First-Year Learning Communities
Winter Semester registration for Learning Communities opens on August 1, 2025 at 12:00 a.m.
BYU First-Year Learning Communities is a program to help incoming students build connections to each other and to the campus community. In the program, first-year students take three of their required General and Religious Education courses together as a cohort with some of the best faculty on campus. If you are an incoming first-year student, why should you participate in this program?
- You get to know your classmates better through small class sizes, and you work with the same people in multiple classes during your first semester;
- You work directly with some of the university’s finest faculty who are teaching engaging topics about both contemporary and enduring questions that are important to you;
- You receive priority registration for high-demand, required classes;
Learning Communities give first-year students a jump start to their college experience by helping students feel seen and heard through more connections with professors, campus resources, and other students.
Small Class Sizes
Learn alongside the same classmates in three different classes and attend campus events together to establish friendships and build community.
Build Connections
Work closely with three different professors as well as your peer mentor to help you learn how to navigate BYU your first semester and discover resources available to you.
Priority Registration
Register ahead of the normal time for high-demand, required classes.
Not sure how to register for a Learning Community? Watch this video for instructions.
Register as soon as possible to secure your spot. You can choose your 7-credit envelope of classes:
- UNIV 101: BYU Foundations for Student Success (2.0 credits)
- General Education Exploration course (3.0 credits) or First-Year Writing course (3.0 credits)
- A required Religious Education course (2.0 credits)
You have many different Learning Communities to pick from, including classes focused on humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, or writing. Find all the Learning Community class schedules below.
WHAT STUDENTS ARE SAYING
I loved the classes and the care that the teachers put into helping every student find a place. I felt important and appreciated, and I knew that my professors wanted to see me succeed and love BYU to its fullest.
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Being a part of a Learning Community has been a big deal for me. I feel like having this social structure has helped me have a lot more confidence as I begin my BYU education. When I first applied, I was really scared that I would be really behind and that it would be difficult making new friends, but the Learning Community I’m a part of changed my perspective completely!
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My participation in a Learning Community has helped me ease into the college life. I have developed strong relationships and connections with my teachers and fellow peers. Through this environment, my first semester at BYU has been amazing and very helpful. This community has taught me social and college skills. I see how I have been prepared for future classes.
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FAQ
- Who do I contact if I can’t find the answer to my questions or need help registering?
- Please email gened@byu.edu.
- Do I get to pick which classes I take in the program?
- Yes! We have Learning Communities focused on the natural sciences, social sciences, arts & humanities, and writing. Choose the Learning Community that is most interesting to you.
- How can I sign up for a First-Year Learning Community?
- Click here for a guide to registering for Learning Communities.
- How can I drop an envelope of classes?
- Due to limitations with the registration system, you cannot drop an envelope of classes on your own. You need to email gened@byu.edu.
- Are UNIV 101 and Learning Communities the same thing?
- UNIV 101 is for most students a stand-alone course. The Learning Communities are a group of students all taking the same three classes during the same semester: UNIV 101, Book of Mormon religious education class, and a GE elective. It is a way to build greater community and connection between students.
- How is signing up for UNIV 101 through the Learning Communities different than if I sign up for it as a stand-alone class?
- The size and format of UNIV 101 is the same both in the Learning Communities and in other sections. The difference with taking UNIV 101 as part of a Learning Community is that you will have the same classmates in UNIV 101, your religion class, and a GE class. You get to know each other better and you form a unique community at the university.
- What are the requirements to participate?
- You must be admitted to BYU as a full-time student in your first semester.
- Are there additional costs associated with participating in a Learning Community?
- No! There are no additional costs for participating in a First-Year Learning Community. The Learning Community is just a different way to take classes you would likely be taking anyway.
- Is this a one or two semester program?
- The classes for the Learning Community program are only during the first semester.
- Can I defer my acceptance for this program?
- We cannot defer your acceptance to a future semester.
- What is the UNIV 101: BYU Foundations for Student Success class?
- This is a new university general education course required of all incoming first-year students that is designed to help students successfully transition to the university. Read more about it here.
- Can I register for classes in addition to the required classes?
- Yes! The Learning Communities courses total only 7.0 credits leaving you plenty of room for other classes to work on General Education requirements or to get started on your major.
- What are the advantages of participating in a Learning Community my first semester?
- First off, students report that the most important thing for them was the way the Learning Community helped them to connect with other students their first semester. Additionally, some of the best professors at the university are selected to participate in the Learning Communities and class sizes in the GE classes are capped so you get a more individualized experience. Lastly, it allows for priority registration for several hard-to-enroll GE classes.