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First Year & University Programs

First-Year Learning Communities (Fall Semester)

To serve our diverse CSUSM student community, First-Year & University Programs coordinates a range of first-year learning communities and specialized FYS sections. 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

  • 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 at least 1 core courses 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

  • 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.  For questions about this section, please contact the College of Business Administration at 760-750-4230 or academicadvising@csusm.edu.
  • 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 Biology.  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 CSUSM. 
  • Sociology 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.  Students in the Sociology Learning Community will take at least two courses together in their first semester, UNIV 101: The First-Year Seminar and SOC 100: Introduction to Sociology.  This course pairing is designed to further inspire a sense of identity and belonging among your first-year Sociology student-scholars while supporting our first-year students in their academic transition to CSUSM.

Specialized FYS Sections

  • CSUSM Student Athletes & College Athletics:  Specialized sections for our first-year CSUSM student athletes. These sections support our students athletes in their degree goal setting and achievement while supporting them as athletes, teammates, and assets to CSUSM's Athletics Program. For questions about this section, please contact David Nathanson at dnathanson@csusm.edu. 
  • Biotech Scholars:  Specialized sections for first-year students planning to major in Biotechnology. This section works in partnership with CSTEM's Biotechnology Department to further inspire a love of and curiosity for research, discovery, and innovation.  For questions about this section, please contact First-Year & University Programs at fyup@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.
  • TRIO's First-Year Community:  This specialized section is for first-year students who are also enrolled in the TRIO/SSS program at CSUSM. Designed to facilitate relationship building among first-year TRIO SSS cohorts and a sense of belonging to CSUSM through TRIO SSS engagement.  For questions about this section, please contact Perla Rivas at pmrivas@csusm.edu.

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