First Year Seminar 191SBS01 - FYS- Topics in SBS

There's more than one way to find success in college and the path to getting there is different for every student. Our goals in this course are to connect with fellow students and the instructor as you become a contributing member of the community, both at UMass and beyond; start planning your individual academic goals and pathways toward achieving them; explore the different majors in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences and start thinking like a social scientist.

Open to first-year students. First-year (R1ST) This first-year seminar is designed to help students make a successful transition to college. Through class discussions, reflective activities, and collaborative exercises, students will explore academic expectations, campus resources, time management, and ways to build meaningful connections at the university. The course is designed to provide a space for students to ask questions, share experiences, and develop strategies for navigating campus life.

Some class activities and discussions will draw on the sociology of family to think about identity, social support, and belonging. By the end of the semester, students will have a stronger understanding of how to make the most of their college experience and how sociological imagination can help them reflect on their own lives.