Prerequisites at ISU

CyFan61

Well-Known Member
Oct 25, 2010
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Got a question for any students or alumni. I'm looking to take a class to fulfill a minor. I've already got a good number of credits in the department, so I just need this 300-level course. But a prerequisite listed for it is an introductory 100-level course that I have not taken.

My question is, will I get booted from the class? Will the class count/not count towards my minor without fulfilling the prereq? Help give me some answers. I'd ask my advisor, but I feel like that would "blow my cover" if it turns out I don't actually need the prereq and can sneak by.

Thanks for the help CF'ers.
 

IcSyU

Well-Known Member
Nov 27, 2007
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Depends how closely they check your pre-reqs. If the class is close to full they tend to check them a bit more and then the professor has a list of students that need to consult with him before they're allowed a grade in the class. If you've taken a decent amount of classes in the department, they may just waive the pre-req.

P.S. This is the kind of thing your advisor is paid to answer for you. They can only help you out. If it comes back that you didn't do the pre-req 3 weeks into the class and you get booted from it, you wasted 3 weeks.
 
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CyBer

Guest
You will most likely be kicked out, and even if you aren't kicked out you probably won't get good grades if you haven't taken the pre req.
 

IcSyU

Well-Known Member
Nov 27, 2007
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You will most likely be kicked out, and even if you aren't kicked out you probably won't get good grades if you haven't taken the pre req.

Oh BS on the latter. There are plenty of classes you can do perfectly fine in without the pre-reqs.
 

clone319

Active Member
Nov 27, 2010
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I asked my advisor about a 100 level prereq I needed for a 300 level course. She said that since I was a junior she felt I could handle taking it without the introductory course. As long as they didn't check (which she said they usually don't) I would be fine.
 

MNCyGuy

Well-Known Member
Jan 14, 2009
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Des Moines
E-mail (talking in person would be better, but it's the summer so do what you can) the professor that teaches the class. I did that with a few classes, and in my experience they see that you actually want to take the class, appreciate that, and waive it unless you really would be screwed if you hadn't taken the pre-req.

(Hint for current students: a similar strategy works for getting your department to accept unlisted classes from other departments as approved electives for your major if you can give them a justifiable reason.)
 

iahawkhunter

Well-Known Member
Apr 17, 2010
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Huxley, IA
Oh BS on the latter. There are plenty of classes you can do perfectly fine in without the pre-reqs.

Agreed. I would add, though, that you shouldn't become the student that holds the class back because you skipped the pre-reqs. I've had that scenario happen to me, and it sucks to be handicapped because someone else wanted to cut corners.
 

4VR4CY

Well-Known Member
Aug 28, 2007
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Ankeny, IA
What is the class. I work at ISU and can give you a better answer if I know the class and/or the department. With some it doesn't matter with others it REALLY matters (as they check every student).
 

FDWxMan

Well-Known Member
Jan 31, 2009
3,131
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Des Moines
Got a question for any students or alumni. I'm looking to take a class to fulfill a minor. I've already got a good number of credits in the department, so I just need this 300-level course. But a prerequisite listed for it is an introductory 100-level course that I have not taken.

My question is, will I get booted from the class? Will the class count/not count towards my minor without fulfilling the prereq? Help give me some answers. I'd ask my advisor, but I feel like that would "blow my cover" if it turns out I don't actually need the prereq and can sneak by.

Thanks for the help CF'ers.

Talk to your advisor...as others have said, this is one of the things they are paid to do.

If it is possible, the advisor can get the pre-req officially waived for you.
I got an ad slip for such a thing once with my advisor doing some of the legwork, as well as getting into two, hour and a half long classes that overlapped by 20 minutes.

If you have good grades and lots of credit in the area, and you have an advisor that actually cares, they can get the rules bent for you.

If your advisor is one of the ones that just gives you your number to add classes and then doesn't want to see you, well, may be tougher.
 

hawkeyeh8r

Well-Known Member
Jun 10, 2010
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Ames
my guess is you will be kicked out of it but id talk to your advisor. ive known people to take a 300 level class and the pre req in the same semester if they are close to graduating so they may make an exception for you
 

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