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First-Year Interest Groups

First-Year Interest Groups (FIGs) Flyer (PDF)

 

Eastern Michigan University (EMU) offers enhanced learning communities called First-Year Interest Groups (FIGs) for you to

  • explore common interests,
  • develop subject mastery, critical thinking   skills, and interact with professors,
  • form study groups and collaborate on projects,
  • design academic and career plans, and
  • build lasting friendships.

You take two to three college-level courses (6-9 credit hours) with the same students and complete your schedule with two to three courses open to the general university population.

Complete credits towards your degree.

 

Whether you are certain of your major, or still undecided, all courses within a FIG satisfy a requirement for general education, major or minor, or elective credit towards graduation.

 

Find out what happens in a FIG.

 

Anchoring each FIG is a seminar (UNIV 100, COB 200, NURS 110 or ET100) in which students explore and analyze a common theme.

  • Hands-on techniques and collaborative learning methods are used.
  • Students discuss, debate, and reflect about the lessons and activities presented in class.
  • Each class reads and discusses a novel, or series of case studies and articles, to tackle different perspectives on the common theme.
  • Short papers, multi-media and/or group projects give students the chance to demonstrate what they have learned about the topics, their colleagues, and themselves.

FIGs also provide direct access to campus experts, advisors, and mentors who come to your classroom to provide you with important information and networking opportunities.

Best of both worlds—small classes and large lectures, with support.

 

For most of the FIGs, two of your three classes will be limited to the 25 students in your learning community. In the remaining FIG class, your community will be 25 among a larger group of 50-100 students in a lecture-type course. FIG students learn to master one of the most difficult transitions from high school—the large lecture­­—with academic support provided by the FIG partners. You will have the benefit of knowing 24 other students immediately and getting some assignments that reinforce common concepts in the other courses within your FIG.

 

In addition, most FIG lectures make use of Supplemental Instructors (SIs) and multiple testing opportunities. SIs are successful advanced students who take the course with you and lead study sessions and guided assignments outside of the regular class. Multiple testing means that you will have more than three multiple-choice exams in which to demonstrate what you’ve learned and get feedback from the instructor

 

Select a FIG that is right for you.

 

EMU has designed several different First-Year Interest Groups. You can register for one of the FIGs (described on the reverse) when meeting with your Fast Track advisor or by contacting the Academic Advising Center at 734.487.2171.

 

FIG A: Exploring Leadership

Appropriate for theses majors: all majors and undecided students

Description: In UNIV 100 examine the qualities and characteristics of strong leaders as well as styles of leadership. What is the role of the United States as a global leader – militarily, democratically, or in media, commerce, and the environment?

Courses: UNIV 100, HIST 109, PLSC 112

 

FIG B: Exploring Media Image and Culture

Appropriate for theses majors: all majors and undecided students

Description: In UNIV 100 examine how toys, TV, music and advertising create artificial standards for beauty, power, and intelligence. Become aware of the messages that influence your understanding of what it means to be a man or woman.

Courses: UNIV 100, CTAS 124, WGST 200

 

­FIG C: Exploring Business

Appropriate for theses majors: all business majors and undecided students

Description: Explore careers in business, current ethical issues facing today’s business leaders, personal finance, and strategic academic planning. Meet COB faculty members, industry professionals, and related student clubs to establish your professional network.

Courses: COB 200, PSY 101, LITR 100

 

FIG D: Exploring Nursing

Appropriate for these majors: nursing-intent

Description: In NURS 110 discuss program requirements and application procedures for admission to the School of Nursing, develop selected skills essential to professional practice, and explore specialized fields within nursing.

Courses: NURS 110, CHEM 120, PSY 101

 

FIG E: Exploring Human Potential

Appropriate for theses majors: all majors and undecided students

Description: In UNIV 100 take an in depth look at personal development and success strategies for building on strengths and reaching your personal, professional, and academic potential. Examine motivation, adult development, and personality theory. Practice applying new learning strategies for subject mastery.

Courses: UNIV 100, LITR 100, PEGN 210

 

FIG F: Exploring Engineering Applications

Appropriate for these majors: computer engineering technology, electronic engineering technology, manufacturing engineering technology, and mechanical engineering technology

Description: An introduction to the engineering technology profession. Demonstrate and apply problem solving concepts from science and technology courses. Develop technical communication skills. Learn to work in a group activity in an interdisciplinary environment.

Courses: ET 100, MATH 104

 

  
Monday, November 20, 2006 9:08 AM