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 take our First Year Directions course their first term. Build on the fundamentals you learned in your UMX 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, exploring internship and career paths, 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
✓ Match with a trusted staff mentor on campus and an upper-class student in your school/college
✓ Develop a four-year plan for your major that includes academic and extracurricular activities
✓ Get first-hand guidance from the Toppel Career Center on how to build your resume and secure your first internship
✓ Discover research projects 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 an upperclass student who will help mentor you and share their insights. In addition to bonding over taking similar classes and developing study groups, these connections 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. Our FYD instructors are faculty and staff members from all over campus – representing departments such as Housing & Residential Life, Center for Academic Navigation & Success (i.e., your Transitional Advisor and Cane Navigator!), the Toppel Career Center, Camner Center for Academic Resources, Department of Orientation and Commuter Student Involvement, Study Abroad, and more!

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, the below schools and colleges offer the First Year Directions course, using the course sections below. Some schools and colleges enroll their students into FYD; others ask that students enroll into the course themselves. If you are in the schools and colleges below, please check your UM email for enrollment instructions.

  • School of Architecture: FYD 101: X1-X3
  • College of Arts & Sciences: FYD 101: X44-X50 (transfer students), X51-X90 (new students)
  • School of Communication: FYD 101: X10-X19
  • School of Education and Human Development: FYD 101: X4-X9
  • College of Engineering: FYD 101: X20-X29
  • Frost School of Music: FYD 101: X42-43
  • School of Nursing and Health Studies: FYD 101: X30-X41

Full-time students with 12 or more credits will not incur any additional tuition charges. Note that students who are automatically enrolled in the course will see the class on their course schedule and be notified via their UM email so be on the lookout! 

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