Top Ten Helpful Hints

1. The Advising Center for the College of Physical Sciences and Engineering is located in the Austin Building, room 106C.  We are open from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday, except we are closed from 2:00 to 3:00 pm on Tuesdays for Devotional.  Our phone number is (208) 496-3043.  We would be happy to help you with any questions or concerns you may have.


2. Please get started with your Major courses as soon as possible.  Use your Foundations or GE courses to balance your load and to "fill in" when you have scheduling conflicts.  Many majors take a MINIMUM of six semesters to complete because of course sequencing and prerequisites.


3. First Semester courses by Major:

   Architecture and Construction Management	ARCH 100, and CONST 120
   Automotive Technology Management	AUTO 155 and AUTO 225 (Fall & Spring), or AUTO 165 and AUTO 235 (Winter)
   Chemistry	CHEM 105 and FDMAT 112
   Computer Science	CS 124
   Computer Engineering	COMPE 150, CS 124, FDMAT 112
   Geology	GEOL 111 and 111L
   Mathematics	FDMAT 112 (If you passed AP Calculus Test AB, take MATH 113; if you passed Test BD, take MATH 214 and MATH 341)
   Mechanical Engineering	ME 131, ME 172, and FDMAT 112
   Physics	PH 121, and FDMAT 112



4. If you are interested in majoring in one of these majors, but have been told you are "on the wrong track", please come visit with us.  WE CAN HELP YOU GET THE MAJOR YOU WANT!


5. Additional information (flowcharts, program sheets, department scholarship information, etc.) is available on the department's home page.


6. Complete the FAFSA (Financial Aid) form to be eligible for Academic Competitiveness and SMART grants (must be eligible for Pell Grant and have at least a 3.0 GPA).  Students majoring in Chemistry, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Geology, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, and Physics are eligible (Education majors are not eligible for these grants).


7. Automotive Technology Management, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering are "Specialized" majors and have no minor.  They have 70 credits in the major and NO minor.  If a minor is desired, it can ONLY be done if the major AND the minor can be completed within the 140 credit limit.


8. Construction Management, Chemistry, Geology, Mathematics, and Physics are "Integrated" majors and require a minor or two clusters.  They have 36-46 credits in the major with about 24 credits in the minor and 12 credits in each cluster, for a total of 24 cluster credits.  Minors and clusters should be carefully chosen based on enhancing career options and NOT just for fun.


9. Although Construction Management is an Integrated major, it is specific in requiring either a Business Management minor or a Business Management cluster.  If the Business Management cluster is chosen, the other cluster must be a Construction Management (Commercial, Architectural, or Residential) cluster.


10. Internships are required for most majors and highly recommended in all majors in our college.  These are usually taken during your off-track semester around the junior and/or senior years.