First-Year Learning Communities

To serve our diverse ��ԭ�� student community, First-Year & University Programs coordinates a range of first-year learning communities and specialized FYS experiences that run throughout each fall semester.

Each first-year learning community or specialized section addresses an exclusive theme with unique learning outcomes tailored to a specific student population. Examples of first-year learning communities and specialized sections include:

Residential Learning Communities

First-Year Business Residential Learning Community: In partnership with the College of Business Administration, the FYBRLC is an intentional living and learning community for students planning to major in Business Administration. Students in the FYBRLC are housed together in Black Oak Hall and take at least two courses together in their first semester, UNIV 101: The First-Year Seminar and BUS 101: Introduction to Business. For questions about this section, please contact the College of Business Administration at 760-750-4230 or academicadvising@csusm.edu.
San Marcos Experience Residential Learning Community: A civic-engagement learning community for first-year students living on campus! Emphasis is on development of leadership skills, serving the community, and involvement in campus life. Students will share a floor in North Common with a dedicated Residential Assistance (RA) & Residential Peer Mentor (PM) specific to the San Marcos Experience and they will take University 101C: The First-Year Seminar together – increasing student learning and engagement beyond the classroom by creating a vibrant community of students who live and learn together. For questions about this section, please contact First-Year & University Programs at fyup@csusm.edu.

Learning Communities

Chemistry & Biochemistry Learning Community: In partnership with the College of STEM's Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, this learning community is for first-year students majoring in Chemistry & Biochemistry. Students will take up to three courses together in their first semester: UNIV 101: The First-Year Seminar, CHEM 100: Introduction to the Chemistry & Biochemistry Major, and CHEM 150 General Chemistry (lecture, lab & activity). These course pairings are designed to foster community among first-year students entering the Chemistry & Biochemistry major and further support students in completing their degree program.
Communications & Media Studies FY Learning Community: In partnership with the College of Humanities, Art's, Behavioral & Social Sciences' Communications & Media Studies Department, this learning community is for first-year students majoring in Communications & Media Studies. Students in the Communications & Media Studies FY Learning Community will take at least two courses together in their first semester, UNIV 101: The First-Year Seminar and COMM 100: Introduction to Communication. This course pairing is designed to further inspire a sense of identity and belonging among your first-year Communication & Media Studies peers while supporting our first-year students in their academic transition to ��ԭ��.
First-Year Biological Sciences Learning Community: In partnership with the College of STEM's Department of Biological Sciences, this learning community is for first-year students majoring in the Biological Sciences. Students in the First-Year Biological Sciences Learning Community will take at least two courses together in their first semester, UNIV 101: The First-Year Seminar and BIOL 101: Introduction to Biological Sciences. This course pairing is designed to further inspire a love of and curiosity for research, discovery, and innovation in the Biological Sciences while supporting our first-year students in their academic transition to ��ԭ��.
First-Year Business Learning Community: In partnership with the College of Business Administration, the FYBLC is an intentional learning community for students planning to major in Business Administration. Students in the FYBLC will take at least two courses together in their first semester, UNIV 101: The First-Year Seminar and BUS 101: Introduction to Business. This course pairing is designed to support our first-year students in meeting their pre-business requirements along with supporting them in their academic transition to ��ԭ��.
Political Science & Global Studies FY Learning Community: In partnership with the College of Humanities, Art's, Behavioral & Social Sciences' Political Science & Global Studies Departments, this learning community is for first-year students majoring in Political Science & Global Studies. Students in the Political Science & Global Studies FY Learning Community will take at least two courses together in their first semester, UNIV 101: The First-Year Seminar and PSCI 101: Ideas in Politics & Global Issues. This course pairing is designed to further inspire a sense of identity and belonging among your first-year Political Science & Global Studies peers while supporting our first-year students in their academic transition to ��ԭ��.
Sociology FY Learning Community: In partnership with the College of Humanities, Art's, Behavioral & Social Sciences' Sociology Department, this learning community is for first-year students majoring in Sociology and Criminology & Justice Studies. Students in the Sociology FY Learning Community will take at least two courses together in their first semester, UNIV 101: The First-Year Seminar and SOC 100: Academic Success in Sociology and Criminology & Justice Studies. This course pairing is designed to further inspire a sense of identity and belonging among your first-year Sociology and Criminology & Justice Studies student-scholars while supporting our first-year students in their academic transition to ��ԭ��.

Specialized FYS Experiences

��ԭ�� Student Athletes & College Athletics: Specialized sections for our first-year ��ԭ�� student athletes. These sections support our students athletes in their degree goal setting and achievement while supporting them as athletes, teammates, and assets to For questions about this section, please contact Todd Snedden at tsnedden@csusm.edu.
EOP's First-Year Community: This specialized section is for first-year students who are also enrolled in the Educational Opportunity Program at ��ԭ��. Designed to facilitate relationship building among first-year EOP students and a sense of belonging to ��ԭ�� through EOP engagement. For questions about this section, please contact Brenda Mata at bmata@csusm.edu.
First-Year Interdisciplinary Arts Experience: In partnership with the School of Arts and our Art, Media & Design and Theater Arts departments, we offer specialized first-year seminar experiences that focus on the interdisciplinary nature of the arts, exploring art in personal actualization and community activism. For questions about these sections, please contact First-Year & University Programs at fyup@csusm.edu.
TRIO's First-Year Community: This specialized section is for first-year students who are also enrolled in the TRIO/SSS program at ��ԭ��. Designed to facilitate relationship building among first-year TRIO SSS cohorts and a sense of belonging to ��ԭ�� through TRIO SSS engagement. For questions about this section, please contact Perla Rivas at pmrivas@csusm.edu.
Undeclared & Exploring Learning Community: These specialized sections have students explore interests, passions, and community issues through Service Learning. Designed for students who have not yet chosen a major, these sections incorporate a transformational learning component of service-learning wherein students will engage in reflective civic-oriented activities and assignments. For questions about this section, please contact First-Year & University Programs at fyup@csusm.edu.

For further information on our first-year learning communities please contact First-Year & University Programs directly at fyup@csusm.edu.

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