II
• [34/48 available] SPN-217, Intermediate Spanish I
  • [08/16 available] SPN-217-01, Intermediate Spanish I
  • [13/16 available] SPN-217-02, Intermediate Spanish I
  • [13/16 available] SPN-217-03, Intermediate Spanish I
• [28/32 available] SPN-285, Literature and Visual Cultures of the Spanish-Speaking World
  • [14/16 available] SPN-285-01, Literature and Visual Cultures of the Spanish-Speaking World
  • [14/16 available] SPN-285-02, Literature and Visual Cultures of the Spanish-Speaking World

Mathematical Sciences: 369 spots available

• [56/72 available] CSC-151, Functional Problem Solving
  • [17/24 available] CSC-151-01, Functional Problem Solving
  • [20/24 available] CSC-151-02, Functional Problem Solving
  • [19/24 available] CSC-151-03, Functional Problem Solving
• [38/40 available] MAT-125, Functions and Mathematical Models
  • [19/20 available] MAT-125-01, Functions and Mathematical Models
  • [19/20 available] MAT-125-02, Functions and Mathematical Models
• [114/130 available] MAT-131, Calculus I
  • [23/26 available] MAT-131-01, Calculus I
  • [23/26 available] MAT-131-02, Calculus I
  • [21/26 available] MAT-131-03, Calculus I
  • [23/26 available] MAT-131-04, Calculus I
  • [24/26 available] MAT-131-05, Calculus I
• [118/156 available] MAT-133, Calculus II
  • [23/26 available] MAT-133-01, Calculus II
  • [23/26 available] MAT-133-02, Calculus II
  • [23/26 available] MAT-133-03, Calculus II
  • [03/26 available] MAT-133-04, Calculus II
  • [23/26 available] MAT-133-05, Calculus II
  • [23/26 available] MAT-133-06, Calculus II
• [18/60 available] MAT-215-01, Linear Algebra [6]
  • [05/20 available] MAT-215-01, Linear Algebra
  • [03/20 available] MAT-215-02, Linear Algebra
  • [10/20 available] MAT-215-03, Linear Algebra
• [40/130 available] STA-209, Applied Statistics
  • [01/26 available] STA-209-01, Applied Statistics
  • [10/26 available] STA-209-03, Applied Statistics
  • [00/26 available] STA-209-04, Applied Statistics
  • [09/26 available] STA-209-05, Applied Statistics
  • [20/26 available] STA-209-06, Applied Statistics

Natural and Experimental Sciences: 302 available

• [81/96 available] BIO-150, Introduction to Biological Inquiry
  • [21/24 available] BIO-150-01, Introduction to Biological Inquiry
  • [21/24 available] BIO-150-02, Introduction to Biological Inquiry
  • [20/24 available] BIO-150-03, Introduction to Biological Inquiry
  • [19/24 available] BIO-150-04, Introduction to Biological Inquiry
• [59/72 available] CHM-129, General Chemistry
  • [20/24 available] CHM-129-01, General Chemistry
  • [19/24 available] CHM-129-02, General Chemistry
  • [20/24 available] CHM-129-03, General Chemistry
• [12/24 available] CHM-210, Analytical Chemistry
• [08/30 available] ENV-125-01, Introduction to Earth Systems Science
• [13/30 available] PHY-116-01, The Universe and Its Structure
• [57/90 available] PHY-131, General Physics I
  • [22/30 available] PHY-131-01, General Physics I
  • [22/30 available] PHY-131-02, General Physics I
  • [15/30 available] PHY-131-03, General Physics I
• [08/48 available] PHY-132, General Physics II
  • [02/24 available] PHY-132-01, General Physics II
  • [06/24 available] PHY-132-02, General Physics II
• [54/78 available] PSY-113, Introduction to Psychology
  • [21/26 available] PSY-113-01, Introduction to Psychology
  • [15/26 available] PSY-113-01, Introduction to Psychology
  • [18/26 available] PSY-113-01, Introduction to Psychology
• [10/25 available] PSY-260-01, Cognitive Psychology

Social Studies: 489 available

• [72/125 available] ANT-104, Anthropological Inquiries
  • [05/25 available] ANT-104-01, Anthropological Inquiries
  • [11/25 available] ANT-104-02, Anthropological Inquiries
  • [19/25 available] ANT-104-03, Anthropological Inquiries
  • [17/25 available] ANT-104-04, Anthropological Inquiries
  • [20/25 available] ANT-104-05, Anthropological Inquiries
• [136/182 available] ECN-111, Introduction to Economics
  • [21/26 available] ECN-111-01, Introduction to Economics
  • [21/26 available] ECN-111-02, Introduction to Economics
  • [06/26 available] ECN-111-03, Introduction to Economics
  • [21/26 available] ECN-111-04, Introduction to Economics
  • [20/26 available] ECN-111-05, Introduction to Economics
  • [22/26 available] ECN-111-06, Introduction to Economics
  • [25/26 available] ECN-111-07, Introduction to Economics
• [11/25 available] ECN-236-01, Health Economics
• [19/25 available] ECN-240-01, Resource and Environmental Economics
• [14/50 available] EDU-101, Educational Principles in a Pluralistic Society
  • [07/25 available] EDU-101-01, Educational Principles in a Pluralistic Society
  • [07/25 available] EDU-101-02, Educational Principles in a Pluralistic Society
• [07/24 available] EDU-115-01, How to Learn Physics
• [20/25 available] HIS-100-01, Essay in History, History in Essays
• [21/25 available] HIS-100-02, Rise & Fall of New World Slavery
• [20/25 available] HIS-100-03, Writing from the Margins
• [25/25 available] HIS-195-01, ST: Introduction to War Studies
• [72/100 available] POL-101, Introduction to Political Science
  • [18/25 available] POL-101-01, Introduction to Political Science
  • [17/25 available] POL-101-02, Introduction to Political Science
  • [20/25 available] POL-101-03, Introduction to Political Science
  • [17/25 available] POL-101-04, Introduction to Political Science
• [72/125 available] SOC-111, Introduction to Sociology
  • [13/25 available] SOC-111-01, Introduction to Sociology
  • [7]
  • [19/25 available] SOC-111-03, Introduction to Sociology
  • [10/25 available] SOC-111-04, Introduction to Sociology
  • [18/25 available] SOC-111-05, Introduction to Sociology
  • [12/25 available] SOC-111-06, Introduction to Sociology

Let’s see … 71 + 244 + 176 + 444 + 368 + 302 + 489 = 2,104 slots available. And I claimed we needed about 1,380. It seems like that gives us an appropriate amount of slack in the system. We will face a difficult situation if everyone wants to take, say, ADS-195, BIO-150, CHI-195, DST-247, EDU-101, FMS-155, GRE-101, or HUM-101. But we’ve generally found that things work out okay, especially since most students understand the value of exploring a bit beyond their top course or two. I worry a little bit that not every first-year student can take an experimental science course this fall, and I worry even more that only one-sixth can take a course in the fine arts. However, not every student wants experimental science in their first semester and, unfortunately, the arts no longer have the same priority in the minds of liberal arts students they once had. There are also alternatives; students interested in the experimental sciences might make do with CS, statistics, or even a social science for the time being and students interested in the fine arts might consider art history, some of the two-credit courses (e.g., two of the two-credit dance courses), or even some of the one-credit performance groups. Nothing is perfect.

I’ve already had a colleague ask me about how I’d advise my tutorial students to handle the new first-year registration system [9] and what they’d prioritize. A few years ago, it was clear that you had to make CS your first choice if you wanted to study CS in your first semester; that doesn’t seem to be the case anymore. It looks to me like there are enough slots between BIO-150 and CHM-129 that a student planning to major in Biology, Biological Chemistry, or Chemistry should be okay, but should still try to get their desired course in the first round [10]. I expect the Studio Art courses (ART-111, Introduction to the Studio, and ART-134, Drawing) to fill relatively quickly. If I recall correctly, our Philosophy courses fill relatively quickly, so those are also worth considering in the first round. And I know that recent studies have shown that ECN-111 is the course that appeared most on yellow cards [11,12].

For students planning to continue their study of mathematics, it’s worth prioritizing math in the second round (perhaps even the first), particularly since there are fewer math openings than first-year students. If I recall correctly—and if things haven’t changed—the fall version of MAT-133, Calculus II, is particularly designed for students coming from high-school calculus or AP Calculus, while the spring section is designed for students coming out of our MAT-131, Calculus I.

More broadly, I think it will be important for students to have fallback courses and fallback plans. Unfortunately, scheduling can mean that if you don’t get one course you’ve planned on, you may need to shift others. Having some detail on the different pathways and a reasonable understanding of how to navigate our registration system will be valuable. That’s right! Having all of your courses and the options entered and approved on Self Service [14] will be essential.

The first semester can be complicated. On one hand, you want students to explore broadly. On the other, it’s valuable to continue certain subjects. Historically, I’ve encouraged my students to continue their language study (Now that you know the language, you get to study the cool stuff, like culture and literature; and you’ll start to forget as time goes on) and their math study (ditto, substituting proof for culture and literature), and then one course in a prospective major. I know other faculty prefer the one in each division approach; I find that problematic because divisions can represent significantly different ways of knowing. I’d like to tell students to try something they’ve never studied before. Unfortunately, given the limits on the number of courses, that may have to wait until spring.

In any case, good luck to our new students. Don’t worry! It’s okay if you don’t get all of your top choices; part of a liberal education involves exploring new and unexpected topics.

Postscript: I may return to this topic in a week to see where things ended up. Unfortunately, there are kinds of data that will no longer be available to us, such as the number of students who would have preferred to take a course but selected something else because their top choice was full.

[1] To be accurate, some of the class of 2030 are already on campus. I’m pretty sure some student athletes, most international students, and the Grinnell Science Project and Peer-Connections Pre-Orientation students are all on campus.

[2] Why can’t individual advising be done over the summer? That’s complex, and has to do with Grinnell’s culture of faculty summer availability (or lack thereof).

[3] Note that you can perform a similar search by going to the Search Schedule of Courses page and restricting your search to open to first years. Unfortunately, that page still has the old capacities, so you’ll need to find another way to identify the actual capacities.

[4] I’ve skipped the one-credit and two-credit courses available to first years.

[5] I’ve skipped some courses for multiple reasons. For example, although there are four sections of Comparative Herbalism, they are all two credits, and they are all full.

[6] For some reason, I seem to have gotten the numbers wrong for linear.

[6] STA-209-01 was cancelled and therefore is not listed.

[7] I don’t know why SOC-111-02 is not listed as available to first years. Wait a minute! Perhaps I do. Ah, it’s because it overlaps with Tutorial. I suppose that’s a problem with the new Tuesday/Thursday 9:30–10:50 a.m. slot.

[8] I couldn’t find an abbreviation of a discipline that started with D and has courses open to first-years, so I snuck in digital studies.

[9] I don’t think I’m allowed to tell people about it until after the Tutorial faculty get their introduction on Friday. Perhaps that will be Friday’s musing.

[10] Note that students planning on Biology and Biological Chemistry can take CHM-129 rather than BIO-150 in their first semester and still be on track for their major.

[11] Yellow cards were our old registration mechanism for first-year students.

[12] I wish those study results were available somewhere public, so that all students and advisors could use them.

[14] Ellucian Self Service is the name of the platform that includes our registration system. At least I think it is. I suppose I could call it Ellucian, since we also have other software on campus called Self Service.

Version 1.0 released 2026-08-17.

Version 1.1 of 2026-08-25.