What should I focus on in PSEO?

The answer: balance creatively

We recommend not focusing exclusively on one set of requirements. Look for areas were you may accomplish two things with one class--a high school requirement and a general education requirement or major requirement-- while also considering your personal interests and goals.

Some things to consider:

Reasons to focus on general education (Gen Eds) requirements:

• • If you're undecided about your major, you can complete Gen Eds and know that they'll work towards graduation, regardless of your eventual major selection.

  • They often coincide with high school requirements.

Reasons to be wary of focusing on Gen Eds:

• • Gen Eds are intended to be spread throughout your undergraduate career. Taking them all in the first few semesters can make future semesters difficult by having future semesters overly packed with major courses, without an intellectual break that a Gen Ed outside your major may provide.

  • Many majors have courses that satisfy some Gen Eds naturally, making it inefficient to fill all Gen Eds first. Going out of your way to fill Gen Eds and eventually declaring a major that incorporates many of the requirements may be inefficient.

Reasons to focus on majors:

• • Many majors include sequenced requirements that need to be completed in a particular order. This may take several semesters. Getting a head start on gateway courses may help reduce your time as a degree-seeking student.

  • Even if you haven't settled on a major, you may find common requirements for many majors. For example, calculus is required for UMN Morris math, chemistry, economics management and statistics majors (biology majors may take calculus or survey of calculus). 

Reasons to be wary of focusing on major requirements:

• • You haven't been admitted to the UMN Morris as a degree-seeking student yet. If you change your mind about what college you wish to attend, their major requirements may be different from those at UMN Morris. 

  • It's still early; you may change your mind! If you spend your time in PSEO taking courses specific to a certain major and then change your mind, it can feel like you're starting over again from the beginning.