Freshmen Learning Communities
Get connected at Georgia State through Freshmen Learning Communities (FLC), a pre-planned schedule of courses that pairs you up with other students with similar interests and sets your education on the right track.
How It Works
The 25 or so students in each Freshmen Learning Community take five classes the first semester, including GSU 1010: New Student Orientation and English 1101. FLCs are proposed and led by interested staff and faculty advisors who select three additional courses to complement the FLC theme. During your second semester, you have the option of taking one course reserved for your FLC. To get an idea of the types of FLCs that might be available to you, check out some past FLC offerings.
GSU 1010 seminars, a weekly meeting of students, student leaders, and the faculty adviser, serve as the central focus of the FLCs. Not only do these meetings help introduce you to university life, but also address possible career opportunities, majors, degree programs, and general advice within the context of the theme of the community.
GSU 1010 is a 3 semester-hour course that counts as an elective, and not as part of the 120 hour degree requirement. Based on student performance, a grade of A, B, C, D, or F will be awarded upon completion of the course. The grade for GSU 1010 will be computed in the student's Grade Point Average (GPA).
Benefits of FLCs
First-year college students benefit from a formative, integrative academic experience on which to build lifelong strengths and perspectives. This experience should include not just the courses they take, but the combination, sequence, and fit of those courses. Each FLC course builds on the other by exploring unique yet related fields of knowledge.
The undergraduate core facilitates the learning communities concept by both providing the most ideal selection of core courses for various interest groups and simultaneously fulfilling the general education requirements for most majors. Other benefits of learning communities include:
- Makes registering easier. You can register for one FLC rather than separate courses.
- Makes advising easier. The FLC serves as an advising tool for students unsure of how to maneuver through the general education part of their degree.
- Creates a rich freshman experience. You will quickly get to know fellow students, faculty and upperclassmen.
- Provides a forum for discussion of new ideas.
- Helps improve GPA and improves chances of graduating, as shown by studies conducted by the Office of Institutional Research.
Choosing a Community
So, how do you choose the right FLC for you? Each FLC is designed around general education core curriculum courses that will apply to any major. The best strategy is to pick one that sounds interesting. Part of the discussion with your adviser during the first semester will be on choosing a major that relates to your area of interest. However, even if at the end of the first semester you decide to select a major in a different area, you can be sure that your courses will count as part of your general education requirements. If you are still unsure of how to select an FLC, come to Incept: New Student Orientation. At Incept, faculty advisers from the various learning communities will help you decide which FLC best suits your interests and skills.
How to Register
Enrollment in each FLC is limited to 25 students. Registration for FLCs only take place at Incept New Student Orientation. For more information on Incept, contact the Office of New Student Programs, Suite 265 Student Center, (404) 413-1570. For information on FLCs, contact Nikolas Huot at (404) 413-2085 or acanah@langate.gsu.edu; Elizabeth Firestone, Faculty Associate for Freshman Studies, at (404) 413-2058 or efirestone@gsu.edu; or Karin Carlton at (404) 413-2084 or kcarlton@gsu.edu in the Office of Undergraduate Studies, 224 Sparks Hall.
