First-Year Learning Communities Program

Pursue an Interest, Find a Passion

The FY Learning Communities Program at Curry College allows you to collaborate with faculty and other FY students both in and out of the classroom as you investigate a theme and complete your required courses.  You will be asked to challenge yourself as you engage in discussions, lectures, activities and community events throughout the semester.  This fall we have tweleve distinct Learning Communities available.  Each is described in more detail below. Students who have deposited should complete the FY Learning Community  Preference form in CWIS to indicate which communities they are interseted in for the Fall 2013 semester.

Fall 2013 FY Learning Communities: 

Students in these Learning Communities take two or more courses together around a theme.  They work with faculty and other students through projects, assignments, and out of class experiences.

Boston & Beyond (5 credits) Explore Boston's people and places through class research projects, presentations, and weekly trips to various locations in the city.

Exploring Majors & Careers for Undecided Students (3 credits) Many students enter college unsure of a major.  Join together with other undecided first year students as you explore your own identity, strengths, and skills while developing interests to guide you on your path to discovering a major that is right for you.

Health, Wellness & College Students (5 credits) How do you avoid the 'freshman fifteen'?  What can you do to manage sleep and stress while enjoying college life? What should you know about alcohol and drugs? How can you maintain all aspects of your health while in college? Join with other students in this inquiry to explore the answers to these and other topics related to health and wellness in college.  Throughout the semester you will explore careers in community health while also developing a better understanding of how you can maximize your personal and academic well-being in college and beyond.

Success in Management (2 credits) Intended for students interested in pursuing a Management major, this inquiry group will provide you with the tools and skills to achieve academic and professional success.

Success in Management with PAL grouping (3.5 credits) Intended for PAL students interested in pursuing a Management major, this inquiry group will provide you will the tools and skills to achieve academic and professional success.

Technology, Living & Learning (5 credits) Examine ways current technologies are used to expose, exploit, guide and inform.  You will locate your ways of knowing in a digital world through hands-on experiences, interactive assignments and collaborative projects.

Technology, Living & Learning with PAL grouping (6.5 credits) Examine ways current technologies are used to expose, exploit, guide and inform .  You will locate your ways of knowing in a digital world through hands-on experiences, interactive assignments and collaborative projects while collaborating with other PAL students and your PAL professor to maximize your college success.

FALL 2013 FY Living-Learning Communities:

Students in Living-Learning Communities take two or more courses together around a common theme, live in a common residence hall, and interact with faculty, other students, and residence life staff through programs in the residence halls and out of class, projects and guest speakers. 

American Culture (3 credits) How is culture related to identity?  What are the elements of American culture?  In this living learning community you will explore these and other questions as you examine your own identity and experiences in relation to the broader "American experience."

Community Action: Seeking Justice, Making Change (6 credits) Explore issues related to inequality, justice and social change when you join this living learning community.  Through assignments, speakers and projects you will have opportunities to uncover how you can be an agent of change and make a difference in the world today.

First in the Family (2 credits) Being the first in your family to attend college can be both exciting and overwhelming.  join with other first generation students in this living learning community to explore the resources available to you, to navigate the college systems, and to gain knowledge to assist you on the road to graduation.

Your Brain on Politics (5 Credits) What are the connections between your own identity, the olympics, and terrorism?  Joined with others in this living learning community to indentify, explain, and strategize different thinking systems for academic success while also exploring politics through the lenses of competition, negotiation, compromise, confllict, and the use and abuse of power.

FALL 2013 FY Learning Cohorts:

Students in Learning Cohorts are in a targeted major, take courses together their first year and in subsequent semesters, and live together in a common residence hall.  Students interact with faculty and other students outside of class, at special events, and in the residence hall programs specially designed for their cohort.

Communication Scholars (5 credits) Take the first step in an ongoing course of study designed to provide exciting academic and professional opportunities to exceptional students, with an interest in the field of Communication, who are ready to challenge themselves with a more adventurous and demanding curriculum.

Science Learning Cohort (10 Credits) Designed to foster student success in the sciences, this learning cohort provides structured courses and support for students entering with a major in biology or environmental science.  Students will work together on course projects and assignments, while also exploring the possibilities for internships and other experiential learning beyond the classroom.  This learning cohort is required for all biology and environmental science majors.