First-Year Seminars (FYS) are special topics courses that fulfill General Education Program (GEP) requirements. Only ONE First-Year Seminar (FYS) can count towards the UMBC General Education Program (GEP) requirements. Any FYS course taken beyond the first FYS will only count for elective credits.
Each level of FYS fulfills different GEPs:
- FYS101 meets Arts & Humanity GEP
- FYS102 meets Social Science GEP
- FYS103 meets Science GEP
- FYS104 meets Culture GEP
- FYS106 meets Social Science OR Culture GEP
- FYS107 meets Arts & Humanity OR Culture GEP
While each FYS course is different, all courses include:
- A small, active learning, cohort based classroom experience where the faculty member and students in the seminar study a unique topic in a dynamic, small-group environment
- A focus on learning by sharing of knowledge and experiences through discussions, reflections, writing, and presentations – skills that faculty and future employers require
- A real connection with a faculty or staff instructor in a smaller classroom setting where the instructor can get to know each student and recommend all sorts of opportunities to participants
Check Out Current FYS Offerings on the Schedule of Classes
Faculty/Staff: Interested in teaching a First-Year Seminar?