First Year Seminar

What is the purpose of our First Year Seminar course?

The required First Year Seminar course aims to connect new students to faculty and staff, while facilitating discussion related to their academic discipline and future professional employment. First Year Seminar is a graduation requirement for all new first time students. 

During the semester students will explore topics that will help them succeed at NJIT. Studies have shown that students who actively participate in a new student seminar during their first year of college do better academically, feel more connected to their university, and are more satisfied with their college experience. This class is designed to be interactive and dialogue-driven. It is important that every student in the class participates in the in-class discussions. 

First Year Seminar Course Goals

• Engagement: To help students establish connections with clubs, organizations, and departments on campus.

• Adjustment/Transition: To provide support, encouragement, social engagement opportunities. To introduce the student to academic advisor. To introduce techniques and approaches to time management and study skills.

• Self-Assessment: To encourage introspection and self-discovery through individualistic assessment tools, instruction and activity. Areas of introspection include ethics, relationships, managing emotions and stress, gender issues, and group dynamics.

• Understanding & Utilizing Campus Resources: To provide information/guidance related to campus partnerships, academic support networks and tutoring options.

• Spring registration & Goal setting: To familiarize students with NJIT processes and clarify/address potential obstacles that may impede on future academic progress and success.

Course Expectations & Policy

This class is highly participatory and discussion-based. Your complete participation and focus is necessary to meet the requirements. Use of electronic devices during classes is strictly prohibited, unless otherwise specified by the instructor. Attendance at all classes is mandatory so please be sure to sign in for all sessions, seminars and workshops. If you must miss a class, please make arrangements with the instructor in advance. Missing two or more classes, for any reason, puts you at risk of failing the course. The First Year Seminar class meets weekly either in class or during break out sessions as assigned by your Instructor.

NJIT is committed to providing a safe learning environment and ensuring that it is compliant with all state and federal mandates. In order to accomplish this, we collaborate with many campus partners to provide critical content and key resources to our first-year students.

You may need to log into the NJIT Canvas – Canvas.njit.edu – to complete homework assignments.  

Online Textbook & Resources

College Success: https://openstax.org/details/books/college-success

Course Repetition Policy

As FYS is a degree and graduation requirement, students need to earn an "S" (satisfactory) grade to pass the class. Students who do not earn a passing grade will need to retake the course prior to their graduation and earn a passing grade. The format for the retake version of FYS is online and asynchronous (i.e., students will be expected to regularly check their Canvas page to keep up with the course modules, assignments, and due dates).