New Freshmen in Psychology, Philosophy, Cognitive Science and Science & Technology Studies

INCOMING FRESHMEN: Congratulations and welcome!
Please complete the required Aggie 101 and Aggie Advising Canvas Modules to help you prepare for your Fall course registration.

Welcome to UC Davis!

The Yellow Cluster serves students in the following majors: Psychology, Cognitive Science, Philosophy, and Science & Technology studies. These majors are housed within the College of Letters & Science. Here's what to expect for the Summer before you start here at UC Davis.

Upcoming Events (Summer 2025)

Yellow Cluster First Year Group Advising Webinar

To Be Announced

Orientation Steps: Getting Ready For Fall Quarter

STEP 1: Aggie 101

Aggie 101 is an online experience that should take you approximately 1-2 hours to complete. By completing Aggie 101 you will:

Be introduced to resources for your academic, personal, and social growth
Know resources that can help meet your basic needs at UC Davis
Understand the academic policies, requirements, and tools necessary for academic planning
Identify ways you can build your community on campus

Students admitted for Fall Quarter will access Aggie 101 through their MyAdmissions checklist.

You must complete Aggie 101 before moving on to Aggie Advising. You will be unable to access Aggie 101 until you have created your UC Davis email account. For specific dates, see the Orientation Dates and Deadlines page.

STEP 2: Aggie Advising

Part 1: Complete Aggie Advising Canvas Modules.

These modules will take you through the important and detailed information that you will need to select appropriate courses, balance your schedule, and register for your first quarter. You will also find resources and tips to help you explore your interests and ensure your first quarter at UC Davis is a success.

Part 2: Attend the Yellow Cluster First Year Group Advising webinar.

To be announced

Part 3: Attend an advising appointment or drop-in session.

For questions about general academic planning and General Education requirements, you can make an appointment with the College of Letters & Science: https://lettersandscience.ucdavis.edu/advising
- They also offer drop-in advising / Express Advising: https://lettersandscience.ucdavis.edu/advising/express-advising
For questions about major requirements, you can visit our drop-in advising hours over the summer. Specific days and times to be announced.
- We are unable to provide major advising appointments to first year students. Please utilize the resources below or visit our drop-in advising for help with your major-specific questions.
- You can also email us.

STEP 3: Registration

Students register for classes using Schedule Builder.
- You can utilize the resources below for help with building your Fall quarter schedule.
The College of Letters and Sciences has put together a comprehensive resource with information about registration.

STEP 4: Aggie Orientation

Specific dates to be announced.

STEP 5: Start your first quarter!

Incoming first years should plan to take some lower division courses (001–099) required for their major in their first year. Click on your intended major to see requirements and a sample schedule.

Psychology A.B.

Lower Division Requirements for Psychology Bachelor of Arts

Psychology (8 units)
Two courses required:
PSC 001 - General Psychology
PSC 041 - Research Methods in Psychology (prerequisite: PSC 001)
Statistics (4 units)
Choose one option:
option 1: STA 013 - Elementary Statistics
option 2: PSC 012Y - Data Visualization
option 3: STA 100 - Applied Statistics for Biological Sciences
(*note: STA 13 is a prerequisite for PSC 103A & PSC 103B, which are recommended courses for graduate school)
Biology (4–8 units)
Choose one option:
option 1 (for Nonscientists): BIS 010 - Everyday Biology, AND one of:
ANT 001 - Human Evolutionary Biology
MCB 010 - Intro to Human Heredity
NPB 010 - Elementary Human Physiology
option 2: BIS 002B - Intro Bio Ecology & Evolution
option 3: BIS 002A - Intro Bio Essentials of Life on Earth

Check your AP scores and placement, if you think you have credit for psychology, statistics, or biology.

Sample 1st Quarter (12 to 15 units) - Psychology A.B.


Course	Units	Notes
PSC 001 - General Psychology	4	Take PSC 001 in the Fall, Winter, or Spring; plan to complete this course sometime in your first year.
General Education	3–4	Refer to Aggie 101 or your College Advising to learn about your options.
General Education or Seminar	0–4	Seminars: First-Year Seminar and First Year Aggie Connection
Foreign Language, Science or Math	3–5	Choose your course based on your placement exam results.

Psychology B.S. (Biological)

Lower Division Requirements for Psychology Bachelor of Science, Biological Emphasis

Psychology (8 units)
Two courses required:
PSC 001 - General Psychology
PSC 041 - Research Methods in Psychology (prerequisite: PSC 001)
Statistics (4 units)
Choose one option:
option 1: STA 013 - Elementary Statistics
option 2: PSC 012Y - Data Visualization
option 3: STA 100 - Applied Statistics for Biological Sciences
(*note: STA 13 is a prerequisite for PSC 103A & PSC 103B, which are recommended courses for graduate school)
Biology (15 units)
Three courses required:
BIS 002B - Intro Bio: Ecology & Evolution
BIS 002A - Intro Bio: Essentials of Life on Earth
BIS 002C - Intro Bio: Biodiversity & Tree of Life (prerequisite: BIS 002B)
→ tip: this series is non-sequential; BIS 002B is recommended to be taken first
Calculus (6–8 units)
Choose one option:
option 1: MAT 016AB - Short Calculus
option 2: MAT 017AB - Calculus for Biology & Medicine
option 3: MAT 021AB - Calculus
→ placement exam may be required
Chemistry (10 units)
Two courses required:
CHE 002AB - General Chemistry
→ placement exam may be required
Organic Chemistry (6–8 units)
Choose one option:
option 1: CHE 008AB - Organic Chemistry: Brief (prerequisite: CHE 002B)
option 2: CHE 118AB - Organic Chemistry for Health & Life Sciences (prerequisite: CHE 002C)
Physics (3–10 units)
Choose one option:
option 1 (for Nonscientists): PHY 010 - Topics in Physics
option 2 (for Nonscientists): PHY 010C/CY - Physics of California
option 3: PHY 007AB - General Physics (prerequisite: MAT 016B/017B/021B)
option 4: PHY 009AB - Classical Physics (prerequisite: MAT 021B)

Check your AP scores and placement, if you think you have credit for psychology, statistics, or biology.

Sample 1st Quarter (12 to 15 units) - Psychology B.S., Biological Emphasis


Course	Units	Notes
PSC 001 - General Psychology	4	Take PSC 001 in the Fall, Winter, or Spring; plan to complete this course sometime in your first year.
Science or Math	3–5	Choose your course based on your placement exam results.
General Education	3–4	Refer to Aggie 101 or your College Advising to learn about your options.
General Education, Science, Math, or Seminar	0–5	Seminars: First-Year Seminar and First Year Aggie Connection

Psychology B.S. (Quantitative)

Lower Division Requirements for Psychology Bachelor of Science, Quantitative Emphasis

Psychology (8 units)
Two courses required:
PSC 001 - General Psychology
PSC 041 - Research Methods in Psychology (prerequisite: PSC 001)
Statistics (4 units)
option 1: STA 013 - Elementary Statistics
option 2: STA 100 - Applied Statistics for Bio Sci (prerequisite: MAT 016B/017B/021B)
→ note: PSC 012Y can also satisfy this requirement, but STA 013/100 is a prerequisite for other courses in the major
Biology (4–8 units)
Choose one option:
option 1 (for Nonscientists): BIS 010 - Everyday Biology, AND one of:
ANT 001 - Human Evolutionary Biology
MCB 010 - Intro to Human Heredity
NPB 010 - Elementary Human Physiology
option 2: BIS 002B - Intro Bio Ecology & Evolution
option 3: BIS 002A - Intro Bio Essentials of Life on Earth
Calculus (6–8 units)
Three courses required:
MAT 021A - Calculus
MAT 021B - Calculus (prerequisite: MAT 017A/021A)
MAT 021C - Calculus (prerequisite: MAT 016C/017C or MAT 017B/021B)
→ placement exam may be required
Chemistry (4–10 units)
Choose one option:
option 1 (for Nonscientists): CHE 010 - Concepts of Chemistry
option 2: CHE 002AB - General Chemistry
→ placement exam may be required
Physics (3–10 units)
Choose one option:
option 1 (for Nonscientists): PHY 010 - Topics in Physics
option 2 (for Nonscientists): PHY 010C/CY - Physics of California
option 3: PHY 007AB - General Physics (prerequisite: MAT 016B/017B/021B)
option 4: PHY 009AB - Classical Physics (prerequisite: MAT 021B)
Computer Science (8 units)
Choose one option:
option 1: ECS 032A - Intro to Programming
option 2: ECS 036A - Programming & Problem Solving
→ placement exam may be required

Check your AP scores and placement, if you think you have credit for psychology, statistics, or biology.

Sample 1st Quarter (12 to 15 units) - Psychology B.S., Quantitative Emphasis


Course	Units	Notes
PSC 001 - General Psychology	4	Take PSC 001 in the Fall, Winter, or Spring; plan to complete this course sometime in your first year.
Science or Math	3–5	Choose your course based on your placement exam results.
General Education	3–4	Refer to Aggie 101 or your College Advising to learn about your options.
General Education, Science, Math, or Seminar	0–5	Seminars: First-Year Seminar and First Year Aggie Connection

Philosophy (General)

Lower Division Requirements for Philosophy Bachelor of Arts, General Emphasis

Required (4 units)
PHI 012 - Introduction to Symbolic Logic
→ freshmen are discouraged from taking PHI 012 in their first quarter
Choose ONE course each from any THREE areas (12 units):
General Philosophy
PHI 001 - Introduction to Philosophy

Ancient Philosophy
PHI 021 - Philosophical Classics of the Ancient Era

Early Modern Philosophy
PHI 022 - Philosophical Classics of the Modern Era

Philosophy of the Mind
PHI 013 - Minds, Brains, and Computers

Ethics
PHI 014 - Ethical and Social Problems in Contemporary Society
PHI 015 - Introduction to Bioethics
PHI 024 - Introduction to Ethics

Philosophy of Science
PHI 030 - Introduction to Philosophy of Science
PHI 031 - Appraising Scientific Reasoning
PHI 032 - Understanding Scientific Change
PHI 038 - Introduction to Philosophy of Biology

Philosophy of Language
PHI 017 - Language, Thought, and World

Metaphysics
PHI 101 - Metaphysics
→ freshmen are strongly discouraged from taking upper division courses; this should be taken later

Theory of Knowledge
PHI 102 - Theory of Knowledge
→ freshmen are strongly discouraged from taking upper division courses; this should be taken later

Sample 1st Quarter (12 to 15 units) - Philosophy A.B., General Emphasis


Course	Units	Notes
PHI 001-038 (choose from list above)	4	Plan to complete your major lower division requirements by the end of your second year.
General Education	3–4	Refer to Aggie 101 or your College Advising to learn about your options.
General Education or Seminar	0–4	Seminars: First-Year Seminar and First Year Aggie Connection
General Education or Foreign Language	3–5	Language courses may require a placement exam.

Philosophy (Pre-Law)

Lower Division Requirements for Philosophy Bachelor of Arts, Pre-Law Emphasis

Required (12 units)
PHI 005 - Critical Reasoning
PHI 024 - Introduction to Ethics
PHI 012 - Introduction to Symbolic Logic
→ freshmen are discouraged from taking PHI 012 in their first quarter
Choose one (4 units)
PHI 014 - Ethical and Social Problems in Contemporary Society
PHI 015 - Introduction to Bioethics
PHI 016 - Philosophical Foundations of American Democracy

Sample 1st Quarter (12 to 15 units) - Philosophy A.B., Pre-Law Emphasis


Course	Units	Notes
PHI 005–024 (choose from list above)	4	Plan to complete your major lower division requirements by the end of your second year.
General Education	3–4	Refer to Aggie 101 or your College Advising to learn about your options.
General Education or Seminar	0–4	Seminars: First-Year Seminar and First Year Aggie Connection
General Education or Foreign Language	3–5	Language courses may require a placement exam.

Philosophy (Pre-Med)

Lower Division Requirements for Philosophy Bachelor of Arts, Pre-Medicine Emphasis

Required (12 units)
PHI 015 - Introduction to Bioethics
PHI 038 - Introduction to Philosophy of Biology
PHI 012 - Introduction to Symbolic Logic
→ freshmen are discouraged from taking PHI 012 in their first quarter
Choose one (4 units)
PHI 024 - Introduction to Ethics
PHI 030 - Introduction to Philosophy of Science
PHI 031 - Appraising Scientific Reasoning
PHI 032 - Understanding Scientific Change

Sample 1st Quarter (12 to 15 units) - Philosophy A.B., Pre-Medicine Emphasis


Course	Units	Notes
PHI 0015–038 (choose from list above)	4	Plan to complete your major lower division requirements by the end of your second year.
General Education	3–4	Refer to Aggie 101 or your College Advising to learn about your options.
General Education or Seminar	0–4	Seminars: First-Year Seminar and First Year Aggie Connection
General Education or Foreign Language	3–5	Language courses may require a placement exam.

Cognitive Science A.B.

Lower Division Requirements for Cognitive Science Bachelor of Arts

Psychology (8 units)
Two courses required:
PSC 001 - General Psychology
PSC 041 - Research Methods in Psychology (prerequisite: PSC 001)
Philosophy (12 units)
Three courses required:
PHI 010 - Intro to Cognitive Science (also offered as CGS 001)
PHI 013G - Minds, Brains, and Computers with Discussion
PHI 012 - Intro to Symbolic Logic
→ freshmen are discouraged from taking PHI 012 in their first quarter
Linguistics (4 units)
LIN 001 - Intro to Linguistics
Statistics (4 units)
Choose one option:
option 1: STA 013 - Elementary Statistics
option 2: STA 100 - Applied Statistics for Bio Sci

Check your AP scores and placement, if you think you have credit for psychology or statistics.

Sample 1st Quarter (12 to 15 units) - Cognitive Science A.B.


Course	Units	Notes
PHI 010/CGS 001 - Intro to Cognitive Science	4	Plan to complete this course sometime in your first year.
PSC 001 - General Psychology, or LIN 001 - Intro to Linguistics	4	Plan to complete these courses sometime in your first year.
General Education or Foreign Language	3–5	Refer to Aggie 101 or your College Advising to learn about your options.
General Education or Seminar	0–4	Seminars: First-Year Seminar and First Year Aggie Connection

Cognitive Science B.S. (Computational)

Lower Division Requirements for Cognitive Science Bachelor of Science, Computational Emphasis

Psychology (8 units)
Two courses required:
PSC 001 - General Psychology
PSC 041 - Research Methods in Psychology (prerequisite: PSC 001)
Philosophy (12 units)
Three courses required:
PHI 010 - Intro to Cognitive Science (also offered as CGS 001)
PHI 013G - Minds, Brains, and Computers with Discussion
PHI 012 - Intro to Symbolic Logic
→ freshmen are discouraged from taking PHI 012 in their first quarter
Linguistics (4 units)
LIN 001 - Intro to Linguistics
Statistics (4 units)
Choose one option:
option 1: STA 013 - Elementary Statistics
option 2: STA 100 - Applied Statistics for Bio Sci
Calculus (12 units)
Choose one option:
option 1: MAT 017ABC - Calculus for Biology & Medicine
option 2: MAT 021ABC - Calculus
→ placement exam may be required
Linear Algebra (4–7 units)
Choose one option:
option 1: MAT 022A & 022AL - Linear Algebra with Computer Lab (prerequisite: MAT 016C/017C/021C)
option 2: MAT 027A - Linear Algebra with Applications to Biology (prerequisite: MAT 017C/021C)
option 3: MAT 022A & ENG 006 - Linear Algebra & Engineering Problem Solving (prerequisite: MAT 016C/017C/021C)
→ note: ENG 006 is an approved substitute for MAT 022AL and focuses more in MATLAB
Computer Science (12 units)
Required:
ECS 020 - Discrete Math for Computer Science (prerequisite: MAT 016A/017A/021A)

AND choose one option:
option 1:
ECS 032A - Intro to Programming
ECS 032B - Intro to Data Structures
ECS 032C - Implementation of Data Structures in C
option 2:
ECS 036A - Programming & Problem Solving
ECS 036B - Software Development & Object-Oriented Programming in C++
ECS 036C - Data Structures, Algorithms, & Programming
→ placement exam may be required

Check your AP scores and placement, if you think you have credit for psychology or statistics.

Sample 1st Quarter (12 to 15 units) - Cognitive Science B.S., Computational Emphasis


Course	Units	Notes
PHI 010/CGS 001 - Intro to Cognitive Science	4	Plan to complete this course sometime in your first year.
PSC 001 - General Psychology, or LIN 001 - Intro to Linguistics, or Math (preparatory, MAT 017A, or MAT 021A)	4	Plan to complete PSC 001 and LIN 001 sometime in your first year. Choose your Math course based on your placement exam results.
General Education	3–5	Refer to Aggie 101 or your College Advising to learn about your options.
General Education or Seminar	0–4	Seminars: First-Year Seminar and First Year Aggie Connection

Cognitive Science B.S. (Neuroscience)

Lower Division Requirements for Cognitive Science Bachelor of Science, Neuroscience Emphasis

Psychology (8 units)
Two courses required:
PSC 001 - General Psychology
PSC 041 - Research Methods in Psychology (prerequisite: PSC 001)
Philosophy (12 units)
Three courses required:
PHI 010 - Intro to Cognitive Science (also offered as CGS 001)
PHI 013G - Minds, Brains, and Computers with Discussion
Linguistics (4 units)
LIN 001 - Intro to Linguistics
Statistics (4 units)
Choose one option:
option 1: STA 013 - Elementary Statistics
option 2: STA 100 - Applied Statistics for Bio Sci
Calculus (12 units)
Choose one option:
option 1: MAT 017ABC - Calculus for Biology & Medicine
option 2: MAT 021ABC - Calculus
→ placement exam may be required
Biology (15 units)
Three courses required:
BIS 002B - Intro Bio: Ecology & Evolution
BIS 002A - Intro Bio: Essentials of Life on Earth
BIS 002C - Intro Bio: Biodiversity & Tree of Life (prerequisite: BIS 002B)
→ tip: this series is non-sequential; BIS 002B is recommended to be taken first
Physics (12–15 units)
Choose one option:
option 1: PHY 007ABC - General Physics (prerequisite: MAT 016B/017B/021B)
option 2: PHY 009ABC - Classical Physics (prerequisite: MAT 021B)

Check your AP scores and placement, if you think you have credit for psychology, statistics, or biology.

Sample 1st Quarter (12 to 15 units) - Cognitive Science B.S., Neuroscience Emphasis


Course	Units	Notes
PHI 010/CGS 001 - Intro to Cognitive Science	4	Plan to complete this course sometime in your first year.
PSC 001 - General Psychology, or LIN 001 - Intro to Linguistics, or Math (preparatory, MAT 017A, or MAT 021A), or BIS 002B - Intro Bio: Ecology & Evolution	4	Plan to complete PSC 001 and LIN 001 sometime in your first year. Choose your Math course based on your placement exam results.
General Education	3–5	Refer to Aggie 101 or your College Advising to learn about your options.
General Education or Seminar	0–4	Seminars: First-Year Seminar and First Year Aggie Connection

Science & Technology Studies

Lower Division Requirements for Science & Technology Studies Bachelor of Arts

Required (4 units)
STS 001 - Intro to Science, Technology & Medicine Studies
Choose THREE courses (12 units):
STS/HIS 002 - Intro to the History of Science & Technology
STS 011 - Science on Trial: Law, Science, & Technology in the U.S.
STS/HIS 016 - Sex, Science, & Society
STS 032 - Drugs, Science, & Culture
STS 040A - Media History 1: Gutenberg to Oppenheimer
STS 040B - Media History 2: 1945–Present
STS 050 - Ancient Science
STS 051 - Ancient Medicine
PHI 030 - Intro to Philosophy of Science
PHI 031 - Appraising Scientific Reasoning
PHI 032 - Understanding Scientific Change

Sample 1st Quarter (12 to 15 units) - Science & Technology Studies A.B.


Course	Units	Notes
STS 001–051 (choose from list above), or PHI 030–032	4	Plan to complete your major lower division requirements by the end of your second year.
General Education	3–4	Refer to Aggie 101 or your College Advising to learn about your options.
General Education or Seminar	0–4	Seminars: First-Year Seminar and First Year Aggie Connection
General Education or Foreign Language	3–5	Language courses may require a placement exam.