For First Years Only

Whatever university you attend, you probably won't be able to take certain classes because you don't have the prerequisites or the class is full, etc. There aren't many universities that design and offer classes specifically (and exclusively!) for first-year students. Rutgers does.

First-year students can choose from a selection of Byrne Seminars and First-year Interest Group Seminars (FIGS) during their first two semesters at Rutgers. Both classes are one-credit, pass/fail options. Byrne Seminars are taught on a specific topic by university professors and usually relate to original research being conducted by that faculty member. They are offered in both the spring and fall, although some seminars are only offered during one session. FIGS are subject-based seminars taught by upperclassmen who are involved in that area of study and are only available to first-years in the fall. 

Byrne Seminars can range in topic in anything from Bruce Springstein's Theology to Harry Potter and Behavioral Genetics (no really, you can actually take classes like this!). FIGS are less-specialized topics such as Nutrition or Foreign Languages & Linguistics. If you're not sure about a major or you want to learn more about a discipline, these are great ways to explore your options! 

Some of these seminars even have field trips, participate hands-on in research, or share meals with their professors and classmates. Each class is limited to 20-25 students, which means they are all small enough for you to get to know your professor personally and participate in class discussions. 

My first semester I wasn't able to fit a Byrne Seminar, but I took one in the spring about the death penalty. It was definitely interesting and the professor was really great. I had the same professor a few years later, so it was great to get to know a faculty member early in my academic career. I wasn't able to participate in a FIGS due to scheduling conflicts, but I really wish I had!