About First-Year Seminar

What We Carry: Grief, Change, and Becoming Yourself is designed to support first-year students as they navigate personal transition, identity development, and academic expectations during their first semester at UNCW. The theme aligns closely with UNI 101 Student Learning Outcomes by integrating reflective practice, critical engagement, and academic skill-building within the context of real-life experiences.

This special topic UNI course uses the world of sports as a lens to explore foundational skills for college success. Using examples from collegiate, professional, and global sports, the course explores topics such as motivation, mindset, belonging, ethical decision making, and problem solving. Students will connect these concepts to their own academic goals, campus involvement, and personal development. Through discussions and interactive activities like a fantasy football draft and Hall of Fame debates, the class connects sports culture to community engagement, well-being, and academic success. Ideal for both sports fans and those simply interested in understanding the cultural power of athletics.

Wilmington's layered history and contemporary challenges serve as a foundation for developing essential academic skills in this First-Year Seminar. Using the city as a case study, students will practice critical reading, comparison of perspectives, synthesis of information, and evaluation of evidence. The course emphasizes contextualizing historical events, connecting them to present-day issues, and drawing links between local experiences and concepts introduced across the UNCW curriculum. Students will engage with a wide range of academic and community-based sources, including local archives, museum exhibits, library and digital collections, and historical materials produced by UNCW and local organizations. Through structured analysis and discussion, students learn to question sources, recognize bias, evaluate credibility, and integrate information across disciplines. Topics such as community identity, equity, development, environmental change, economic transitions, and the legacy of historic events encourage students to better understand Wilmington as both a historical place and a contemporary community, while building skills essential for academic success at UNCW.

Philosophical discussion provides students with context for the "bigger" questions about life and supports them in the practical matters of adjusting to college. This course will provide a foundation for formal debate and tools for breaking down complex topics, key for students facing an ever-more complicated world.

This special topic UNI course utilizes creativity and critical thinking as mechanisms for learning. Students will acquire visual learning techniques to enhance study skills, improve visual literacy, and develop habits that support comprehension. Learning styles are like superpowers that unlock your ability to study smarter, not harder. Implementing creativity in your study routine strengthens understanding and application of knowledge. Discovering ways to use your visual learning skills will help you in all future courses and kickstart your college journey.

The Finding Your Joy in College special topic will approach the first-year seminar from a growth mindset, focusing on intentionally approaching learning through joy. This mindset is further enhanced as we explore transitional issues, academic expectations, and habits which lead to a more successful and fulfilling college career.

This UNI 101 First-Year Seminar uses the Blue Zones framework as a lens for exploring well-being, healthy behaviors, and successful transitions to college life. Drawing on research from the Blue Zones - regions of the world associated with longevity and quality of life - students engage in daily discussions focused on topics such as stress management, purpose, social connection, movement, and healthy habits. These discussions connect personal well-being to the challenges and opportunities students commonly experience during their first year at UNCW.

The special topic will help students to have good conversations about sensitive topics (politics, religion, social issues, etc.). In our society today, having these kinds of conversations is challenging and often leads to an impasse or emotional reactions. The class will cover the elements of productive dialogue, understanding one's conversation partner, making logical arguments, and identifying/avoiding logical fallacies. The primary goal is for students to be able to have conversations in which they challenge ideas rather than attacking people.

The Climate Change UNI 101 Special Topic will give students an overview of the science of climate change and implications of this change for both our local and global communities. Students will analyze, discuss, and summarize the science of paleoclimatology and use that knowledge to understand the current social and political implications due to patterns of excessive rainfall, prolonged droughts, severe weather events, and sea level rise.

This first-year seminar introduces students to health profession careers and CHHS majors through guest speakers, including healthcare recruiters, pre-health advisors, and CHHS Success Coaches. Students explore academic planning, elective options, and career pathways while receiving support to attend and engage with employers at the Career Center's Healthcare Career Fair.

In this section of UNI 101, students will explore what it means to be an active and engaged member of their community, both on campus and in the City of Wilmington. Through service work, students reflect on what they care about while building connections with classmates and exploring a critical social issue. Along with the many important learning outcomes that correspond to every section of UNI 101, students in this section will come away with a strong connection to Wilmington and a better understanding of how they can make a difference.

Throughout the semester we will discuss requirements needed to apply and be admitted into UNCW's Nursing program. Students will know how to access the website to find this information on their own and understand the reasoning behind why it's required. Topics that are discussed throughout the semester will have students relate them to their everyday life.

This first-year seminar is designed for students exploring nursing and other health-related careers. While covering core UNI 101 topics such as time management, study strategies, and campus resources, this course helps you better understand what it means to pursue a career in nursing. You will explore program expectations, academic pathways, and the skills needed to succeed in a competitive field. Through reflection, discussion, and hands-on activities, you will connect your interests, values, and strengths to potential career options. This course emphasizes informed decision-making, helping you explore possibilities without pressure to commit. By the end of the semester, you will feel more confident navigating your academic journey and making choices that align with your goals.

In this section of UNI 101, students will explore the genre of poetry, reading and writing poems as a unique way to process and explore their first-year experiences in pieces of short-form creative writing. Students may delve into the connections between poetry and art through UNCW's Cultural Arts Building and visit Randall Library to see how their own taste in poetry overlaps with historical poetic practices. This special topics section aims to develop students' academic writing prowess, their creative writing skill, and their analytical eye for literature, all while offering them a unique medium to write about and critically reflect on the events of their first semester at UNCW.

Writing Your First-Year Story explores the transition to college through reflection, storytelling, and discussion. In this seminar, students examine their early college experiences while building the academic skills needed for success at the university. Through creative writing, readings, conversation, and collaborative activities, students engage with real-life first-year topics such as time management, belonging, academic expectations, and academic integrity. They learn to use campus resources - including library and academic support services - and apply strategies for analyzing, synthesizing, and evaluating information. Writing is central to the course, as students compose reflective pieces and short narratives that explore their goals, challenges, and growth. The seminar also introduces the University Studies curriculum and UNCW's Honor Code, helping students understand their role as engaged and responsible members of the academic community.

This course is designed specifically for students who are Veterans or currently serving in the military. This course supports a successful transition into university life by building on students' military experiences, leadership skills, and strengths. Through guided discussion, reflective activities, and practical skill-building, students will explore academic expectations, campus resources, and strategies for balancing coursework with military experience, work, and family responsibilities. Topics include navigating degree requirements, communicating with faculty, using Veterans' educational benefits, preparing for careers and graduate school, and fostering a sense of belonging within the university community. This course emphasizes peer connections, self-advocacy, and goal-setting while recognizing the diverse identities and paths of military-affiliated students. By the end of the course, students will have increased confidence as scholars and a strong foundation for continued success at the university.