Fall 2025 FYE Learning Communities

This Learning Community is designed to help International Students have a positive transition to Minot State University. Students will be encouraged to explore their new environment and take advantage of being in a new place and to expand their perspectives through an introspective awareness of a new culture. The combination of COMM 110 and UNIV 110 is a perfect way to find your VOICE at Minot State University. COMM 110 will give you the skills needed to communicate and converse at a college level, and UNIV 110 will allow you to discover support services, navigate campus life, understand American culture, and share some of your own cultural background with the MSU community. 

This FYE is designed to facilitate cultural adjustment to life in the United States; it is not intended for Canadian students. 

• UNIV 110 First-Year Seminar, 2 SH (FYE), TTh 1:00 – 1:50pm, Maleeha Latif
• COMM 110 Fundamentals of Public Speaking, 3 SH (Core), MWF 2:00 - 2:50pm, David Paterno

Collaborate with other musicians, create your own music, and connect with students and faculty in the MSU music program. In this learning community, students will explore music as both a career and a life-long pastime and use their talents—musical and otherwise—for creating projects to share with the community. All levels of music experience are welcome; required for music majors.

• UNIV 110 First-Year Seminar, 2 SH (FYE), WF 11:00 - 11:50am, Dianna Anderson
• MUSC 122 Musicianship I, 3 SH, MWF 10:00 - 10:50am, Erik Anderson
• MUSC 122L Music Foundations Lab, 0 SH, M 11:00 - 11:50am, Erik Anderson
• MUSC 123 Musicianship Lab I, 1 SH, TTH 11:00 - 11:50am, Dianna Anderson

An FYE that teaches you how to get that bag... ethically. Join this FYE if you feel like learning about the ethical prism that surrounds economics and business. BADM 120 will teach you what you need to know about the business world, how it's structured, and how to navigate it. ECON 201 will teach you all about how to manage scarce resources, including your time and money. UNIV 110 will bring our ethics the whole way around and give you knowledge of sustainability and responsibility when dealing with the challenges and perks of being a first-year student at Minot State, and help get you organized and prepared for your college experience and beyond. Let's go on this journey together. We'll learn some fun stuff along the way!

• UNIV 110 First-Year Seminar, 2 SH (FYE), TTH 11:00-11:50am, KateLynn Albers
• BADM 120 Fundamentals of Business, 3 SH, MWF 10:00 - 10:50am Maleeha Latif
• ECON 201 Principles of Microeconomics, 3 SH (Social Sciences), TTH 9:30 - 10:45am, Daniel Ngugi

Want to work in healthcare, but you’re not sure where you fit? Have you declared a major, but want to make sure that where you’re at is right for you? Maybe you want to dedicate your life to caring for others, or maybe you’re just looking for a job that’s secure and pays well. Whatever your goals, we can help you choose your path. Healthcare careers can be highly rewarding, but they can also come at a cost. This FYE is designed to help you explore the multitude of mainstream and allied healthcare fields though the lens of your own goals and values to help you find your place in the rapidly changing world of healthcare.

• UNIV 110 First-Year Seminar, 2 SH (FYE), TTh 12:00 – 1:00 pm, Eric Pietrzak
• HMS 100 Introduction to Health Care Professions, 2 SH, MW 1:00 – 2:00 pm, Kayla Fisher/Rachel Schomaker

Join us for epic adventures! Whether you’re looking for a challenge or are already an experienced outdoor explorer, you’ll enjoy hiking, biking, and camping activities as we experience the geology, environment, economy, and cultural landscapes of the scenic Black Hills region of South Dakota. You’ll help select and research points of interest in up to four states, and help plan and provision our hiking, biking, camping, and cooking activities. Class activities will include planning, gearing up, and getting ready to survive, thrive, and be safe outdoors.

IMPORTANT: This course includes a university-sponsored 7-day camping excursion (late September-early October) and some fairly strenuous physical activity; participation in this trip is necessary to pass the class. One 2-day weekend trip is also included (mid-September). Curiosity, sense of humor, adaptability, and initiative are highly valued in this learning community. A $200 course fee toward trip expenses is assessed (sponsorship is available in case of demonstrated need.)

1. UNIV 110 First Year Seminar, 2 SH (FYE), TTH 8:00 - 8:50 am, Kelsey Higginson
2. GEOL 190 Introductory Geology in the Field, 3 SH (Natural Sciences & Technology), MW 8-9:50 am, Katherine McCarville

Are you ready to energize your college adventure? Energy Matters will fuel your passion for learning and prepare you for success. You will explore the multifaceted world of energy, from how it sustains your body and mind to how it powers our world, emphasizing personal growth, career exploration, and real-world experiences including outdoor expeditions.

Your journey of self-discovery begins with exploring the vital role of energy in your own life. We'll delve into the science of nutrition, the power of exercise, and the importance of cultivating a healthy lifestyle.

You’ll be stepping outside the classroom and into the real world. Through company visits, engaging with industry professionals, and hands-on experiences, you'll discover how scientists and engineers harness energy to drive innovation, shape our economy, and ensure a sustainable future.

This Learning Community is designed for students with an interest in science or engineering (S.T.E.M.) - or anyone considering a career in the energy, materials, or agricultural industries.

PLEASE NOTE: Students will select from several single day trips to regional industry sites throughout the semester to meet course requirements. One 2-day weekend trip is also included (mid-September). A course fee of approximately $200 toward trip expenses is assessed (sponsorship is available in case of demonstrated need.)

• UNIV 110 First Year Seminar, 2 SH (FYE), TTH 8:00 - 8:50am, Kelsey Higginson
• SCI 100 Engineering and Science for Industry, 3 SH, MW 8-9:50am, Nigel George

Students often come to college having learned how to study and pass exams and courses focused on memorization of terms and definitions. Higher education courses, even at the 100 level, require students to also understand processes (scientific often), larger ideas/concepts (entire historical events and ideas), and theoretical frameworks to succeed. This fundamental shift must happen nearly immediately, but often students are never given explicit instruction and strategies to navigate this epistemological and behavioral shift. The goal of this FYE would be to give students explicit instruction in strategies to succeed in difficult courses by focusing on building the above-mentioned skills and how they apply to the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities.

• UNIV 110 First-Year Seminar, 2 SH (FYE), online asynchronous, Elyzia Powers
• PSY 111 Introduction to Psychology, 3 SH (Social Sciences), online asynchronous (25025), Efthalia Esser

So you like Country music?  Rap?  Classical?  Why?  Are there reasons outside of your “personality” that shape your personal preferences, life choices, and everyday decisions?  As we walk through our world we’re constantly met with suggestions on everything, from a review of the latest movie, and the type of diet you eat, to significant choices about where you should live, what occupation you should pursue, and having kids. In our everyday experiences, we rarely have time to consider how culture and society impact the choices we make.  Sociology can help us gain an understanding of how society fundamentally impacts our conception of who we are and the choices we make.  In this FYE, we will explore a variety of societal forces that have shaped our personal choices and the very notion of ourselves and what we like and enjoy.

• UNIV 110 First-Year Seminar, 2 SH (FYE), MW 10:00 - 10:50am, Christine Borden-King-Jones
• SOC 110 Introduction to Sociology, 3 SH (Social Sciences), MWF 9:00 - 9:50am, Jynette Larshus

College will be starting soon and everyone seems to be asking questions that make you cringe, “What are you studying?” or “What is your major?”.  Do you immediately hesitate in answering these questions, and reluctantly respond, “I’m not sure”?  This may seem scary, but don’t worry; you are not alone! This learning community will help you explore your interests and learn more about yourself while exploring your personal, career, and educational goals.  You will be equipped with the resources to make informed decisions about majors and careers that are right for you.  Embrace your status of exploring your options!

• UNIV 110 First Year Seminar, 2 SH (FYE), TTH 11:00 – 11:50am, Heather Martin
• COMM 110 Fundamentals of Public Speaking, 3 SH (Core), TTH 9:30 – 10:45am, Justin Anderson

All superheroes have an origin story – you do, too! Explore your superpowers and your Kryptonite. In this learning community you will learn about what it takes to be a leader, build self-awareness, and cultivate your own leadership skills. You identify, create, and analyze popular origin stories as well as your origin story and those of local leaders.

• UNIV 110: First-Year Seminar, 2 SH (FYE), MW 10:00 - 10:50 am, Mark Singer
• LEAD 101: Introduction to Leadership, 3 SH, TTh 9:30 - 10:45 am, James Sturm

In this first-year learning community, you will explore what your personal goals are for life and success, and how to meet them financially and personally.  Students will learn about how to identify and set goals, how to make difficult decisions, and balance personal and financial wellbeing. Come and explore who you are, what you want, and how to get it!

• UNIV 110 First-Year Seminar, 2 SH (FYE), MW 9:00 - 9:50am, Katelynn Albers
• FIN 251 Personal Finance, 3 SH, TTH 11:00 - 12:15am, David Frantsvog

For many, the personal and professional skills, relationships, and habits developed in college will set the tone for life after college. The Balancing Instincts FYE will enhance your ability to communicate with yourself and others. If you are looking to start your college experience off on a positive note, then join us as we practice yoga, engage in social dance experience, and develop healthy habits.

• UNIV 110 First-Year Seminar, 2 SH (FYE), MW 10:00 - 10:50am, Rachel Simonson
• KIN 101 Dance, 1 SH, MW 8:00 – 8:50am, Terry Eckmann

Great athletes, actors, musicians, and public speakers can control anxiety, minimize stress, utilize imagery, and use relaxation to control their performance. This learning community combines techniques of movement and psychology of sport to examine how both the body and mind influence performance.

• UNIV 110 First-Year Seminar, 2 SH (FYE), TTH 8:00 – 8:50am, Mariah Taller
• KIN 126 Yoga, 1 SH, TTH 11:00 – 11:50am, Terry Eckmann

This activity-based FYE will address the importance of creating balance in our lives, so we can have time to do the things that make us feel happy and fulfilled. Focusing on the dimensions of wellness, students will learn how to adapt to the academic demands of college while living a healthy lifestyle.

• UNIV 110: First-Year Seminar, 2 SH (FYE), MW 11:00 - 11:50am, Rachel Simonson
• KIN 126: Group Exercise, 1 SH, MW 2:00 - 2:50pm, Terry Eckmann

The courses in this FYE will encourage students to think critically through the application of aspects of the criminal justice system. These will include examining common controversies within the system, including police use of force, sentencing disparities, and overcrowded prisons. Additionally, concepts of law, law enforcement, theory, courts, corrections, and juvenile justice as well as culture, deviance, theory, family and social, racial and ethnic interaction will be integrated into the courses.

• UNIV 110 First-Year Seminar, 2 SH (FYE), TTH 2:00 – 2:50pm, Mitchell Gresham
• CJ 201 Intro to Criminal Justice, 3 SH (Social Sciences), TTH 11:00am – 12:15pm, Maria Kerzmann

This group of courses will explore the connections between classroom practices and the processes of learning. Why do some students remember pictures and others remember words? Is it useful to label students? Why are some students motivated and others not so much? Does development affect learning? How can educators help students be successful? We will explore these questions through coursework that looks at the complicated decisions that adults and kids in schools make every day and then visit elementary, middle and high schools to apply the information.

• UNIV 110 First-Year Seminar, 2 SH (FYE), T 1:00 - 2:50pm, Kathy Hintz
• ED 260 Educational Psychology, 3 SH, TH 1:00 - 2:50pm, Laura Zucca
• ED 260L, 0 SH, time arranged, Kathy Hintz

This group of courses will explore the connections between classroom practices and the processes of learning. Why do some students remember pictures and others remember words? Is it useful to label students? Why are some students motivated and others not so much? Does development affect learning? How can educators help students be successful? We will explore these questions through coursework that looks at the complicated decisions that adults and kids in schools make every day and then visit elementary, middle and high schools to apply the information.

• UNIV 110 First-Year Seminar, 2 SH (FYE), TH 1:00 - 2:50pm, Kathy Hintz
• ED 260 Educational Psychology, 3 SH, T 1:00 - 2:50pm, Laura Zucca
• ED 260L, 0 SH, time arranged Kathy Hintz

Throughout human history, people have become empowered through self- or directed-learning experiences, often overcoming obstacles others have not had to endure. This learning community will highlight learning and education across the modern world. Discover how marginalized people and groups have empowered themselves through learning. How can these examples inspire you to find your own place as a learner?!

• UNIV 110 First-Year Seminar, 2 SH (FYE), MW 1:00 - 1:50pm, Bethany Andreasen
• HON 191H The Honors Community, 1 SH, F 1:00 – 1:50pm, Jessica Smestad
• HIST 215H Modern World Origins, 3 SH (Arts, Humanities and History), TTH 11:00-12:15pm, Ernst Pijning

Explore strategies for successful transition to the university community as you embark on your educational journey. How do you balance all the little things to stay healthy, happy, fit, and safe?

• UNIV 110 First-Year Seminar, 2 SH (FYE), M 1:00 - 2:50pm, Sara Frantsvog
• BIOL 202 Microbiology, 4 SH (Natural Sciences & Technology), MWF 3:00 – 3:50pm, Rachel Schomaker
• BIOL 202 (Lab), T 3:00 - 4:50pm Rachel Schomaker

POWER Up with skills and resources to successfully meet the academic and personal challenges as a college student. This learning community focuses on empowering you to be a successful student and an engaged and healthy individual through physical activities and cognitive concepts of health-related fitness and wellness.

• UNIV 110 First-Year Seminar, 2 SH (FYE), TTH 2:00 - 2:50pm, Katy Allers
• KIN 100 Concepts of Fitness and Wellness, 2 SH, MW 12:00 – 12:50pm, Brody Myers

In this first-year learning community, you will explore what it means and takes to be a computer professional in the 21st Century and knowledgeable about Big Data. Through hands-on experiences, you will explore and learn foundational concepts and skills regarding hardware, software, data analysis and visualization which are needed to succeed in the profession. You will learn how to write Python code which is the popular programming language for Data Science. Also, learn about careers and other skills needed to be a successful techie in today's data-driven world.

• UNIV 110 First-Year Seminar, 2 SH (FYE), TTH 9:00 - 9:50am, Darren Seifert
• CSCI 111 Introductory Programming and Big Data (Natural Sciences & Technology), 4 SH MTWTH 11:00 - 11:50am, Daren Erisman

In this first-year learning community, you will explore what it means and takes to be a cyber (computer) professional in the 21st Century. Through hands-on experiences, you will explore and learn foundational concepts and skills regarding hardware and software (applications and operating systems) which are needed to succeed in the profession. You will learn how to write code which is the foundation of getting cyber technology hardware to work. Also learn about careers and other skills needed to be a successful techie in today's world.

• UNIV 110 First-Year Seminar, 2 SH (FYE), TTH 9:00 - 9:50am, Darren Seifert
• CSCI 160 Computer Science, 4 SH (Natural Sciences & Technology), MTWTH 10:00 - 10:50am, Scott Kast

Explore the various characters, settings, and plots in the field of communication disorders, and unlock the secrets behind powerful storytelling. Through story experiences in the community, students will develop critical skills for the profession of speech-language pathology.

• UNIV 110 First-Year Seminar, 2 SH (FYE), MW 2:00 - 2:50pm, Kayla Fisher
• CSD 150 Profession of Communication Disorders, 2 SH, TTH 2:00 - 2:50pm, Erin Holt