- Level Foundation
- Duration 11 hours
- Course by University of Washington
-
Offered by
About
College can be confusing and intimidating, but U101 can help. If you were just admitted to college and are nervous about what the next step in life might look like, this course is for you. If you are the parent of a newly admitted college student and curious about what college life is like, this course is also for you. While your specific college will, no doubt, provide additional orientation material, we wanted to give some basic information about what life might be like at a large American University. You might be years away from college or enrolled right now; either way, U101 has some excellent advice from college students, professors, administrators, and staff. At the conclusion of the course, learners should: 1. Understand the basics of how colleges and universities operate. 2. Identify and describe what faculty are looking for in college-level academic work. 3. List some effective study strategies. 4. Identify some strategies for exploring and selecting a major. 5. Identify the various types of grants and scholarships available and describe the steps involved in applying to these. 6. Discuss the college life, with special attention to the benefits/limitations of living on or off campus. 7. Identify some strategies for getting the most out of campus life activities (investigating student clubs, fraternities, sororities, etc.). The course is divided into 4 weeks/8 lessons, which provide an overview of the different aspects of college life. If you were just watching the videos and looking at some of the links, the whole course would take about 4-5 hours. Week 1 Lesson 1. Welcome to U101! Lesson 2. Understanding the Nature of College Week 2 Lesson 3. Succeeding as a Student Lesson 4. Building Your Major Week 3 Lesson 5. Financing Your Education Lesson 6. Living On and Off Campus Week 4 Lesson 7. Getting Involved in Campus Life Lesson 8. Conclusion Please join us for a short exploration of modern American Colleges. Hopefully, this course can help demystify your upcoming college experience.Modules
Course Overview
2
Videos
- Welcome
- Course Design
3
Readings
- Course Preview
- How to Use Discussion Forums
- Get to Know Your Classmates
Understanding the Nature of College
2
Assignment
- Understanding the Nature of College
- Reflection: Mapping your interests
3
Videos
- What's college life like?
- What do faculty do?
- How do colleges work?
1
Readings
- Key terms
Review and Resources
2
Readings
- Review
- Resources
Succeeding as a Student
2
Assignment
- Succeeding as a Student
- Reflection: Planning for Studying
4
Videos
- Studying in college
- Faculty expectations
- Using the libraries
- Finding additional resources
1
Readings
- Preparing for a college education
Review and Resources
2
Readings
- Review
- Resources
Building Your Education
2
Assignment
- Building Your Education
- Reflection: Finding and Following Your Interests
4
Videos
- Learning in college
- Choosing a major
- Applying to a major
- Working with faculty members
1
Readings
- What do you want to major in?
Review and Resources
2
Readings
- Review
- Resources
Financing Your Education
2
Assignment
- Financing Your Education
- Reflection: Money Matters
2
Videos
- Budgeting in college
- Finding grants and financial aid
1
Readings
- Finances in College
Review and Resources
2
Readings
- Review
- Resources
College Living
2
Assignment
- Living on and off campus
- Reflection: Where to live?
3
Videos
- Transitioning to a new living environment
- Living on campus
- Living off campus
Review and Resources
2
Readings
- Review
- Resources
Getting Involved in Campus Life
2
Assignment
- Getting involved in campus life
- Reflection: How will you get involved?
2
Videos
- Finding your place
- Understanding fraternities and sororities
2
Readings
- Student clubs and organizations
- Health and Wellness
Review and Resources
2
Readings
- Review
- Resources
Summary and Conclusion
1
Videos
- Review and Thank You
Auto Summary
"U101: Understanding College and College Life" is an insightful course designed to ease the transition into college by demystifying the intricacies of college life. Perfect for newly admitted students, their parents, or anyone curious about the college experience, this course offers valuable guidance from college students, professors, administrators, and staff. Focusing on personal development, the course covers the operational basics of colleges and universities, effective study strategies, major selection, financial aid options, and the pros and cons of on-campus versus off-campus living. Additionally, it explores ways to maximize campus life through involvement in student clubs and organizations. Structured over four weeks with eight comprehensive lessons, the course spans approximately 4-5 hours, making it both thorough and manageable. Participants will engage in topics such as understanding college dynamics, succeeding academically, building a major, financing education, and actively participating in campus life. Offered by Coursera, this foundational level course provides a step-by-step guide to navigating college life, ensuring learners are well-prepared for their academic journey. With a Starter subscription option available, learners can easily access this essential resource and confidently embark on their college adventure.

Dr. Matt McGarrity

First Year Programs