First-year Seminar

First-year experience courses are part of UMass Dartmouth’s University Studies curriculum. As one of the requirements in Cluster 1, these courses build a foundation for engagement and integration of knowledge, skills, and capacities that will develop throughout students' UMD experience. These courses are supported by a team of faculty coordinators from across the University who exchange ideas and best practices.

While colleges and departments tailor these courses to their disciplines, all first-year experience courses share five common learning outcomes.

After completing the 1E courses, students should be able to:

1. Engage in self-exploration to identify academic and career pathways
2. Articulate the differences between high school and college-level expectations
3. Actively engage in the UMD community with a goal of developing a sense of belonging
4. Cultivate and apply evidence-based methods and skills for academic success
5. Reflect on one’s own skills and behaviors that contribute to health and well-being, which may include financial wellness, informed decision making, information literacy, and happiness, among others