As a new freshman at IUPUI, you are required to take a first-year seminar (FYS) course, a 1–2 credit hour class that introduces you to student life, college expectations, the campus, and your major. You can take the FYS as a standalone course or if you enroll in Bridge or a learning community, the FYS is included automatically. Read about the FYS formats below to determine which one(s) you are interested in. You'll enroll in your experience when you attend orientation.
It all starts with the first-year seminar
Bridge
Bridge gives you early start on being new a new college student by starting your first-year seminar the week before regular classes begin. You'll have time to meet new friends and prepare for college classes.
Learning Communities
Learning communities are comprised of a first-year seminar and one or more general education courses. You'll look at topics and course content from multiple perspectives and disciplines and make connections to the real world and your future career.
Bridge Learning Communities
A Bridge learning community is just what it sounds like. You'll get the early start to your first-year seminar the week before classes begin like in Bridge, and have connected general education courses in the fall like a learning community. Read more about Bridge and Learning Communities above to get a feel for how these two formats will work together.
Standalone First-Year Seminars
A standalone first-year seminar (FYS) isn't connected to any other courses and meets during the regular 16-week semester.
I'll never forget all of the awesome things we got to do in my learning community—it really helped me narrow my major and career.
Former learning community student