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 2021: Lower-level Courses
- FNDS 1202: Democratizing Democracy: Expanding, Suppressing, Idealizing, and Ignoring the Right to Vote in America
- FNDS 1205: Understanding Global Cultures
- FNDS 1302: Art, Power, and Persuasion
- FNDS 1305 : Gothic Monsters Next Door
- FNDS 1308: Comics, Graphic Novels, Manga and What They Can Do: Understanding Visual Narratives
- FNDS 1309: Let’s Talk about Talk!
- FNDS 1601: Ok, Boomer: Gen Z Becomes Civically Engaged
- FNDS 1604: Biology is not Destiny: Exploring the Role Culture has on Human Biology
- FNDS 1607: Real Housewives of Crime: Crime, Law, & Reality TV
Fall 2021: Upper-level Courses
Winter 2022: Lower-level Courses
Winter 2022: Upper-level Courses
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 & Resource Team
2149 University Center (UC)
313-593-5576
umd-start@umich.edu