In a First Year Academy, you will get started in your major while you complete basic skills requirements. Each academy has one or more basic skills courses, a freshman seminar and an introductory course in your major. Entering students should select the academy that offers the college-level course in their major. Continuing students may take an academy if they have not previously taken any of the courses.

Benefits:

Meet basic skills requirements

Get credit for a course in your major in your first semester

Take Basic Skills courses that are related to your major

Take a New Student Seminar in a specialized version related to your major

Take a follow-up Gateway to the Workplace course in a discipline-related version

Participate in extra-curricular activities and orientation events (career workshops; study skills workshops; discipline-based virtual interest groups).

What is Integrated Learning?

If you need a basic skills course, you will also take a special, themed English or Reading 099. These courses are arranged into Integrated Communities, and allow you to choose courses where faculty work together to coordinate their courses and themes. In the second semester, you will take Fundamentals of Professional Advancement and a second Studio Hour which will allow you to explore emerging career options.

These courses are arranged into Learning Communities, and allow you to choose courses where faculty work together to coordinate their courses and themes. In the second semester, you will take Fundamentals of Professional Advancement and a second Studio Hour which will allow you to explore emerging career options.

Welcome to an exciting first semester of college! In the First Year Academy, you will get started in your major while you complete basic skills requirements. LaGuardia Community College offers First Year Academies in Business & Technology, Allied Health, and Liberal Arts. Each academy has at least one basic skills course (if needed), a seminar for first year students, an introductory course in your major, and Studio Hour where you begin the exciting work of building your ePortfolio.

Business/Technology

The First Year Academy in Business & Technology invites you to think about the connections between Business and Technology in the 21st century. This academy focuses on the ideas of emerging and changing technology, and the role of capitalism and business in contemporary American society. In this Academy, in your first semester, you will take Introduction to Business or Introduction to Computers, New Student Seminar, and Studio Hour.

In the academy, you will learn about the business & technology world and literary and cultural responses to it. You will have an opportunity to write essays, create special projects, respond to readings and contemporary films. You may explore themes like: “Family Ties: The Role of the Family Business in American Society” or “Cyber Planet: The Emerging Role of Business and Technology in a Global Culture.” Through these linked courses, you will develop a better understanding of your intended major and the way this major prepares you for the professional world. With the help of supportive faculty members working together, you will also become acclimated to college culture, explore possible majors, and research future career opportunities.

Liberal Arts

The First Year Academy in Liberal Arts invites you to think about the way in which the humanities and writing define much of contemporary society. This academy focuses on the ideas that have shaped American & global culture, working to connect you to the world in which you live. In this Academy, in your first semester, you will take an introductory major course such as Critical Thinking or American History, New Student Seminar, Studio Hour, and a special liberal arts themed English or Reading 099.

In the academy, you will learn about the liberal arts and humanities and literary and cultural responses to it. You will have an opportunity to write essays, create special projects, respond to readings and contemporary films. You may explore themes like: “Truth, Reality and You,” “Borderlands: Who Belongs in America?” or “Immigrants in a Strange Land” Through these linked courses, you will develop a better understanding of your intended major and the way this major prepares you for the professional world. With the help of supportive faculty members working together, you will also become acclimated to college culture, explore possible majors, and research future career opportunities.

Allied Health

The First Year Academy in Allied Health invites you to think about the way in which the health and medicine work in American society. This academy focuses on the ideas that have shaped health and medicine, working to connect you to the world in which you live. In this Academy, in your first semester, you will take an introductory major course such as Psychology, New Student Seminar, Studio Hour, and a special allied health themed English or Reading 099.

In the academy, you will learn about the field of Allied Health and literary and cultural responses to it. You will have an opportunity to write essays, create special projects, respond to readings and contemporary films. You may explore themes like: “Broken Bodies in a Broken World: Hurting, Helping and Healing,” “Beyond Dr. Phil,” and “Inside the Human Mind, Outside the Body.” Through these linked courses, you will develop a better understanding of your intended major and the way this major prepares you for the professional world. With the help of supportive faculty members working together, you will also become acclimated to college culture, explore possible majors, and research future career opportunities.