First Year Programs

GEN ST 199: The University Community

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

GEN ST 199 is a 2-credit course graded on a 'credit' 'no credit' grading scale. This 2-credit course will fit nicely in your schedule whether it stands alone in a schedule you design, or you choose to register for a clustered FIG.

GEN ST 199 will cover concepts and resources that will help you throughout your entire college career. From learning how to navigate campus resources to connecting with alumni, this course will cover a variety of topics that will aid you in your years at the University of Washington.

  • Gain mentorship from an upperclassmen (FIG Leader) who will facilitate your GEN ST 199 section & help introduce you to the University and surrounding Seattle community. 
  • Engage in meaningful conversations with fellow classmates on topics ranging from finance & budgeting to diversity to academic planning. 
  • Community
    • A FIG IS a small academic community that fosters a welcoming environment where students are able to participate in activities and discussions to get to know each other. FIG courses facilitate small group learning and create the opportunity to form study groups outside of class.
    • A FIG IS NOT social time. Students must take the initiative to participate in activities during class where they meet and actively engage with other students. 
  • Peer Educator
    • A Peer Educator IS a mentor for you GEN ST 199 course. These upperclassmen have experiences and advice to share with students in regards to academics, involvement, and much more!
    • A Peer Educator IS NOT a tutor for your clustered classes. Although the FIG Leader may have taken the clustered courses, FIG Leaders are not expected to teach material from the connected courses. They will be able to provide resources and study techniques corresponding to those courses.
  • Skill Development
    • A FIG IS a place you will learn skills to enhance your college experience. GEN ST 199 is structured around topics such as social issues, diversity, academic planning, time management, financial planning, campus resources, career & major exploration, and a variety of others. 
    • A FIG IS NOT a place you will receive busy work. Every assignment is in place to teach students in the FIG a meaningful skill or to learn new aspects of our community (UW and Seattle) and support your first-year transition. 
  • Assignments
    • A FIG IS a place to explore professional pathways and the greater Seattle community. All GEN ST 199 assignments are crafted with care to allow students to gain optimal benefit, from interviewing alumni to exploring different areas of Seattle. 
    • A FIG IS NOT a study hall. Students are not given time to work on non-FIG material during the GEN ST 199 course. Class time will be spent on specific topics, not on homework for various other classes. 
  • Expectations 
    • A FIG IS a helping hand with the transition into the university. A FIG helps students understand the UW expectations, what a student can expect while at the UW, and how to take active steps towards maximizing your educational experiences. 
    • A FIS IS NOT a GPA booster or easy A. Students do not automatically pass this course, they must actively participate in class and finish assignments to the best of their ability, and on time. 

GEN ST 199 is a 2-credit hour course which serves to create learning communities for students new to the University of Washington. 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 throughout your time at the UW.

View the most current GEN ST 199 Curriculum:

  • GEN ST 199 Syllabus: fyp.uw.edu/fig199syllabus
  • CoRe-  Seattle Communities & Research: fyp.uw.edu/fig199core 
    • In a group, examine a Seattle neighborhood through the lens of population topic(s) & an assessment of entities to reflect on a range of factors that impact the health & well-being of the neighborhood. 
  • Mapping Your UW Experience to Project Forward: fyp.uw.edu/fig199mtop
    • Reflect on personal & professional goal by creating an engagement plan and develop an understanding of a potential career pathway. 
What do FIG students think the most valuable part of GEN ST 199 is?

"Connecting with other students and our FIG leader because it made the transition a lot easier and gave me a group of people to know."

"Learning more about campus resources and Seattle as well as getting to know people in smaller groups." 

"For me the most valuable part was having a sense of community. This was not a class where we only listened to our instructor talk, we got to know each other and build bonds."