A Strategic First-Year Experience
We’ve created a comprehensive, innovative approach to the entire first year of learning. Each term has a distinct purpose and builds on the preceding term to give you the foundation you need to complete your degree in four years and the analytical thinking and knowledge to fully explore who you are in the world.
The program begins with First Engagements, created to help ease your personal and academic transition to college and the demands of a liberal arts curriculum. Learn more about all the components of your first year.
First-year Seminar Program
During your first two terms at Transylvania, you’ll take First-Year Seminar courses designed to prepare you for the type of academic work it will take to thrive at Transy. You’ll read and discuss texts, get introduced to the Writing Center and research an argumentative essay on a topic of your choice.
Academic Advising
Academic advisers can be valuable resources for you as you begin to clarify your life and career goals.
Your First Engagements professor will be your first academic adviser at Transylvania. They will help you become familiar with the curriculum and a Transylvania education means.
During First Engagements, you’ll register for fall term courses after talking with your adviser. During the fall and winter terms they will continue to support you and meet with you regularly in group and individual sessions and by overseeing your participation in a series of required events including:
- The opening convocation
- A presentation on Transylvania’s study abroad opportunities
- An orientation to the library