Majors and minors at UB come in all different shapes, sizes, and most importantly for students, difficulties. What it is that makes a major difficult is not only in the content of the classes, but the credit load and course availability.
Students should be particularly aware of the difficulties of their majors - by the end of a four-year tour, the last thing students want is to have more requirements to complete.
While the majors included do not try to compose a plurality of the programs at UB, the information given tries to gage the difficulty of different areas of study based upon surveys from students. (Note: not all requirements for majors listed).
1. English
"If you're an English major, you know you have a lot of reading to do and you're going to spend most of your time doing that," said Sarah Herman, a junior English major.
According to Herman, classes are not competitive to get into since there are multiple professors who teach multiple sections of the required classes. Herman added that the upper-level classes are more difficult to get into since classes decrease in size as they increase in difficulty.
"You have to have a deeper level of understanding to be an English major," Herman said. "The students will challenge themselves depending on choice of courses and professors."
2. Romance Languages & Literature
"There are only six or seven 400 level electives offered every semester," said Meghan Roth, a senior Spanish major. "Considering how the same 400 level classes repeat, and you are required to take 10 classes, you have to deal with finding alternative credits."
According to Roth, most Romance Language majors study abroad in order to obtain alternative credits, as well as a great experience in the course of their studies.
With upper-level classes only accommodating 25 people and seminars only accommodating 10, students with a language major often find themselves either double majoring or seeking a minor or concentration.
"There aren't a lot of people in the major," Roth said. "The faculty is really small."
According to Roth, this major is highly conducive to the study abroad program.
"A lot of people declare their major junior or senior year, making it impossible to finish the major in time unless there are extra credits on the side from studying abroad," Roth said.
3. Biomedical Science
Biomedical science majors need to keep on their game, making sure to attend classes and not fall behind in material.
"You definitely have to put in a decent effort to study and make sure you really learn the material," said Josh Rein, a biomedical science major. "A lot of classes go pretty in-depth with the material."
Students like Rein know all too well the academic commitment of some majors and what it takes to complete a competitive major.
According to Rein, a force registration was required in order go get into anatomy. In particular, microbiology requires special registration from the department
"Microbiology is only offered once a year in the spring, with only one available lecture," Rein said.
The limited nature of microbiology is lacking as opposed to biology, chemistry and physics, where at least three lectures for each subject are offered.
Even though graduating seniors have priority to register for required classes like microbiology, the class is a shared requirement among health science majors and limits the availability of the class, according to Rein.
"There's a problem with anatomy and microbiology," Rein said. "Since they're required by so many health fields, a lot of people run into getting closed out of classes."
All the required classes for the biomedical science major are required for admissions to medical school.
4. Electrical Engineering
Electrical engineering classes are some of the most difficult and competitive at UB, according to Zak Hindle, a senior electrical engineering major. Not only is there an overwhelming amount of material to learn in a short amount of time, competition with classmates adds to the difficulty of this major.
"The classes are really difficult," Hindle said. "Some of my classes I feel it's almost impossible to do certain material."
According to Hindle, an ideal schedule is hard to achieve because students find themselves competing for the prime classes. This disadvantage is countered by the amount of available engineering class sections.
"With the 400 level engineering classes, you can pick pretty much whatever you want," Hindle said. "It's easier to get into these classes because you need to be a junior or senior to get into them."
Class sizes for the upper-level engineering classes range from 30 to 100 students, and the introductory level classes are held in large lecture halls such as those in the Natural Science Complex.
Slacking students will not be able to achieve high marks as an electrical engineering major, Hindle said.
"Study more. Do the optional homework, and don't be lazy," Hindle said.
Students at UB definitely have the resources to overcome the difficulty among majors. At such a competitive institution, UB asks their students for nothing less than their best in the pursuit of academic excellence.
1. English
Two 200 level courses
Three credits in criticism
Twelve credits in early literature
Six credits in late literature
Twelve elective 300 or 400 level classes
TOTAL REQUIREMENT: 39 credit hours
2. Romance Languages & Literature
At least one 100 level class (usually worth five credits)
Three mandatory 200 level classes
Ten 300 or 400 level elective
TOTAL REQUIREMENT: 44 credit hours
3. Biomedical Science
Two semesters of biology
Four semesters of chemistry
Two semesters of physics
Two semesters of math
Anatomy, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Human Physiology, Pathophysiology
18-24 elective credits, with at least three of them being 300-400 level classes outside the department dealing with medicine or science.
TOTAL REQUIREMENT: 90 credit hours
4. Electrical Engineering
Calculus I, II, III, and Differential Equations
Statics
Two semesters of physics
One semester of chemistry
400 level engineering design class
TOTAL REQUIREMENT: 90 credit hours
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
