Courses
Academics are important. Don't fail your classes. Listed below are common courses which TAMS students take. However, TAMS students are allowed to take any UNT Course listed on the UNT Catalog as long as the student meets the pre-requisites.
BIOL
Perhaps the most painful course a TAMS junior can take. But don't worry—good things come to those who wait, and good thing = second semester bio.
BIOL 1711
Honors Biology for Science Majors I. Sadboi moments with Daddy Dane Alligator Man Crossley. Tests are straightforward, but chance are, you will stumble across the occasional typo every other question. Lectures are rather... hm. Textbook is not fun to read, unless you're a nerd. May the luck be with you.
BIOL 1761
Honors Biology for Science Majors Laboratory. Typically taken with Bio I during first semester of junior year. Your experience honestly depends on your luck with getting good TAs. May the luck be with you.
BIOL 1722
Honors Biology for Science Majors II. Happieboie moments with the Jaguar (Jagadeeswaran) and Knee Oh Gee (Neogi). Jag teaches about animals, humans, and sex. Neogi teaches about ecology, the environment, and why humans are ruining it. The luck will likely be with you.
CHEM
First year TAMS students take a chemistry course plus lab. A student can place into honors chemistry based on their performance on the chemistry placement test taken during summer orientation. Students who miss the placement test will be automatically placed in general chemistry.
CHEM 1410
General Chemistry I. sucks to suck
CHEM 1413
Honors Chemistry I. acree moments
CHEM 1420
General Chemistry II. This class is amazing with Kelber.
CHEM 1423
Honors Chemistry II. acree 2 electric boogaloo
CHEM 2730
Organic Chemistry (OChem). Organic chemistry is just naming carbons and realizing how carbons flirt with each other.
First Year CSCE Courses
CSCE 1030
Computer Science I. see pless pless. Taught by Dr. Pradhumna Shrestha during the fall semester of the 2020-2021 school year.
http://catalog.unt.edu/preview_course_nopop.php?catoid=20&coid=75513
CSCE 1040
Computer Science II. obgekt oreeentid prougramyng. Taught by Dr. David Mark Keathly, who does not know how to wear a mask. Notorious for long, tedious projects.
http://catalog.unt.edu/preview_course_nopop.php?catoid=20&coid=75515
Second Year CSCE Courses
CSCE 2100
Foundations of Computing. A theoretical class, this class sometimes can serve as possible prerequisite options alongside MATH 2000, discrete math.
http://catalog.unt.edu/preview_course_nopop.php?catoid=20&coid=75518
CSCE 2110
Foundations of Data Structures. bad class
http://catalog.unt.edu/preview_course_nopop.php?catoid=20&coid=75519
CSCE Related Courses
INFO 3010
Intro to Data Science is taught in R and is project based meaning that there are no tests. The course covers the entirety of data science including how to gather, parse, analyze, graph, and interpret data. As of Fall 2020, this class was instructed by Dr. Lingzi Hong.
http://catalog.unt.edu/preview_course_nopop.php?catoid=22&coid=87512
ENGL
First Year ENGL Courses
ENGL 1315
Writing about Literature I. ENGL 1315 is taken first semester. Current instructors include Dr. Anne Schoolfield, Professor Joshua Ibarra, and Dr. Mariah Steele. Previous instructors include Professor Jack Christian. The class covers poetry and plays.
ENGL 1325
Writing about Literature II. ENGL 1315 2: Electric Boogaloo is taught by the same professors as ENGL 1315. However, unlike with math classes, you are able to switch professors. The class covers science fiction and prose.
Second Year ENGL Courses
ENGL 2321
British Literature. Bri'ish people are disgusting.
ENGL 2326
American Literature. Murica People readings and stuff.
ENGL 2331
World Literature. Literature from the world.
ENGL 2341
Forms of Literature. Literature comes in different forms and stuff like square.
ENGL 2351
Mexican American Literature. Una clase de literatura con escritos de los Mexicanos en los Estados Unidos.
Other Second Year ENGL Courses
Other than the second year courses listed above, seniors can take other English courses including:
- The full list of English courses that can be taken can be found here.
ENGL 4610
Children’s and Young Adult Literature. How to analyze Dr. Seuss
ENGL 4620
Literature and Film. Watching books.
ENGL 4660
Literature and the Holocaust. A history class but with literature with topics related to the Holocaust. Taught by Dr. Deb Armintor in the fall semester and Dr. Cindy K. Renker in the spring semester.
ENGL 4680
Game Narratives as Literature. The course is taught by Dr. Marshall Needleman Armintor. The purpose of this course is to examine the concept of narrative in video games—from all eras and genres—to show how the familiar questions of structure, cultural critique, and (especially) intertextuality commonly applied to literature and film can be extended to games and the gaming ethos. Yes, this is for you, you gamer.
HIST
During your second year at TAMS, you will take two semesters of U.S. history.
HIST 2610
United States History to 1865. American History to 1865 C.E.
HIST 2620
United States History since 1865. American History since 1865 C.E.
LTEC
LTEC 3000
Learning Technologies in STEM. This class is largely composed of busy work. Not an easy A despite being composed of busy work. This is a course to avoid.
MATH
When a student is admitted to TAMS, they will start with Pre-Cal (MATH 1650). However, a student can place into higher level math based on their performance on the pre-calculus placement test taken during summer orientation. Students who miss the placement test will be automatically placed in pre-calculus.
If a student has an SAT math score 750+ OR ACT composite score of 32+ with a 34+ in the math section AND a 5 on the AP Calculus exam (AB/BC), they may enroll in Calculus I with permission from TAMS.
Note: If you place into MATH 1650 or 1710 in your first TAMS semester, the math professor you take will be the same for your second semester. For example, if you take Mann first semester for Cal I, you will have him again second semester for Cal II or if you have Brozovic for Pre-Calculus first semester, you will take him again second semester for Cal I.
MATH 1650
Pre-calculus. Taught by Dr. Nirmala Naresh, Dr. Joe Iaia, and Dr. Doug Brozovic for the fall semester of the 2020-2021 school year. Often considered to be more difficult than high school pre-calculus.
MATH 1710
Calculus 1. Covers limits and continuity, derivatives and integrals; differentiation and integration of polynomial, rational, trigonometric, and algebraic functions; applications, including slope, velocity, extrema, area, volume and work. Was taught by Dr. Allen Mann and Dr. William Cherry for the fall semester of the 2020-2021 school year.
MATH 1720
Calculus 2. Covers differentiation and integration of exponential, logarithmic and transcendental functions; integration techniques; indeterminate forms; improper integrals; area and arc length in polar coordinates; infinite series; power series; Taylor's theorem. Was taught by Dr. Matthew Dulock for the fall semester of the 2020-2021 school year.
MATH 2000
discreeet.. fishmen..
MATH 2700
Linear Algebra and Vector Geometry. AKA matrix math. Learning how to solve and manipulate systems of linear equations and apply it to real life situations. Just like your SAT system of equations but then the equations do not play nice and you get all sad. The first unit covers what happens when the system has a solution and the last 3 units cover what happens when the system does not have a happy solution along with some other theorems and techniques. Some things covered are vector operations, Gaussian elimination, determinants, change of basis, Gram-Schmidt process, eigenvectors, and diagonalization. This course is offered with options of synchronous and asynchronous instruction for Fall 2020 & Spring 2021; in the latter case, you simply watch videos and do your work. As of Spring 2021, this class is instructed by Dr. Helen J. Elwood.
MATH 2730
Multivariable Calculus (Calculus 3). Covers vectors and analytic geometry in 3-space; partial and directional derivatives; extrema; double and triple integrals and applications; cylindrical and spherical coordinates. If you take MATH 1720 in fall of your junior year, you will be required to take this class in spring.
MATH 3000
real anal. its hard
MATH 3400
number theory
MATH 3410
You solve differential equations using a box full of tools and methods. Good calculus and algebra fundamentals recommended. This course resembles more of calculus 2 than calculus 1 or 3 so be prepared.
MATH 3420
diffeeks deux
MATH 3680
applyed statisticks
MATH 3510
Abstract Algebra I. This class mainly covers the study of groups, fields, and rings. Some of the notable topics include: permutation groups, dihedral groups, cyclic groups, alternating groups, left and right cosets, LaGrange's Theorem, finitely generated abelian groups, homomorphisms, factor groups, rings, fields, and Fermat's Theorem.
MATH 4520
complex anal
MATH 4810
Biocomputing. Easily the best math class since you only need MATH 1720 as the prerequisite and no math is done in the class. Instead you just learn biology, computer science, and how to present papers.
PHYS
During your second year at TAMS, you will take two semesters of physics. Most people start with PHYS 1710 and 1730, but if you scored a 5 on both AP Physics C exams including mechanics and electricity and magnetism, you can enroll in modern physics (PHYS 3010 and Lab: PHYS 3030) and Quantum mechanics (PHYS 4310).
PHYS 1710
Kinematics with calculus. If you took AP Physics 1 or C then this will be familiar territory.
PHYS 1730
physics 1 lab
PHYS 2220
Electromagnetism. If you took AP Physics C then this will also be familiar territory.
PHYS 2240
physics 2 lab
PHYS 3010
Modern Physics. Special class #1 for 1 special kid.
PHYS 3030
Modern Physics Lab. This is the lab for PHYS 3010.
PHYS 4310
Quantuum mekaniks. If PHYS 3010 is opened up to more students in the future years this class will become accessible to some during their time at TAMS. It requires a student to take both PHYS 3010 and 3030 in addition to MATH 3410 prior to enrollment. Special class #2 for 1 special kid.
PSCI
As a senior, you'll be required to take either PSCI 2305 or 2306 in the spring semester.
PSCI 2305
US Political Behavior and Policy. Taught by Prof. Meaders and Dr. Greig.
PSCI 2306
TECM
Technical writing. Required for certain tracks for the class of 2023 and onwards.
Electives
Unless otherwise noted, all references to "GPA" are for the cumulative GPA.
Starting at your 2nd semester, you are able to take electives as long as you meet the GPA requirement, and your total class load does not exceed 19 hours in total.
2nd and 3rd semester students with GPA higher than 3.25 (requires confirmation) may take 1 elective course of up to 3 credit hours (labs and recitation for such electives are not included) and 1 elective of either "research" or 1 credit hour.
4th semester students with GPA higher than 3.75 may take up to 2 elective courses of up to 3 credit hours each.
In all circumstances, the 19-hour cap must be observed.
In pre-pandemic conditions, 1-hour electives are generally physical education or non-music major music; such courses become rather obscure in remote learning, but demand is expected to pull up upon returning to campus physically.
Research courses usually appear in forms like "XXXX 2900 - Introduction to [discipline] Research" and "XXXX 4900 - Special Problems" (where XXXX denotes the 4-letter class code the field of study uses in the UNT Catalog). They can be of more than 1 credit hour, unlike an 1-credit hour elective you may otherwise take (wink wink GPA boost). As "research" courses, they serve the role of "recording your mentored research in your transcript" to a certain degree, so you generally have your research mentor as the instructor.
Some common electives that TAMS students take include:
- BIOL 2301 and BIOL 2311 (Lab): Human Anatomy and Physiology I (Usually taken by Traditional Science Students)
- CHEM 2730, with lab: Organic Chemistry
- MATH 2000: Discrete Math
- MATH 2700: Linear Algebra
- MATH 3680: Applied Statistics
- ECON 1100: Macroeconomics
- ECON 1110: Microeconomics
- PSYC 1630: General Psychology I
- PSYC 1650: General Psychology II
- Foreign languages: Spanish, Japanese, Chinese, German, French, Latin, Arabic, Russian
- The World Languages department also offers credit-by-exam, allowing up to 12 credit hours in a foreign language to be obtained. Generally, about 10 testing times will be open over the course of the semester for commmonly chosen foreign languages.
Note: CHEM 2730, in addition to 3 credit hours of instruction, has 1 credit hour of recitation, 1 credit hour of lab and 1 credit hour of lab recitation. It is usually discouraged to take this course in 3rd semester given the extremely dreading college season.