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Academics
Female Midshipman stands in front of a blackboard with graphed equations on it explaining something to two professors who stand behind her.

Course Requirements - Plebe Year

The course requirements for most midshipmen are the same in their first (fourth class or plebe) year at the Naval Academy. The courses taken in this year are part of the core program

Fourth Class (Plebe) Year

Fall Semester Spring Semester
Mathematics
One of the following is required: 
SM005 (4-0-4). Pre-Calculus Mathematics
SM121 (4-0-4). Calculus I
SM131 (3-0-3). Calculus I
Mathematics
One of the following sequels is required:
SM121A (4-1-4). Calculus I 
SM122 (4-0-4). Calculus II
SM122 (4-0-4). Calculus II
Chemistry
One of the following is required.
SC111 (3-2-4). Foundations of Chemistry I
SC151 (3-2-4). Modern Chemistry
Chemistry
The following sequel is required. 
SC112 (3-2-4). Foundations of Chemistry II 
A course to be determined with adviser
English
One of the following is required:
HE101 (3-0-3). Practical Writing 
HE111 (3-0-3). Rhetoric and Introduction to
Literature I
English
One of the following sequels is required: 
HE111W (3-0-3). Rhetoric and Introduction to Literature I
HE112 (3-0-3). Rhetoric and Introduction to Literature II
Government* The following course is required: 
FP130 (3-0-3). U.S. Gov't and Constitutional Development
Naval History* The following course is required:
HH104 (3-0-3). American Naval Heritage

Cyber Security*
The following course is required:
SI110 (2-2-3). Introduction to Cyber Security
Leadership* The following course is required:
NL110 (2-0-2). Preparing to Lead
Seamanship* The following course is required:
NS101 (1-2-2). Introduction to Seamanship

(The triplet of digits following the course designator indicates recitation hours per week, laboratory hours per week, and total course credits, respectively.)

* Half of the Class takes this course in the fall and the other half takes it in the spring.

Some midshipmen, on the basis of college-level work done elsewhere, may qualify to validate or place out of one or more of these or other, more advanced, courses. Validation credit is awarded only after a test and/or interview on the subject matter administered at the Naval Academy.

Selection of a major takes place at the end of the plebe year. Midshipmen begin formal course work in their majors in the second (third class or youngster) year at the Academy.

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