Academics
Aside from your personal transition to college, your academic transition may not be quite what you expected. Maybe classes are more difficult than you expected, or maybe you are beginning to feel like your chosen major is not the right fit. Academic success during your first year is a top priority for academic colleges. With this in mind, seminars specific to first year students, introductory courses for your major, and other programs, have been established to help you succeed during your first year.
Aggie Access Learning Communities
Aggie Access Learning Communities can provide you with an opportunity to make your University experience memorable and fulfilling in and out of class. You will receive an interdisciplinary learning community experience combining registration in core curriculum classes of 25-30 students, individualized academic advising, learning community activities, study groups, peer mentoring, and community service opportunities.
Honors Program
Honors courses and individualized research programs bring together outstanding students and faculty in an environment designed to encourage initiative, creativity, and independent thinking. As an Honors student, you will have the opportunity to work one-on-one with leading professors and to receive individual attention and special services typical of small private schools. At the same time, you will enjoy the resources of one of the nation’s premier research universities, including state-of-the-art laboratory, library, and computing facilities.
Regents Scholars | Academic Success Program
All first year students who are recipients of the Regents’ Scholarship participate in an Academic Success Program (learning community) as determined by their academic college. Research has proven that the academic and personal success of students is enhanced by participating in Academic Success Programs.
Success programs provide first-year students the best possible academic start for college and provide skills and knowledge to excel in academic, professional, and personal lives. Typically, programs have clustered courses, out-of-classroom learning experiences, social and service activities, peer or faculty/staff mentors, and special tutorial programs.
For more information on the Regents’ Scholars Program, please contact:
Suzanne Sealey
979.845.3978
ssealey@tamu.edu
http://financialaid.tamu.edu/regents
http://financialaid.tamu.edu/regentblog
Student Learning Center
The Student Learning Center offers courses that teach students how to improve their study skills and prepare for the job market. These courses are available to all students but are of particular assistance to first-year students.
STLC 101: Application of Learning Theories to College Studies
A two credit hour course, which is a study of critical theories of learning with application to academic performance. Eligible students may register online or students can be referred by an academic advisor.
A two credit hour course, which introduces students to the concepts of career planning, employment trends, and methods of researching and preparing for the job market.
College of Science
For first year Chemistry Majors
Horizons in Chemistry (CHEM 100) introduces you to the study of chemistry at Texas A&M and to the departmental and university resources available to assist and enhance the pursuit of a degree in chemistry. Guest lectures will be presented by several former students on career opportunities in chemistry.
For first year Math Majors
Math 170 is a 1 hour course which meets for 2 hours once a week. The intent of this course is to smooth your transition from high school mathematics to the more demanding level of mathematics at Texas A&M. The course provides a framework in which you receive needed help in solving math problems.
For first year Physics Majors
PHYS 101 is a 1 hour course which meets for 1 hour once a week. The intent of this course is to smooth your transition from high school physics and math to the more demanding level of physics and math at Texas A&M University. The course provides a framework in which you receive needed help in critical thinking skills and problem solving in physics and math, in addition to time management and teaming skills.
College of Liberal Arts
Common Ground
Common Ground is a freshman reading initiative for all Liberal Arts students that gives you an opportunity to create a smaller learning community and form a common ground based on a shared reading experience.
The program aims to create a common first-year experience for you – one that emphasizes a serious, introspective consideration of timely and timeless topics—in this case, immigration, education, and the pursuit of happiness. During the academic year, you may choose to take part in panels, online discussions, courses, and other events built around the book.
The reason for the program is simple, says Liberal Arts Dean Charles A. Johnson. “The sooner we can begin to challenge and engage our students, the better their chances of graduating from Texas A&M.”
“The idea here is to create a smaller community within the larger university setting that helps first-year students begin building their intellectual and critical thinking capabilities,” says Pamela R. Matthews, professor of English and associate dean.
Each year a Liberal Arts committee selects the book to be assigned to the incoming students. They look for a book that will be accessible and interesting to first-year students, and at the same time challenging intellectually. It has to have literary merit and should lend itself to a number of approaches so that it can be used in a variety of classes across the college.
Liberal Arts Honors
Honors in the College of Liberal Arts provides a unique educational experience. Each year, participants choose honors courses designed to foster an interdisciplinary outlook characteristic of the Liberal Arts. Participants work closely with some of the most distinguished faculty at Texas A&M University and experience what it means to be a part of a community of honors students.
Courses provide a broad exploration of the liberal arts in both the humanities and social sciences. Students may embark on an in depth research track with a faculty member of their choosing resulting in a senior Honors Thesis, or simply elect to take a broad variety of liberal arts honors courses to expand their horizons.
Cornerstone
Let the World be your Classroom.
As a Participant in the Cornerstone Program, you will have the opportunity to take coursework your freshman year that will expose you to an interdisciplinary view of the College of Liberal Arts.
During your first semester, you will take a one-hour LBAR 181 course – “Windows on the Liberal Arts” that will expose you to the best lectures from Liberal Arts’ and Texas A&M’s most distinguished faculty.
The second semester will include enrollment in a three-hour LBAR 289 course – “Windows on the World” as part of the program. This course will focus on the international component of the learning community.
The capstone experience will be an overseas trip organized and planned by you and your classmates over Spring Break. You will select the location of the trip and plan the itinerary. Liberal Arts alumni from Texas A&M University who live in the area you selected will be invited to meet with the group to discuss issues integral to being a citizen of the world.
First Year for Communication and for Telecommunication Media Studies (B.A. and B.S.)
All first semester Freshman (Fall only) enroll in COMM 101/COMM 291. Exciting majors-only class surveys field of communication, media, telecommunication studies. Connecting theory/concepts with real life experience, exploring career options, supporting students in critical thinking, facilitating transition to college, building relationships, engaging students in renowned project. At the end of this splendid experience, students know with certainty which of our three degrees is a perfect fit! “Save a seat” initiative guides students in selection of second semester coursework with new friends from COMM 101.
Mays Business School
Freshman Business Seminar
Mays Business School, Transitions Program
The four-year Transitions program at Mays Business School shepherds the transition into college, through college and in to professional life. Classes and small learning groups at Mays Business School meet all four years of your undergraduate career, and apply to all business majors.
In the Freshman Business Seminar/BUSN 101, you will build relationships with other students, faculty and staff. These seminars meet in large class sections some days for lecture, and smaller groups other days for discussion and application. You will also have the opportunity to size up the ascent ahead with an understanding of the seven core competencies that get you ready for the rest of college. Best of all, you can begin documenting class assignments and extra-curricular work products in an electronic portfolio, AggiE-folio.
College of Engineering
Engineering Peer Teachers
Peer Teachers are undergraduate students who have successfully completed the first year courses in mathematics, science and engineering. They attend the ENGR 111 and 112 classes and provide faculty with feedback regarding course
workload and student comprehension of the course material.
Peer Teachers work to build strong and trusting relationships with you through mentoring and helping you gain a broader understanding of your learning style. This is accomplished by helping you during in-class activities, providing out-of-class support (tutoring, pre-exam review sessions, and mentoring), and providing feedback about course related issues to other members of the instructional team.
Foundation Clusters for Engineers (FCEN)
FCEN are special groupings of courses offered to freshmen engineering students. ENGR 111, MATH 151, and PHYS 218 are clustered together the first semester of the freshman year and ENGR 112, MATH 152, and PHYS 208 are clustered together the second semester of the freshman year.
The intent of clusters is to aid you in progressing toward your degree. Studies conducted on the A&M campus and other leading institutions, have found that:
- students in clustered courses are retained in engineering at a higher rate than non-clustered students
- students in clustered sections form a more cohesive learning community which results in improved grade performance
- students in the clustered courses tend to make more rapid progress toward degree completion
Industry Night and Case Studies
Industry Night & Case Studies presentations are hosted by the College of Engineering each semester in order to facilitate industry interaction with ENGR 111 and 112 students. Industry Night provides corporate engineers the opportunity to introduce their companies to freshmen. It also provides you the opportunity to learn about the various disciplines and assists you with learning more about your chosen major.
Freshman Seminars
There are several freshman seminars available to engineering students. These seminars are valuable in that they expose you to a specific discipline and assist you in deciding on whether or not your major is the right fit for your interests and abilities.
Check with the departmental advisors to learn more about these courses. A complete list of College of Engineering Advisors is available.
College of Education and Human Development
Sport Management First Year Experience
The Sport Management First Year Experience was implemented at Texas A&M University in the fall of 2004. The program has specific goals including connections with faculty and peers, community service, university involvement, time management and study skills, leadership, career development, and team building. However, the overall goal of the program is to increase retention while allowing students to make the transition to college life. SPMT 285 is a 1 hour course that takes place in the fall and spring of each semester.