The Learning Community Program has been working hard to develop a robust collection of Learning Communities for Fall 2016. Each college at Old Dominion University is offering at least three LCs for incoming freshmen in its majors, and we even have a few other themed-LCs outside of those colleges for undeclared students and students with interests and needs outside their majors.
For more information about Learning Communities, visit our home on the ODU homepage here:
www.odu.edu/learningcommunities or send an email to learningcommunities@odu.edu
Here’s an overview of what we have planned for our class of 2020:
Accounting
The Accounting Learning Community provides an atmosphere where first-year students interested in the accounting industry can gain hand-on knowledge with peers who share a similar passion. Students participating in this community will have opportunities to engage in study groups, tutoring sessions, college workshops, and academic advising. Students in this learning community will be required to enroll in a common cohort of courses. This learning community is suggested for but not limited to accounting majors.
Arts & Letters
For students pursuing a major in Arts and Letters. Students will be part of a freshman cohort group of 25 students who have 2 linked courses, along with a seminar in which they will receive information about their major, on-campus resources, activities and technologies as well as career advice. They will have the opportunity to engage in out-of-class activities with faculty and students in the Community and will have the opportunity to interact with faculty and staff within the College of Arts and Letters. Students will also meet weekly with an academically successful peer mentor who is an upperclassman in an Arts and Letters major.
Biology
The College of Sciences offers a Learning Community for students who are unable to enroll in General Biology I Lecture and lab (BIOL 121N/122N) during their first semester. This Learning Community provides first-year students with support and resources that assist them with successfully transitioning into ODU. Students participating in this community will have opportunities to engage in study groups, tutoring sessions, college workshops, and academic advising. These co-curricular activities provide an opportunity for students to create relationships with students with similar academic and career goals. Students in this learning community will be required to enroll in a common cohort of courses.
Business
The Strome College of Business Learning Community provides an atmosphere where first-year business interested students can gain hand-on knowledge with peers who share similar interests. Students participating in this community will have opportunities to engage in study groups, tutoring sessions, college workshops, and academic advising as well as live together in the residence halls on-campus. Students in this learning community will be required to enroll in a common cohort of courses. This learning community is suggested for but not limited to business majors.
Communication
For students pursuing a major in Communication. Students will be part of a freshman cohort group of 25 students who have two linked courses, along with a seminar in which they will receive information about their major, on-campus resources, activities and technologies as well as career advice. They will have the opportunity to engage in out-of-class activities with faculty and students in the Community. Students will also receive information regarding possible careers for Communication majors and possible internship opportunities. They will meet weekly with an academically successful peer mentor who is an upperclassman in the Communication major.
Communication Online
Want to meet professionals in your field? Get one step closer to your dream? Then join us this fall for our online learning community. Personalized to help meet your needs, LCs offer: smaller class sizes, more faculty interaction, and an opportunity to engage with students in multiple courses. Get on the fast track to success. Network with professionals who are doing what you dream of! And if technology worries you, fear not. Free online mentoring and tutoring are offered for this online section only. Limited seats are available.
Criminal Justice
For students pursuing a major in Criminal Justice. Students will be part of a freshman cohort group of 25 students who have 2 linked courses, along with a seminar in which they will receive information about their major, on-campus resources, activities and technologies as well as career advice. They will have the opportunity to engage in out-of-class activities with faculty and students in the Community. Students will receive information regarding possible careers for Criminal Justice majors as well as possible internship opportunities. They will also meet weekly with an academically successful peer mentor who is an upperclassman in the Criminal Justice major
Cyber Security
This learning community is designed for cybersecurity majors and minors. Students will develop a cybersecurity ePortfolio showcasing their understanding about current trends related to cybersecurity. Topics considered in the English and Computer Science courses will integrate cybersecurity themes. Co-curricular activities will be included.
Engineering
The Engineering Learning Community is a linked-course experience for students pursuing an intended major in any Engineering or Engineering Technology degree program. Students will be a part of a freshman cohort group of 30 students involved in an innovative project challenge developed to have a significant impact on their academic success by improving the students’ confidence and motivation to succeed in engineering. The project “Design your Process for Becoming a World-Class Engineering Student” asks students to design their own individual process to be successful in graduating with an engineering degree. Freshman engineering students will design their individually tailored learning process as part of a semester-long project in the setting of their project-based ENGN 110: Introduction to Engineering course while developing and maintaining a collection of their digital “artifacts” of work in e-portfolios for their ENGL 110C: Introduction to Composition course or another general education course.
Entrepreneurship
The Entrepreneurship Learning Community is for first-year students of any major, where they can gain hand-on knowledge with peers who also hope to own their own business someday. Students participating in this community will have opportunities to engage in study groups, tutoring sessions, college workshops, academic advising, and Strome Entrepreneurial Center sponsored events. Students in this learning community will be required to enroll in a common cohort of courses. This community is open to all university freshmen, regardless of major, who have an entrepreneurial interest.
First-Generation
This learning community is for those students who are first-generation college students living on or off-campus. In order to participate in this learning community, students must have applied to participate in the Student Support Services program at Old Dominion. Participation in the learning community will allow students to receive support for their transition to college through interactions with their teachers, peer mentor, and fellow learning community students. Peer mentors will interact with students to integrate and guide them into a successful path of studies and transition to the campus.
Fitness and Wellness
The Fitness and Wellness Learning Community provides first-year students with support and resources that assist them with successfully transitioning into ODU. This LC will appeal to Exercise Science and Physical Education majors but is open to students of all majors who are interested in the theme. Students in this LC will be a part of a small group of freshmen who will receive information about on-campus resources and activities related to fitness and wellness. They will have the opportunity to engage in out-of-class activities with mentors, faculty, and students in the LC and with faculty and staff across the campus with a connection to the field of Exercise Science. These co-curricular activities provide an opportunity for students to create relationships with students with similar academic and career goals. Students in this learning community will be required to enroll in a common cohort of courses.
Health Professions
Health Sciences programs accept a limited number of students each year, so admission is highly competitive. In other words, a much higher than average GPA is needed to gain acceptance into most Health Sciences program. The Health Professions LC is intended to help students build the strong academic foundation needed to be competitive for admission into their intended major. Students in this learning community will register for a set of common courses, including HLTH 101: Introduction to Health Professions. The Health Professions LC is open to students in Health Sciences majors including Cytotechnology, Dental Hygiene, Environmental Health, Health Services Administration, Medical Technology, Nuclear Medicine Technology, Nursing, Public Health, and Ophthalmic Technology.
Marine Biology
The College of Sciences offers a Biology Marine Biology Concentration Learning Community (LC) that provides first-year students with support and resources that assist them with successfully transitioning into ODU. Students participating in this community will have opportunities to engage in study groups, tutoring sessions, college workshops, and academic advising. These co-curricular activities provide an opportunity for students to create relationships with students with similar academic and career goals. Students in this learning community will be required to enroll in a common cohort of courses.
Occupational and Technical Studies
The Occupational and Technical Studies Learning Community provides first-year students with support and resources that assist them with successfully transitioning into ODU. This LC will appeal to students who are wishing to major in fashion merchandising, marketing education, technology education, training specialist, and industrial technology but is open to students of all majors who are interested in the theme. Students in this LC will be a part of a small group of freshmen who will receive information about on-campus resources and activities related to recreation and the environment. They will have the opportunity to engage in out-of-class activities with mentors, faculty, and students in the LC and with faculty and staff across the campus with a connection to the fields of fashion merchandising, marketing education, technology education, training specialist, and industrial technology. These co-curricular activities provide an opportunity for students to create relationships with students with similar academic and career goals. Students in this learning community will be required to enroll in a common cohort of courses.
ODU Explorers
This learning community is for first-year students who are interested in exploring their academic and career options. Students in the ODU Explorers LC will have the opportunity to explore their major and career options and develop degree plans to match their academic and career goals. Students will engage in the self-exploration process through co-curricular activities in class, e.g. guest lecture series, field trips, vocational interest assessments, and collaboration with offices across campus. Students in this learning community will be required to enroll in the common course as listed in the course requirement section.
Parks, Recreation, Tourism, and the Environment
The Recreation, Tourism, and the Environment Learning Community provides first-year students with support and resources that assist them with successfully transitioning into ODU. This LC will appeal to Parks, Recreation, & Tourism Studies (PRTS) majors but is open to students of all majors who are interested in the theme. Students in this LC will be a part of a small group of freshmen who will receive information about on-campus resources and activities related to recreation and the environment. They will have the opportunity to engage in out-of-class activities with mentors, faculty, and students in the LC and with and with faculty and staff across the campus with a connection to the field of Parks, Recreation & Tourism Studies. These co-curricular activities provide an opportunity for students to create relationships with students with similar academic and career goals. Students in this learning community will be required to enroll in a common cohort of courses.
Political Science/International Studies
For students pursuing a major in Political Science and/or International Studies. Students will be part of a freshman cohort group of 25 students who have two linked courses, along with a seminar in which they will receive information about their major, on-campus resources, activities and technologies as well as career advice. They will have the opportunity to engage in out-of-class activities with faculty and students in the Community and will have the opportunity to interact with faculty and staff within Political Science and International Studies. Students will also meet weekly with an academically successful peer mentor who is an upperclassman in either Political Science and/or International Studies major.
Pre-Medical (Biology)
The College of Sciences offers a Pre-Medical Learning Community (LC) that provides first-year students with support and resources that assist them with successfully transitioning into ODU. Students participating in this community will have opportunities to engage in study groups, tutoring sessions, college workshops, and academic advising. These co-curricular activities provide an opportunity for students to create relationships with students with similar academic and career goals. Students in this learning community will be required to enroll in a common cohort of courses.
Psychology
The College of Sciences offers a Psychology Learning Community (LC) that provides first-year students with support and resources that assist them with successfully transitioning into ODU. Students participating in this community will have opportunities to engage in study groups, tutoring sessions, college workshops, and academic advising. These co-curricular activities provide an opportunity for students to create relationships with students with similar academic and career goals. Students in this learning community will be required to enroll in a common cohort of courses.
Pre-Engineering
The Pre-Engineering Learning Community is a unique linked-course experience for students interested in pursuing an Engineering or Engineering Technology degree. First year pre-engineering and pre-engineering technology students will have the opportunity to take two linked courses with their peers who have similar goals and interests. The linked courses include MATH 103M: College Algebra and UNIV 110: Academic Success. Students will have the opportunity to form study groups, be familiar with all campus resources, participate in academic success workshops, and engage in activities focused on student success.
Speech Pathology and Audiology
The Speech Pathology and Audiology Learning Community provides first-year students with support and resources that assist them with successfully transitioning to ODU within the speech pathology and audiology major. Students will be part of a small group of freshmen who will take two classes together and engage in activities outside of classes in the Child Study Center. Participation in the learning community will allow students to quickly identify with colleagues interested in working with individuals with communication disorders and thread this topic into specific general education courses. Peer mentors will interact with students to integrate and guide them into a successful path of studies.
Sport Management
This Learning Community will appeal to Sport Management majors but is open to students of all majors who are interested in the theme. The Business of Sports is a Learning Community that provides first-year students with support and resources that assist them with successfully transitioning into ODU. Students in this LC will be a part of a small group of freshmen who will receive information about on-campus resources and activities related to the business of sports. They will have the opportunity to engage in out-of-class activities with mentors, faculty, and students in the LC and with faculty and staff across the campus with a connection to the field of Sport Management. These co-curricular activities provide an opportunity for students to create relationships with students with similar academic and career goals. Students in this learning community will be required to enroll in a common cohort of courses.
Teacher-Prep
For students pursuing teaching licensure in Elementary Education or Special Education. Students will be part of a freshman cohort group of 25 students who have 2 linked courses, along with a seminar in which they will receive information about their major, on-campus resources, activities and technologies as well as career advice. They will have the opportunity to engage in out-of-class activities with faculty and students in the Community and will have the opportunity to interact with the Director of the IDS/Teacher Prep program. Students will also meet weekly with an academically successful peer mentor who is an upperclassman in the IDS/Teacher Prep major.
Transition to College
This learning community is for those interested in making their transition into college a positive one. The community studies the book Into the Wild, a story about one young man’s journey into the Alaskan wilderness. The transition into post-secondary education parallels the journey in a number of ways, which students will explore through writing and through shared assignments between the two classes. This learning community will provide students with support as they embark into their “wild” through introduction to campus resources and an emphasis on developing the necessary skills for academic success.
Women on Wall Street
The Women in Business Learning Community is for first-year students of any major and gender, where they can gain hand-on knowledge with peers who value diversity in the workplace. Students participating in this community will have opportunities to engage in study groups, tutoring sessions, college workshops, academic advising. Students in this learning community will be required to enroll in a common cohort of courses. This community is open to all university freshmen, regardless of major and gender, who have a passion for diversity.
