Choosing Your Courses
Welcome to the American University in Bulgaria (AUBG), where you will expand your knowledge in a variety of disciplines. As an AUBG student, you have the opportunity to choose a major tailored to your personal preferences. Our university allows you to acquire proficiency from your major-specific courses while nurturing your creativity and cultural awareness through a wide range of arts, literature, and language classes.
If you have never stumbled upon the course registration process, navigating through the wide range of courses can seem intimidating. However, it is important to understand how the process works and be provided with a little guidance so that you can get the most out of your university experience.
What is course registration?
During the course registration process, students have to choose from a variety of courses across different disciplines, including major-specific classes and liberal arts ones.
When does the course registration begin?
Course registration takes place twice a year before the start of each semester. You can check the AUBG Academic Calendar for more information regarding official dates and holidays.
Typically, students register in the following order: second-semester seniors, first-semester seniors, juniors, sophomores, and freshmen.
Note: Students with overdue balances will not be permitted to the registration process. If you need help calculating your semester fee, check the AUBG Financial Calculator.
Which courses should I take?
Choosing courses according to your major/minor will make the course registration process easier for you. When picking classes, you may have options based on whether you have selected your major.
What should my major be?
It’s completely normal to take some time to decide on your major. Many students need a year or two before choosing.
The general education curriculum in AUBG can help you identify a path of study that aligns with your goals and interests.
Note: All first-year students have an assigned academic advisor who they are required to contact during the orientation week to plan their upcoming course schedule.
I know my major. Now what?
If you are aware of what you want to major in, that is an excellent way to begin your university education. Now, you can follow your major requirements and electives to ensure that you plan your schedule efficiently.
However, to receive more detailed information regarding courses, credit requirements, and prerequisites, consult the AUBG academic catalog.
What are the mandatory courses?
Foundation courses, also called mandatory courses, are required for all undergraduate students and must be completed in the first year of study at AUBG. These courses provide students with a broad and interdisciplinary education for future academic and professional pursuits.
The foundation courses are:
English Grammar and Structure
Introductory Mathematics
Exposition
Writing Academic Research Papers
Statistics
Steps for Success
Note: The first two on the list can be satisfied by the student’s SAT scores or by English and Math placement exams.
What are the general education courses?
The general education courses are designed to assist students in developing and improving their critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills. These courses will be particularly useful to students who have not yet decided on their major.
As a student at AUBG, you choose among 12 courses in 7 different disciplines:
Historical Analysis
Aesthetic Expression
Social and Cultural Analysis
Scientific Investigation
Moral and Philosophical Reasoning
Quantitative Reasoning
Literary Analysis
Writing Intensive Courses
Note: Some major/minor requirement courses can satisfy general education requirements; consult the AUBG Catalog to get more information about the course description.
What are course prerequisites?
Once you know what classes interest you, you’ll need to check the course prerequisites. They ensure that all the necessary skills and proficiency required to enroll in more advanced courses are present.
Note: Some classes may require professors’ permission to join. In these instances, you should contact the professor directly or send an e-mail to the Registrar’s Office.
What are elective courses?
The elective courses align with the requirements of your specific degree of study (major/minor).
Elective courses offer the opportunity to expand your knowledge and abilities beyond the prerequisites, by selecting courses based on your interests.
What is the difference between 1000/2000/3000/4000 level courses?
The numbering system in AUBG indicates the difficulty and degree of academic advancement.
1000-level courses are typically introductory courses that provide a general overview of a subject.
2000-level courses build upon the knowledge gained in 1000-level courses and offer more in-depth analysis of the subject.
3000-level courses require a higher degree of critical thinking and analysis and are taken by students with a solid knowledge of the subject.
4000-level courses are intended for students with a thorough understanding of the subject and encourage independent research and analysis.
What are Writing Intensive courses (WIC)?
WICs emphasize written communication and help students improve their writing skills and ability to communicate effectively through producing substantial written work.
Note: For all AUBG students is mandatory to complete 3 WIC courses upon graduation. Each Writing Intensive course is 4 credits.
Is there a credit hour requirement for graduation?
Each course you take is worth a certain number of credits. Most courses are 3 credits; WICs are 4.
Student registration at AUBG is limited to a maximum of 17 credits each semester, with 12 credits being the minimum. Students must complete a minimum of 120 credits over the four years to meet the requirements for graduation.
What is Add/Drop week?
The Add/Drop week occurs at the beginning of each semester. During that period, students can make changes to their course schedule by adding or dropping courses to align it with their academic goals.
What is Canvas?
Canvas is a web-based learning management system. It offers communication and collaboration tools for instructors and students, such as discussion boards, messaging, and group projects. With Canvas, students can access course materials and stay organized anywhere.
What happens if a course I want is full?
Don’t lose hope if a course you want to take is full. Check whether another section of the class is offered at a different time. If you struggle to find an open class, you will be placed on a waiting list and notified by email if a space becomes available.
Note: Keep an eye on the waiting list and any announcements from the professor or the Registrar’s office for potential seat openings.
What is a time conflict and how can I overcome it?
During course registration, classes fill up quickly. As a freshman, you may not have priority when choosing courses, which may result in your preferred choice getting filled.
It may happen that two classes are scheduled at the same time, this creates a time conflict, and you have to choose which one to take.
In these cases, it is wise to have a backup course or two in mind. Consult your academic advisor to discuss options to resolve the conflict.
As a student currently pursuing a double major in Business Administration and Journalism, Ivan-Svetoslav Petrov is passionate about helping people through their studies and future career.
