First-Year Learning Communities
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.
REGISTRATION FOR LEARNING COMMUNITIES OPENS ON MAY 7, 2025 AT 9AM
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 over 25 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
At the end of the semester, we decided to have a group picture together that we called our family photo because we have that bond. If everyone had an opportunity to be in a class like this, I think BYU would be changed forever.
Nicole - BYU Student
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I think coming in as a freshman can be kind of scary. You don’t really know what you are doing and so it is really nice having the familiar faces to help each other succeed. … God really blessed me to be in these classes. They help students to feel they are part of a community, and they mean something. To help them find their light. It’s really nice just knowing that you are here for a reason.
Titus - BYU Student
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This new class is an opportunity to get a jump start into what it’s like to be a part of the BYU community. And so, a huge aspect of it is building belonging. And so, really showing the student why they are here at BYU and why this is a unique opportunity. … I think this class helped students see the importance of connection. The assignment that had the biggest impact was to go as a group to an event on campus.
Emma - BYU Student and 2023 Peer Mentor
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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.
- 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.
- 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 participate in the First-Year Learning Communities Program?
- Register just like you would for other classes by going to my.byu.edu and selecting registration. Look for the Envelopes tab to find the Learning Communities.
- 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 and your first semester must be Fall 2025.
- 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. It is made out of regular BYU classes taught by regular BYU faculty. The only difference is that three classes in the Learning Community share the same students.
- 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.