Learning Communities for First-Year Students
Institutions of higher education are often called "communities of scholars" because they are places where people - faculty, staff, administrators, and students - collaborate on projects, discuss issues, and share ideas with each other. As such, the entire University of Pittsburgh can be considered a "learning community." For a first-year student, however, becoming part of this community of scholars can be intimidating because college is a new experience and Pitt is large institution. How do you find your niche? One way is to participate in some of the smaller learning communities available. Pitt has many different types of learning communities for first-year students, from learning communities in the residence halls, to curricular (non-residential) learning communities, and even less formal opportunities for you to find your niche in a community of scholars as a Pitt student. Here are some options to consider:
Living LEARNING COMMUNITIES IN THE RESIDENCE HALLS
A comprehensive listing of all living learning communities in the residence halls can be found HERE.
Some specific living learning communities in the residence halls that may be of interest to honors students are:
SPACE (Students Preparing for Academic Careers in Engineering)
The rigorous freshman year program in the School of Engineering is complimented by the out of class advantage of living with peers who are taking the same classes. Additionally, co-curricular events provide first year students with a variety of ways to incorporate their learning into their day-to-day living.
More information about SPACE »
CBA
The CBA Living Learning Community allows students in the College of Business Administration to ease into the undergraduate business program, to provide opportunities to enhance learning through collaboration and partnership with CBA faculty, and to strengthen social and cultural ties by providing a wide variety of programs focusing on personal and professional development.
More information about CBA Living Learning Community »
Nursing
School of Nursing faculty and staff work with Residence Life to offer first-year women in Nursing the opportunity to study with floor mates in the same program, attend field trips within UPMC, participate in professional seminars, and interact with accomplished nurses.
More information about Nursing Living Learning Community »
CURRICULAR (NON-RESIDENTIAL) LEARNING COMMUNITIES
Arts and Sciences Learning Communities
The Freshman Programs office in the School of Arts and Sciences offers first year Arts and Sciences students the opportunity to enroll in thematic blocks of Arts and Sciences courses that include the same group of students. These learning communities are designed to foster an environment in which first-year students engage in critical thinking, discover the campus and city, and form friendships.
More information about Arts and Sciences Learning Communities »
OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR ACADEMIC COMMUNITY
UHC Book Clubs (Reading Groups)
UHC book clubs encourage students to become more critical and active readers who embrace unfamiliar texts and avail themselves of the in-depth treatment that group discussions elicit.
More information about UHC Book Clubs »
Emerging Leaders Program
The Emerging Leaders Program has been designed to complement your classroom and student life experiences by focusing on the behaviors that strengthen your personal effectiveness and leadership development. You will learn the fundamentals of leadership in a small group setting facilitated by a Pitt faculty or staff member.
More information about the Emerging Leaders Program »
Freshman Programs Courses for Arts and Sciences Students
The Freshman Programs office offers several courses for first-year students in the School of Arts and Sciences, including the very popular FP 0001 (Introduction to the Arts and Sciences)
More information about the Freshman Programs course offerings »
Freshman Lectures
The Freshman Programs office has several freshman lectures during the Fall Term. They are an opportunity for you to become informed about an interesting topic, and to ask a question or disagree with the speaker without worrying if it will affect a grade! Speakers are delighted to have students ask a challenging question either right after the talk in the auditorium or at the reception which follows every lecture.
More information about Freshman Lectures »
These are only a few of the opportunities available to you to become part of Pitt's community of scholars. The honors college encourges you to contact us if you have any questions about becoming more involved in the learning community that is the University of Pittsburgh!