Fall Semester First-Year Program Learning Communities - For all First-Year Students

Learning communities combine one to two academic courses with FYR 174 Resources, Research and Responsibilities or

ADVR 1000 Advising First-Year Workshop.  Click here to see the differences between FYR 174 and ADVR 1000.  Both courses are designed to help students develop college survival skills in areas such as critical thinking, research, oral presentations and time management.  In addition, guest lecturers and a peer mentor introduce students to the many resources on campus and in the community.  The 20 to 25 students in each cluster take all courses together helping to create immediate friendships that extend beyond the classroom.

In addition to developing academic and campus survival skills, students are encouraged to attend activities outside of the classroom including University Hour and Arts and Lecture Series presentations and other on-campus special events.  The First-Year Program sponsors and encourages off-campus field trips.  Recent excursions have included the Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center, the Wadsworth Athenaeum, the Mark Twain House, the Peabody Museum at Yale University, and the Connecticut Science Center.

Look at the clusters offered this fall!

Fall 2011 Cluster Descriptions

Click here to see the cluster schedule

Fall 2011 Cluster Schedule

Click here to see "Art Rocks, A Cluster in Action"

Fall 2011 Peer Mentors

To view this semester's peer mentors, click here

Peer Mentor Pictures and Bios

Political Psychology

This First-Year Cluster combines General Psychology (PSY 100), taught by Professor Melanie Evans, with American Governmental Politics (PSC 150), taught by Professor William Salka. The cluster can be taken by both psychology and political science majors. At the same time, it also focuses on political psychology, which seeks to explain how and why individuals acquire their political views.
*This cluster was offered Fall 2010.*

Art Rocks

Dynamic Earth with Laboratory (EES 104) taught by Professor James Hyatt, is clustered with Introduction to Studio Art (ART 100), taught by Professor William Jones. The cluster provides a thorough introduction to art and geology, while integrating the two disciplines. Joint studio and lab activities allow students to interpret geology from the viewpoint of an artist and utilize art as a means of addressing geologic principles. Click here to see "Art Rocks, A Cluster in Action."  This is a video presentation of the Art Rocks cluster activity.
*This cluster was offered Fall 2009.*