Foundations Program

The Foundations program will ensure that you start off on firm footing in your educational experience at the university.
During the first year on campus, all incoming students in the College of Arts, Sciences, and Letters choose one course to take from the nearly 25 seminars offered every year.
Because Foundations seminars count toward general education requirements (DDC) and not traditional academic concentrations, we encourage you to look for a course that catches your interest, not one that is tied to your major.
Foundations is a required program and is not an elective. If you don't register for a foundations course in your first year here, your student account will be put on hold until you register for a course in this program.
Course Options
Explore courses currently being offered. Select a course title to read the description, meet the faculty member teaching the course, and learn other key facts.
Fall 2023: Lower-level Courses
- Shakespeare on Page, Stage and Screen (FNDS 1201)
- Democratizing Democracy: Expanding, Suppressing, Idealizing, and Ignoring the R…
- Fearing the Unknown: Horror Fantasy in Hispanic Fiction (FNDS 1204)
- Understanding Global Cultures (FNDS 1205)
- Art, Power, and Persuasion (FNDS 1302)
- Art/France — Art/Japan (FNDS 1303)
- Gothic Monsters Next Door (FNDS 1305)
- Let’s Talk about Talk! (FNDS 1309)
- Cyberpunk, Steampunk, and Science Fiction Culture (FNDS 1310)
- Ok, Boomer: Gen Z Becomes Civically Engaged (FNDS 1601)
- DIY in Detroit (FNDS 1605)
- School of Rock (FNDS 1608)
- Infinity Plus One (FNDS 1702)
Fall 2023: Lower-level Courses - Practice-Based Learning focused
Fall 2023: Upper-level Courses
Winter 2024: Lower-level Courses
Winter 2024: Upper-level Courses
Learning Goals for Foundation Courses:
1. Immerse students in university culture and scholarship
2. Engage students in building relationships with peers and faculty
3. Develop a student’s mindset and skill set for resiliency and success at UM-Dearborn and beyond
Foundations Course Library
Check out our course library. A list of all approved Foundations courses -- some being offered during the current semester; some in the future!
Helpful links for first-year on our campus students
For More Information
START: Student Advising and Resource Team
2149 James C. Renick University Center (UC)
313-593-5576
umd-start@umich.edu