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View the UW's response to COVID-19. Our services and staff are available remotely and by phone. Advising & Orientation sessions will remain in a remote platform through 2021. For more information, review our Remote Advising & Orientation Updates page. (updated 1/12/2021) 

First Year Programs

GEN ST 199: The University Community

A 2-credit course designed to assist you in your transition to the UW.

GEN ST 199 is made for you, the busy UW student. It’s only 2 credits (graded Credit/No Credit), so it won’t crowd your schedule and you’ll be able to stay focused on your other courses.

Does this sound too good to be true? We’ll let you in on a little secret: the things you’ll cover in GEN ST 199 will be some of the most important, and most applicable skills you’ll need for your other courses.

  • Engage with other students in conversations on topics ranging from academic planning to campus diversity.
  • Participate in on- and off-campus social and extracurricular activities.  
  • Mentored by a FIG Leader, an experienced undergraduate who facilitate the courses and help to introduce you to the UW and the city of Seattle.

General Studies 199 (GEN ST 199) is a two-credit hour course which serves to create learning communities for students new to the University of Washington and provides information about university, co-curricular, and academic resources.  Through class interaction and activities, this course will help you navigate the UW, begin to identify your campus community, and engage in classroom discussions with a small group of peers; establishing skills that will help you to be successful at the UW. All course assignments and in class activities will focus on four themes:

  • Major Exploration & Investigation,
  • Critical Thinking & Research
  • Community Engagement – both on campus and within the greater Seattle area
  • Identifying career pathways

 

What do other FIG students say about GEN ST 199?

"I built a community with other people in this class. My classmates became my study partners and I met my best friends in here. I can now say that I am plugged into an academic community. That was a big priority for me as a first year student. So glad I took this class!"

"I was not excited about this class. I thought it was going to be a waste of time, especially because I was 28 years old and a new student. To be honest, time is scarce because I work and commute. It really helped me discover how to efficiently navigate resources around campus.  I am very happy I made the decision to take the class."

"I enjoyed the class so much because I could get information from experienced students. My instructor could really understand the challenges I was facing as a new student."