First Year Interest Groups

What is a FIG?

A First-year Interest Group (FIG) consists of 15-20 first-year students who take 1-2  courses together as well as a one-hour weekly seminar co-facilitated by both a peer and staff mentor.

What connections will students make in a FIG?

Each FIG will be co-facilitated by a CoLA student mentor and CoLA staff member. Through the FIG you will meet other first year students. You will also meet other faculty and staff from the college as you learn about offices, resources, and opportunities on campus. All of these individuals will help you acclimate to the UT COLA experience and thrive in your first semester and beyond. 

What are the benefits of enrolling in a FIG?

• Students who are part of a FIG are guaranteed a seat in classes that are often difficult to register for as first year students  
• Opportunity to form study groups and develop friendships with classmates  
• Dedicate space to ask questions of peer mentor, staff mentor, and other first year students in the class about life in Austin, at UT, and within COLA
• Discuss issues that new students commonly encounter, learn about study and time management strategies, engage in social opportunities, and discover opportunities and resources available to UT students 

What courses will I take as part of a FIG?

• UGS 016 weekly seminar
• LA101 online asynchronous course that serves as an introduction to COLA   
• 1-2 additional courses with your FIG classmates

Can I only join a FIG related to my major or desired career path?

Each Liberal Arts FIG is suitable for a number of academic interests, including: medicine, law, the arts, international studies, business, criminology, gender studies, communications, and religious studies. You may choose any FIG regardless of your intended major or career path.

Below is an example of a FIG cluster. A full list of FIG clusters and their classes can be found in the 2022 FIG List.