Student Academic Choices

Joel Nossoff, Director
Freshman Learning Communities
University Advisement and Enrichment Center Suite 180
MSC06 3680
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001
(505) 277-6518

Dan Young, Ph.D., Director
Research Service Learning Program
University Advisement and Enrichment Center Suite 180
MSC06 3680
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001
(505) 277-3355

Andrés Armijo, Director
Living & Learning Communities
University Advisement and Enrichment Center Suite 180
MSC06 3680
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001
(505) 277-6515

Mary Thomas, Program Manager
Sophomore Seminars, Freshman Interest Groups,
University Advisement and Enrichment Center Suite 180
MSC06 3680
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001
(505) 277-2028

University College offers six academic programs for freshmen, one program for second-year students, and one program for all undergraduate students.

• Incoming freshmen are advised to enroll in one of the Freshman Academic Choices.
• Students interested in career exploration are encouraged to consider a Sophomore Seminar in Career Awareness (open to all students, but particularly advantageous for sophomores).
• All undergraduates can benefit from learning in seminar-style, community-based Research Service Learning courses.

Freshman Academic Choices

These programs help students make a faster, smoother, more informed transition to university life by engaging with faculty and students who share their interests, and by developing community. All entering freshmen are eligible as long as they meet the requirements for the individual courses. Offerings vary from year to year; students may access the Freshman Academic Choices website at http://freshman.unm.edu and will discuss their choices with their advisors during LOBOrientation.

1. Freshman Learning Communities. Up to 25 freshmen take two or more classes together. Instructors integrate the content and teaching of their courses around a theme or topic. The interdisciplinary FLCs provide a personalized and stimulating introduction to academic life at The University of New Mexico.
2. Freshman Interest Groups. Freshmen who share interests in a theme or current topic enroll in one of four UNIV 101 choices:
   1 credit College Success Seminar, or a
   2 credit Community blocked with a larger core or elective course, or a
   3 credit College Success Seminar for Athletes, or a
   Set of discipline specific courses including a 1 credit college success seminar.|
   UNIV 101 Seminars were created to guide and support first–semester incoming freshmen by teaching college success skills and enhancing each students' transition to University life by providing a mentor to meet to help them navigate UNM policies procedures and pitfalls while focusing on achieving higher academic successes. The first year experience curriculum design is based on the nationally recognized First Year Experience. UNIV 101 topics and themes are interdisciplinary learning opportunities designed to guide students as they explore academic options and to engage them in learning opportunities.  UNIV 101 topics and themes are interdisciplinary learning opportunities designed to guide students as they explore academic options and to engage them in learning opportunities.
3. Living & Learning Communities. The LLCs are well-rounded universtiy experiences that provide students who have an intended major the opportunity to belong to an academic and residential community. LLCs are communities of up to 18 students who intend to major in Fine Arts, Engineering, Business and Management, Architecture and Planning, Humanities, Health Sciences Professions, International Studies and Careers, and Biology Studies. LLC students live together in on-campus student apartments, and have the opportunity to network among their peers while taking classes together. Students interested in the LLC must apply to both the LLC program and Housing Reservations as soon as they are accepted for admission to UNM.
4. Career Awareness Seminars, UNIV 216. Offered Spring semesters, the CASs are one-to three-credit seminars designed to help sophomores explore areas of career interest. General sections will allow students to explore career options broadly; focused sections taught by professionals from the community will explore more specific career fields. Focused CASs will require extensive off-campus activity as students investigate careers in the field.
5. Research Service Learning Program. RSLP courses engage students in learning that is relevant to their academic goals while they provide benefit to the community. Students learn the research methods, develop academic skills, provide needed services to the community, and become more civically aware and responsible. Most RSLP courses meet Core Curriculum requirements or count toward a degree. All undergraduates are eligible to participate in RSLP courses.

Other Programs

1. Seminars in Career Awareness. Offered Spring semester, the SCAs are one- to three-credit seminars designed to help students explore areas of career interest. General sections will allow students to explore career options broadly; focused sections taught by professionals from the community will explore more specific career fields. Focused SCAs will require extensive off-campus activity as students investigate careers in the field.
2. Research Service Learning Program. RSLP courses engage students in learning that is relevant to their academic goals while they provide benefit to the community. Students learn research methods, develop academic skills, provide needed services to the community, and become more civically aware and responsible. Most RSLP courses meet Core Curriculum requirements or count toward a degree. All undergraduates are eligible to participate in RSLP courses.