First Year Directions

first year directions

Let's start this journey together! When your Road to UM comes to a close, students are encouraged to enroll in our First Year Directions course their first term. Build on the fundamentals you learned in your Road to UM modules. By the end of the semester, you'll have the skills and awareness to successfully transition into our academic community and your journey at the University of Miami.

About the Class

First Year Directions (FYD 101) is a one-hour seminar class that includes topics and themes about navigating and utilizing campus resources, promoting health and wellness, growing as a student and a leader, implementing study skills and goal setting strategies, and embracing a culture of belonging.

In just one hour a week, you will:

Build a peer network with students from your school or college
✓ Develop a four-year plan for your major that includes academic and extracurricular activities
✓ Discover research projects, career resources, and study-abroad options
✓ Understand UM’s values and traditions and how they shape our community
✓ Explore leadership and community service opportunities available both on and off-campus
✓ Get to know faculty, staff, and leaders within the UM family

Your Peers

You’ll connect with peers from your school and college along with upperclass students who will help mentor you and share their insights. It will help you expand your network and broaden your opportunities in campus life.

Your Coaches and Mentors

Faculty and staff from across the University community will be your coaches and mentors as they lead you in discussions, connect you with key departments and resources, and help you understand what it means to be a ’Cane. They’ll talk you through common missteps of new students and share their own learned and observed experiences. 

Renee Dickens Callan"There are several skills that students gain from taking FYD but the ability to find/create community and gain confidence in navigating your first year at UM is important. These are competencies that students can take with them to any new situation or experience."

Renee Dickens Callan
AVP, Student Life

Registration Information

Since our research shows First Year Directions to be so valuable for incoming students, we automatically enroll all first-year students from the following schools/colleges in the course. 

School of Architecture
≫ College of Arts & Sciences*
≫ School of Communication
≫ School of Education and Human Development
≫ College of Engineering
≫ School of Nursing and Health Studies

*Arts & Science students majoring in Biology, Exploratory, Neuroscience, Political Science and Psychology are automatically enrolled. All other students can register by contacting their Academic Advisor or during the drop/add period in August.

Full-time registered students with 12 or more credits will not incur any additional tuition charges. Note that students were also notified about the automatic course registration via their UM email by their school/college.