Freshman Learning Communities
Incoming students at Georgia State University are embarking on a new journey in an unfamiliar environment. Despite their past academic success, students are often unprepared to deal with the rigors and exigencies of college life, particularly during their first semester. So as to provide them with the support and resources they need in order to excel, Georgia State offers all incoming freshmen the opportunity to participate in a learning community and start off their academic career on the right path.
Make friends, Explore your interests, Do better in school
First-year students who actively participate in an FLC tend to:
- Perform better academically and earn better grades
- Form friendships and study groups with fellow students early on
- Connect with faculty advisor and teachers in their FLC
- Transition more easily between high school and college life
- Know more about the vital resources and services offered by key offices
- Find an immediate sense of place within the university
- Get more out of their first semester
It is also worth noting that the benefits of FLCs extend past the first semester. Students who are engaged in their learning and in their FLCs have higher GPAs, keep the HOPE scholarship at a higher rate, and graduate in less time.
With a wide variety of academic fields to choose from, FLCs offer a unique opportunity for incoming freshmen to establish a solid foundation to insure their success at Georgia State.
Atlanta
First-Year
How does it work?
What will my first semester look like?
Your first semester at Georgia State, you’ll participate in an FLC based on your interests, and you’ll be placed in a group with other students who have similar interests. This means you’ll go through all of your classes that first semester with a support team, built in study buddies and the comfort that all the courses you take can apply to any major.
The breakdown:
- 25 students enrolled together in the same set of courses
- Five courses centered around an academic theme, called a Meta Major.
- One orientation course, GSU 1010, to introduce you Georgia State and the resources available to you.
- Four core curriculum courses that can count toward any major you ultimately declare.
What Meta Majors can I choose from?
All FLCs are built around a particular field of interest:
- STEM
- Business
- Arts and Humanities
- Policy Studies
- Health
- Education
- Social Sciences
- Undeclared
This brings students together who are drawn to a particular major related to the field. Through their involvement in an FLC, students form a small, friendly community within a large, research university.
Program Details
GSU 1010
Learn what Georgia State University has to offer you in the classroom and beyond; become a part of the university from the beginning of your college career and make a successful transition to university life.
The GSU 1010 course provides students with essential information about the academic demands of the University, its rules, procedures, resources, and academic, social, and personal “survival skills” that contribute to academic success. The GSU 1010 Curriculum encourages students to establish supportive relationships with peers and faculty and to become an integral part of the academic community.
In addition to offering you the necessary information and skills to navigate the university, GSU 1010 also exposes you to the academic field of your choice through an examination of the general area of study and related principles. FLC professors coordinate activities and assignments across disciplines, providing the content through which the GSU 1010 course serves as a format for group activities and theme integration within the community.
In an effort to introduce students to campus and community resources needed to succeed during their first semester, each section of GSU 1010 offers modules on student advisement (for a successful academic career), Atlanta-Based Learning (to learn with Atlanta communities and by service learning), Everfi Haven and AlcoholEDU (for drugs, alcohol, and sexual health), and academic honesty.
GSU 1010 offers students a unique opportunity to learn about themselves, form bonds with others in their FLC, and gain an appreciation for the university and its environment.
Based on a student’s academic performance, a letter grade, following the plus/minus grading system, will be assigned upon completion of the course. The grade for GSU 1010 counts in the student’s GPA; credits earned in GSU 1010 do not apply to the 120 credit hours required to graduate.
Atlanta-Based Learning
The Atlanta-Based learning is a required and graded experience for students in the Freshman Learning Communities. Students in FLCs should consult with their GSU 1010 instructor and course syllabus for guidelines to their Atlanta-Based Learning experience.
Atlanta-Based Learning promotes academic and civic engagement within the greater Atlanta community. As an urban research institution in Atlanta, Georgia State offers an opportunity for students to understand the context in which they are developing as learners. While engaged in “Campus Atlanta,” students obtain the comparative advantage of attending an institution directly linked to its urban community. Engaging in Atlanta-Based Learning activities provides students with an opportunity to generate connections between the academic curriculum and the urban Atlanta environment.
The following are some examples of engagement activities:
Learns About – Atlanta settings
- Walking tour of Georgia State campus
- Walking tour of Atlanta to compare and contrast past and present buildings and landmarks
Learns From – Atlanta systems
- Public health class tours Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and learns about health issues in Atlanta
- Urban studies class meets with Central Atlanta Progress leaders regarding downtown urban development issues
Learns With – Atlanta communities
- Pre-law class interviews a community member who attended elementary school during Brown vs. Board of Education
- Education class reads to children to improve literacy skills
Learns By – Atlanta service-learning
- Business class works closely with non-profit agency to design business plan
- Emerging Leaders class plants trees in the downtown Atlanta area
The Atlanta-Based Learning staff is available to assist you in developing and implementing engagement opportunities.
Peer Mentors
| First-Year & Transition Programs is currently accepting applications for the First-Year Experience (FYE) Peer Mentor Program. Applications for the 2017-2018 academic year can be found here. For more information about the Peer Mentor program, please read below or contact Chris Hein at chein@gsu.edu. |
Purpose:
The First-Year Experience Peer Mentor Program is designed to provide opportunities for undergraduate students to serve in a mentorship capacity to all first-year students enrolled in the Freshman Learning Community (FLC) Program.
Role and goals of Peer Mentors:
- Serve as a mentor to first-year students enrolled in a FLC
- Assist GSU 1010 instructors with the incorporation of co-curricular activities
- Support the academic success of first-year students
- Connect students to faculty, academic advisors, staff, and University resources
- Aid in the overall transition of first-year students into the GSU community
- Encourage involvement in University organizations and campus events
- Foster “ownership” in the collegiate experience
- Represent First-Year & Transition Programs at campus events
Responsibilities of Peer Mentors:
- Commit an average of 4-5 hours weekly to the peer mentor position
- Attend every GSU 1010 class meeting in the fall
- Participate in the required co-curricular events associated with the FLC program including but not limited to Convocation, Welcome Week events, community service projects, academic success workshops and other designated events
- Complete ConNEXTion reports for each of your mentees to ensure a successful transition to college and engagement with the Georgia State community
- Promote weekly social and academic event for FLC students
- Attend required Peer Mentor meetings and training
- Contribute to and participate in the overall mission of the Freshman Learning Community program
Benefits:
- Volunteer Service
- Professional development opportunities
- Leadership development
Questions:
- Contact Chris Hein at chein@gsu.edu
- Call the Office of Undergraduate Studies at 404/413-2052
Adjust Your Schedule
We want to make sure that your fall schedule is consistent with your major and works with your other responsibilities.
Before doing anything else, make sure that your credits are showing up on your PAWS account.
To check your credits:
- Log in to your PAWS account.
- Click the “One Stop Shop” tab.
- Click “View Transfer Credit.” You will be asked to log in once again (this time to GoSolar).
- Click “Student Records Menu” and then “View Transfer Credit.”The courses you receive credit for should appear.
If no classes appear and you received your scores from College Board:
- make sure that your scores were sent from College Board to Georgia State University;
- contact the Office of Admissions at 404/413-2500 to inquire about the status of your credits.
If you want to adjust your schedule, but your credits do not yet appear:
- bring a copy of your College Board scores to the University Advisement Center (404-413-2300) along with your name, ID, and your FLC;
- drop by the Office of Admissions (200 Sparks Hall) and they”ll make a copy of your scores.
For any adjustment to your fall schedule, please respond to the email sent from your academic advisor. The email should have been sent a few days after you attended Incept.
Questions about your FLC hold should be directed to your academic advisor or can be answered in the Frequently Asked Questions (in the sidebar).
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to join a Freshman Learning Community?
Georgia State offers this opportunity because data has shown–from 1999 to the present–that students who participate in an FLC tend to perform better academically, are more likely to maintain the HOPE scholarship, acclimate to their college environment at a faster pace, as well as make earlier connections with faculty members and fellow students. The university wants to ensure that students start their college career on a positive and successful note, and we believe that the Freshman Learning Community is a great way to get you started on the right path.
What is the difference between a Freshman Learning Community (FLC) and a Living Learning Community (LLC)?
Living Learning Communities is an initiative through University Housing that provides students with a supportive learning experience; each LLC focuses on providing a common experience for students who live on campus and is not focused solely on first-year students. LLCs attempt to connect students to an academic area, theme or interest. University Housing staff collaborate with other University resources and departments to develop programs and services appropriate to each LLC and related to the area, theme, or interest of the Living Learning Community.
Students may join both a FLC and LLC. One is not dependent on the other. University Housing does have several LLCs that truly complement several FLC topics. In these cases, we encourage students to do both to further enhance their collegiate experience. To join a LLC, students do have to live on campus. Find out more information on LLCs here.
Georgia State offers this opportunity because data has shown–from 1999 to the present–that students who participate in an FLC tend to perform better academically, are more likely to maintain the HOPE scholarship, acclimate to their college environment at a faster pace, as well as make earlier connections with faculty members and fellow students. The university wants to ensure that students start their college career on a positive and successful note, and we believe that the Freshman Learning Community is a great way to get you started on the right path.
What exactly will I learn in GSU 1010?
The GSU 1010 course provides students with essential information about the academic demands of the University, its rules, procedures, resources, and academic, social, and personal “survival skills” that contribute to academic success. The GSU 1010 curriculum encourages students to establish supportive relationships with peers and faculty and to become an integral part of the academic community.
In addition to offering you the necessary information and skills to navigate the university, GSU 1010 also exposes you to the academic field of your choice through an examination of the general area of study and related principles. FLC professors coordinate activities and assignments across disciplines, providing the content through which the GSU 1010 course serves as a format for group activities and theme integration within the community.
In an effort to introduce students to campus and community resources needed to succeed during their first semester, each section of GSU 1010 offers modules on student advisement (for a successful academic career), Atlanta-Based Learning (to learn with Atlanta communities and by service learning), Everfi Haven and AlcoholEDU (for drugs, alcohol, and sexual health), and academic honesty.
GSU 1010 offers students a unique opportunity to learn about themselves, form bonds with others in their FLC, and gain an appreciation for the university and its environment.
Based on a student’s academic performance, a letter grade, following the plus/minus grading system, will be assigned upon completion of the course. The grade for GSU 1010 counts in the student’s GPA; credits earned in GSU 1010 do not apply to the 120 credit hours required to graduate.
For more information on GSU 1010, call (404)413-2052 or come to the Office of Undergraduate Studies at 25 Park Place, Suite 400.
Georgia State offers this opportunity because data has shown–from 1999 to the present–that students who participate in an FLC tend to perform better academically, are more likely to maintain the HOPE scholarship, acclimate to their college environment at a faster pace, as well as make earlier connections with faculty members and fellow students. The university wants to ensure that students start their college career on a positive and successful note, and we believe that the Freshman Learning Community is a great way to get you started on the right path.
Do I need to take a math placement exam?
What math course should I take?
I've taken the math placement exam, but my math course has not changed. Why not?
What biology course should I take?
Biology, Chemistry, and Pre-Med majors need to take Biol 2107K and Biol 2108K. To register for these courses, however, you must first pass Chem 1211K with a grade of C or higher.
It is recommended that Pre-Nursing students register for Biol 1110K. Pre-Nursing students can also register for Biol 1103K/Biol 1104K or Chem 1151K/Chem 1152K to fulfill their lab sequence requirements (Area D).
Other majors are not required to take a biology course; they can, however, take Biol 1103K and Biol 1104K to fulfill their lab sequence requirements (Area D).
I received my AP/IB scores but my courses have not changed. Why not?
To check for your credits:
- Log in to your PAWS account.
- Click the “One Stop Shop” tab.
- Click “View Transfer Credit.” You will be asked to log in once again (this time to GoSolar).
- Click “Student Records Menu” and then “View Transfer Credit.”The courses you receive credit for should appear.
If you see courses that are also part of your FLC (and if they have not been changed before), please let us know (call 404-413-2052 or e-mail us at FLC@gsu.edu).
If no classes appear and you received your scores from College Board:
- make sure that your scores were sent from College Board to Georgia State University;
- contact the Office of Admissions at 404/413-2500 to inquire about the status of your credits.
If you want to adjust your schedule, but your credits do not yet appear:
- fax a copy of your College Board scores to the Office of Undergraduate Studies (404-413-2053) along with your name, ID, and your FLC;
- send a pdf or jpeg copy of your scores to FLC@gsu.edu; or
- drop by the Office of Undergraduate Studies (224 Sparks Hall) and we’ll make a copy of your scores.
I received my AP/IB scores. What courses will I receive credit for?
Why is there a hold on my record?
In other words, the Freshmen Learning Hold is in fact a sign that you are registered for an FLC and that you are registered for your classes.
Where are my classes?
In order to see the location of your classes and the meeting times:
1. Log in to your PAWS account.
2. Click on the second blue tab labeled “One Stop Shop.”
3. On the left hand side of the page you will see a section labeled “GoSOLAR,” click on the “Registration Menu” folder.
4. Click on the link labeled “View Concise Student Schedule,” this will bring up a list of all your registered courses as well as the general course information for the class.
The location of the class can be viewed under the “Location” column.
On that screen, you will also be able to see the days/times of your classes and the instructor’s name (if you see staff, the instructor has not yet been assigned).
Please note that the M stands for Monday, T for Tuesday, W for Wednesday, R for Thursday, and F for Friday. So a class that has a meeting time of TR 11:00-12:15 meets on Tuesday and Thursday at 11:00.
Some building codes: GCB is General Classroom Building, ClSo is Classroom South, Sparks is Sparks Hall, Adhold is Aderhold, Kell is Kell Hall, COE is College of Education, Urban is Urban Life.
What classes will I register for?
All FLCs are built around a particular field of interest:
- STEM
- Business
- Arts and Humanities
- Policy
- Health
- Education
- Social Sciences
- Undeclared
This brings students together who are drawn to a particular major related to the field. Through their involvement in an FLC, students form a small, friendly community within a large, research university.
How do I find out which books I need?
- Log in to your PAWS account.
- Click on the second blue tab labeled “One Stop Shop.”
- Towards the bottom of the page you will see a section labeled “New Channel,” in this section click on the link labeled “Buy Textbooks Online.”
- Click “I Agree” on the Agreements page and you will be taken directly to the Georgia State Bookstore where you will see a list of your required books.Books can also be purchased directly from this page.
A few words about purchasing your books.
Oftentimes, purchasing books online (Amazon, AddAll, Borders, etc) can be cheaper. If you purchase your books before class (whether online or at the bookstore), make sure to keep your receipt and do not unwrap your shrink-wrapped books (unwrapped books usually cannot be returned) until you go to class and confirm that these are the books you need. There is nothing wrong with waiting for the first day of class before buying your books. This way, after receiving your syllabus, you will know for sure which books are required. However, do not delay purchasing your books. You will need your books for class, so do not wait too long after the first day of class to buy/order your books. Please be aware that there will be long lines at the bookstores. You can purchase your books at the main bookstore (University Center) and Georgia Bookstore (corner of Edgewood and Courtland).