First-Year Learning Communities Program
First-Year Learning Communities Program Overview
As part of the First-Year Learning Communities Program, all full-time Texas A&M-Corpus Christi students are expected to enroll, in each of their first two semesters, in specially selected groups of two to four classes known as dyad, triads, and tetrads, with the goal of helping students make meaningful connections with faculty, staff, and students at the University.
The students and teachers within each dyad, triad, or tetrad form a learning community. The same group of students takes all classes within a given learning community together, which gives them many opportunities to work together, get to know each other, and learn in collaboration with peers. The teachers in each learning community also work with each other to develop connections among the classes.
All learning communities include University Seminar (UNIV 1101 University Seminar I (1 sch) or UNIV 1102 University Seminar II (1 sch)) and many are linked to a Communication class (COMM 1311 Foundation of Communication (3 sch), ENGL 1301 Writing and Rhetoric I (3 sch), or ENGL 1302 Writing and Rhetoric II (3 sch)). These are small classes of 25 students or fewer. Dyads and triads include a lecture class (such as History or Sociology), and tetrads include two lecture classes. The classes within each learning community are “linked,” in the sense that students enroll in all classes at once.
An example of a dyad could include:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| UNIV 1101 | University Seminar I | 1 |
| or UNIV 1102 | University Seminar II | |
| PHIL 1301 | Introduction to Philosophy | 3 |
An example of a triad could include:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| University Seminar | ||
| UNIV 1101 | University Seminar I | 1 |
| or UNIV 1102 | University Seminar II | |
| Communication | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Foundation of Communication | ||
| Writing and Rhetoric I | ||
| Writing and Rhetoric II | ||
| Human Societies | ||
| SOCI 1301 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
An example of tetrad could include:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| University Seminar | ||
| UNIV 1101 | University Seminar I | 1 |
| or UNIV 1102 | University Seminar II | |
| Communication | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Foundation of Communication | ||
| Writing and Rhetoric I | ||
| Writing and Rhetoric II | ||
| Biology | ||
| BIOL 1406 | Biology I | 4 |
| Chemistry | ||
| CHEM 1411 | General Chemistry I | 4 |
University Seminar
Students learn what it means to be an engaged member of the Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi community in the two-semester sequence of University Seminar. University Seminar explores different facets of college knowledge for academic and social success. As the integrative engine of the first-year experience, University Seminar engages students in a collaborative learning experience. University Seminar faculty facilitate meaningful connections between linked courses and the first-year experience. Students gain confidence in their individual skills and develop abilities for use in the academic community and beyond. UNIV 1101 University Seminar I (1 sch) familiarizes students with university-level expectations and UNIV 1102 University Seminar II (1 sch) emphasizes student success after the first year.
Both UNIV 1101 University Seminar I (1 sch) and UNIV 1102 University Seminar II (1 sch) are degree plan requirements for all students who graduate from Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
Full-time First-year Students
First-year students are those who have never attended any college after graduating from high school. This includes students enrolled in the fall term who attended college for the first time in the prior summer term. It also includes students who entered with advanced standing (college credits earned before graduation from high school). Full-time first-year students are required to enroll in a University Seminar during each of their first two semesters. UNIV 1102 University Seminar II (1 sch) can be taken first for students who begin at TAMU-CC in the spring semester.
Part-time First-year Students
Part-time first-year students are encouraged to enroll in University Seminar to support their successful transition and may be required to enroll based on their admission category. Students who begin at TAMU-CC as part-time students in their first year will follow the transfer student rules for University Seminar requirements unless otherwise indicated.
Transfer Students
Transfer students are those who have attended another college after graduating from high school. Transfer students who become full-time Texas A&M-Corpus Christi students after having completed less than 12 semester hours are required to take both UNIV 1101 University Seminar I (1 sch) and UNIV 1102 University Seminar II (1 sch). Students who become full-time Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi students after having completed 12-23 semester hours are required to take only one University Seminar; they may choose to take either UNIV 1101 University Seminar I (1 sch) or UNIV 1102 University Seminar II (1 sch). Students who become full-time Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi students after having completed 24 or more semester hours are exempt from the University Seminar requirement.
University Seminar Course Descriptions
UNIV 1101 University Seminar I (1 sch)
UNIV 1102 University Seminar II (1 sch)