Easy A Courses for Science Majors: Astronomy vs. Intro to Psychology

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In summary, the individual is a science major planning to graduate in two years by taking 9 credits in the next semester and overloading with 14 credits during the summer. They have already completed their electives and are considering taking an easy 3-credit course for insurance. They have narrowed it down to astronomy or intro to psych, but are unsure if they will take either as they want to focus on getting an A in their current courses. The individual also discusses their experience with astronomy and psychology courses and mentions that most kids nowadays enter college with AP credits. They also mention that taking an astronomy course can utilize other branches of physics.
  • #1
sportsstar469
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whats up everyone, i am a science major, and since science courses are prerequisites, next semester i am only able to take 9 credits (gen chem 2 with lab, and precalculus) i plan on overloading with 14 credits during the summer, in order to graduate with my associates in a 2 year time period from when i started. i also already am done with electives.

anyway, for insurance i want to take a 3 credit course, that's an easy A

ive narrowed it down to astronomy, or intro to psych. i noticed they do iq testing in intro to psych, does that mean that the student takes an iq test for anybody who has taken this course?

heres the syllabus to both
l PSYC-101 Introduction to Psychology I (Cr3) (3:0) Students will demonstrate an understanding of psychology as a science. They will complete exercises covering
fundamental areas of the discipline: history of psychology, scientific method, sensation and perception, learning and memory, IQ and personality testing. Students will gain the ability to examine these subjects from a critical as well as diverse point of view; the roles of gender, cultural and individual differences are systematically explored. Service-learning is an option.

PHYS-102 (SC) Astronomy (Cr3) (3:0)
This introductory astronomy course is for college students who are curious about the universe. Topics covered include the historical foundations of astronomy, the tools and techniques used by modern astronomers, the sun, planets, moons, and minor bodies of our solar system, and the processes by which it formed. (Prerequisites: MATH 015 or satisfactory completion of the College’s basic skills requirement in computation, and READ 095 or satisfactory completion of the College’s basic skills requirement in reading)astronomy sounds REALLY easy, since the prerequisites are prealgebra, and remedial reading.
 
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  • #2
Don't assume a class is easy just because the prerequisites are. The prereqs are just to make sure you don't join the class without being able to start day 1. It says nothing about how hard the class will be on the last day of the semester
 
  • #3
Sure.
It starts with an A. But watch out, it ends with a Y
 
  • #4
No individual topic in the astronomy course will be difficult, but there could be many topics covered and many facts to assimilate. If you feel comfortable with this in a summer course, you should be fine.
 
  • #5
I read an astronomy book once and during the history of astronomy part, it talked a lot about astrology. I think astrology is pointless, but I guess it's important in the history part.
 
  • #6
sounds like your intro astronomy is a first part of full intro.
In my undergrad college, there were two intros. The first one is about celestial sphere and solar system. The second one is mostly about everything else (stars, galaxies, evolution of the universe etc).

Obviously I cannot know how your classes will be like, but I will tell you my experience.
The intro1 astronomy is pretty easy. A lot easier than the second intro.
Intro Psych was also relatively easy. There were a lot of material to learn and a lot more exercise for Psych. I enjoyed it a lot though. So I guess both of them should not be so hard to get an A.
 
  • #7
...i plan on overloading with 14 credits during the summer,...
There could be lots of homework that might make the other 11 credits more difficult to spent enough time on.
 
  • #8
dlgoff said:
There could be lots of homework that might make the other 11 credits more difficult to spent enough time on.

what? I am taking the astronomy in the spring semester, only for insurance. in the summer, I am taking orgo chem 1, orgo chem 2 and calc 1, and then i graduate. the astronomy or psych is just a bird class for insurance. i already have enough credits, and am on course, but sciences and maths are sequential.
 
  • #9
sportsstar469 said:
what? I am taking the astronomy in the spring semester, only for insurance. in the summer, I am taking orgo chem 1, orgo chem 2 and calc 1, and then i graduate. the astronomy or psych is just a bird class for insurance. i already have enough credits, and am on course, but sciences and maths are sequential.
No one can tell you if *you* will find a course easy.

Most kids now days enter college with most of their freshman courses already credited because they took AP classes in high school, both of my daughters did, so if you are taking a full load year round, 2 years is reasonable. I'm not sure why you need *insurance*.
 
  • #10
Evo said:
No one can tell you if *you* will find a course easy.

Most kids now days enter college with most of their freshman courses already credited because they took AP classes in high school, both of my daughters did, so if you are taking a full load year round, 2 years is reasonable. I'm not sure why you need *insurance*.

most kids don't take ap courses what are you talking about? if most kids took ap coursess they wouldn't be called advanced placements. in fact most kids take well over 4 years to graduate with a bachelor, and well over 2 years for the associates. 2 years is actually better than average according to my advisors. why do i need insurance? I am not really sure what to respond to that with?
why don't i need insurance?
well anyway, i think if i decided to take a course ill take one of those, but forn nnow i think i might not take either, and focus on getting an A in both of my registered classes.
 
  • #11
sportsstar469 said:
most kids don't take ap courses what are you talking about? if most kids took ap coursess they wouldn't be called advanced placements.
It was common place in my girl's school. They and all of their friends already had most of their first year credits done when they started college.
 
  • #12
Astronomy can utilize most other branches of physics.

It is easy for me in that its history is the most ancient of physics, and that its beauty is most readily accessible.
 
  • #13
Most people who have even the slightest interest in science will (or should I say can?) get an A in astronomy. It's by far one of the most interesting scientific fields in my opinion. The basics (gravitation, orbits, etc.) may bore you, but they should be pretty easy. If you get into the more interesting things like nuclear reactions in stars, relativity, black holes, and things like that, you'll probably be interested enough to want to do the work to understand the material enough to get an A.

In my opinion (this is debatable of course, but I think most people would agree), anyone who plans on going into a science related field should have a basis in basic astronomy. It's one of the oldest fields of science and if nothing else, the use of reason in the discovery of its basic concepts is well worth studying. For example, Erastothenes' ingenious method of measuring the circumference of the Earth is (again, in my opinion) one of the greatest applications of intuitive thought in scientific history.

Ultimately it comes down to how much work you put into the class, just like any other, but you mentioned that you were a science major so I feel like this would be worth your time to take. It might not be an "easy" A, but I can guarantee you'll learn a lot from taking astronomy.
 
  • #14
It's an easy A if you like it...

Come on people.
 
  • #15
drankin said:
It's an easy A if you like it...

Pretty much. Since he's telling us it's an intro course at a 2-year college, my inclination is that it's of course an easy A. Then again, so is an intro psych course...in fact, intro psych is also an easy A at a 4-yr university too. So, it leaves me baffled as to why so many students still don't get As in those courses. :wink:

Seriously, without knowing someone else's level of interest or ability, it's impossible for us to tell someone if a course is an easy A. It might be for some people, but not all. Just to put it into perspective, I always thought chem lab was an easy A too. Our OP does not agree on that. And, in reality, the only thing that usually makes a course an easy A is just what drankin mentioned, that you like it enough that you don't notice doing all the work for it and enjoy studying for it. If you walk into a course taking it because you expect it to be an easy A and that you're not going to need to do any work for it, not because you're looking forward to taking the course, it might not turn out to be a very easy A afterall.

So, which course interests you more? Since you can choose either one, I would strongly recommend NOT taking one just because you think it will be easy, but taking one you think is going to be interesting. If your problem is that both seem equally interesting, well, then that's a much better dilemma to face.

You could look at it two ways. Since you've mentioned many times that your long-term goal is dental school, do you think one of those courses might help you more toward that goal? I do. Afterall, any health profession requires dealing with people, and all their myriad behaviors and quirks and issues and mental illnesses. Psychology will give you more insight into the reasons behind why they act as they do so you can respond appropriately.
 
  • #16
Moonbear said:
Pretty much. Since he's telling us it's an intro course at a 2-year college, my inclination is that it's of course an easy A. Then again, so is an intro psych course...in fact, intro psych is also an easy A at a 4-yr university too. So, it leaves me baffled as to why so many students still don't get As in those courses. :wink:

Seriously, without knowing someone else's level of interest or ability, it's impossible for us to tell someone if a course is an easy A. It might be for some people, but not all. Just to put it into perspective, I always thought chem lab was an easy A too. Our OP does not agree on that. And, in reality, the only thing that usually makes a course an easy A is just what drankin mentioned, that you like it enough that you don't notice doing all the work for it and enjoy studying for it. If you walk into a course taking it because you expect it to be an easy A and that you're not going to need to do any work for it, not because you're looking forward to taking the course, it might not turn out to be a very easy A afterall.

So, which course interests you more? Since you can choose either one, I would strongly recommend NOT taking one just because you think it will be easy, but taking one you think is going to be interesting. If your problem is that both seem equally interesting, well, then that's a much better dilemma to face.

You could look at it two ways. Since you've mentioned many times that your long-term goal is dental school, do you think one of those courses might help you more toward that goal? I do. Afterall, any health profession requires dealing with people, and all their myriad behaviors and quirks and issues and mental illnesses. Psychology will give you more insight into the reasons behind why they act as they do so you can respond appropriately.

there's nothing easy about my two year college. i don't know if youve ever heard of rutgers university, but the classes at mine follow the exact same curriculum as theirs. only difference is theirs 30 students as opposed to 500 in a class.

should i take a gen physics class? I am going to need it for med/den school right? and my bachelors? is algebra based physics good enough, or do i need calc based?

What stopped you from getting an A in your intro to psych ;)
 
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  • #17
sportsstar469 said:
there's nothing easy about my two year college. i don't know if youve ever heard of rutgers university, but the classes at mine follow the exact same curriculum as theirs. only difference is theirs 30 students as opposed to 500 in a class, and your instructor is a white guy/girls who actually cares about your progress.

should i take a gen physics class? I am going to need it for med/den school right? and my bachelors? is algebra based physics good enough, or do i need calc based?

What stopped you from getting an A in your intro to psych ;)
Don't you have a school counselor that you work with that will tell you what you need?
 
  • #18
sportsstar469 said:
there's nothing easy about my two year college. i don't know if youve ever heard of rutgers university, but the classes at mine follow the exact same curriculum as theirs. only difference is theirs 30 students as opposed to 500 in a class,

Yes, I have heard of Rutgers, LOL! And I guarantee from what you've described here that your courses are NOT as difficult as they are at RU. There is a difference between "curriculum" and "difficulty." In fact, I can even guess now what 2 year school you are attending, because it's the one where RU students would take summer classes to get a super-easy version of some elective course that would cover their non-major core requirements just to boost their GPA.

And what on Earth gives you some idea I did not get an A in intro psych? I did. Want to guess where?
 
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  • #19
Moonbear said:
Yes, I have heard of Rutgers, LOL! And I guarantee from what you've described here that your courses are NOT as difficult as they are at RU. There is a difference between "curriculum" and "difficulty." In fact, I can even guess now what 2 year school you are attending, because it's the one where RU students would take summer classes to get a super-easy version of some elective course that would cover their non-major core requirements just to boost their GPA.

I also think your bigotry regarding the skin color of your professors is quite shockingly inappropriate, especially for someone who wishes to enter a health profession.

And what on Earth gives you some idea I did not get an A in intro psych? I did. Want to guess where?

the classes are the exact same, I've actually sat in on classes, when i had to miss a lcture at my school. I've also had friends wo have gone to my school and transferred.
i thought the wink face meant you didnt get an A. i guess i was wrong, it's hard to read people on the internet. i wasnt refferring to skin color, i was refferring to accents. white people generally have more understandable speech then most foreighners.

you didnt answer my question on wether calc based physics is required for med school, or if algebra based is enough.

and what exactly have i described?
 
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  • #20
If you want to do anything science related (dental school included), you should probably be taking calculus based physics courses.
 
  • #21
sportsstar469 said:
the classes are the exact same, I've actually sat in on classes, when i had to miss a lcture at my school. I've also had friends wo have gone to my school and transferred.
You're deluding yourself there.

i wasnt refferring to skin color, i was refferring to accents. white people generally have more understandable speech then most foreighners.
I had NO IDEA that color of skin determined one's accent, and I also am shocked to learn that all foreigners are non-white! :rolleyes: Geez, does that foot taste better with or without socks?

you didnt answer my question on wether calc based physics is required for med school, or if algebra based is enough.
Are you striving for the minimum? I thought you wanted to go to dental school. Now you're saying med school?
 
  • #22
Moonbear said:
You're deluding yourself there.


I had NO IDEA that color of skin determined one's accent, and I also am shocked to learn that all foreigners are non-white! :rolleyes: Geez, does that foot taste better with or without socks?


Are you striving for the minimum? I thought you wanted to go to dental school. Now you're saying med school?
im striving to meet my requirements. we're not all built for maths, and sciences, but some of us try anyway. if i can take algebra based physics i would rather do that. although i think calc based is required.
i noticed you ignored what i had to say about your students copying. so i guess i will not press the issue.
i am not decided on med school, or dental at this point. i think i may have to change majors anyway. i found oput that in order to get an A, in my gen bio 2 class, id have to get 100 on my next exam and presentation. as it stands I am sitting at a good chance of an A-, but A not so much. i know i pretty much need straight A's to be considered in dental school. A minuses arent going to cut it. also the classes will just get harder./
 
  • #23
It depends - do NOT take the course for people who want to go into astronomy, take the general sciences one. I accidentally enrolled in the former second semester senior year of undergrad for credits, just like you, and it was almost IMPOSSIBLE. Thank god they gave extra credit, I almost destroyed my GPA!
 

1. What is the difference between an astronomy and an intro to psychology course?

An astronomy course focuses on the study of celestial objects and phenomena, such as planets, stars, galaxies, and the universe as a whole. On the other hand, an intro to psychology course introduces students to the scientific study of human behavior and mental processes.

2. Which course is easier for science majors?

This ultimately depends on the individual student's interests and strengths. Some may find astronomy easier because it involves more concrete concepts and calculations, while others may find intro to psychology easier because it involves more relatable and familiar subject matter.

3. Are there any prerequisites for these courses?

Typically, there are no prerequisites for intro to psychology courses. However, some astronomy courses may require a basic understanding of math and physics concepts.

4. How do these courses count towards a science major?

Both astronomy and intro to psychology can count towards a science major, depending on the specific requirements of the program. Astronomy may count as a physical science, while intro to psychology may count as a social science.

5. Which course would be more beneficial for a future career in science?

Again, this depends on the individual's career goals. For those interested in fields such as astrophysics or space exploration, an astronomy course would be more beneficial. For those interested in fields such as neuroscience or counseling, an intro to psychology course would be more relevant.

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