First-Year Experience (FYE) Course

FYE Objectives

In the First-Year Experience (FYE) Course, students will engage in a learning community of creative thinkers to develop skills, strategies, and perspectives to benefit themselves, their communities, and the world. Students completing the FYE Course will:

  1. Apply critical thinking and analytical skills to interpret and engage with academic texts and other media through reading, writing, and discussion.
  2. Demonstrate academic research practices.
  3. Produce clear and fluent writing in academic discourse using ethical writing practices.
  4. Implement skills and strategies for academic success.​

All first-time college students and non-exempt transfer students (see exemption criteria below) must enroll in a First-Year Experience (FYE) Course. 

Transfer students are exempt from the FYE Course if they have completed a year of full-time college coursework.  

Transfer students who do not transfer in one approved writing/composition course (in college or dual credit) at least four weeks prior to the start of their first semester must enroll in their required Writing Rich (WR) course their initial semester at Principia College.  

Students who do not earn a grade of C- or higher in the FYE Course are required to enroll in an additional Writing Rich (WR) course the following semester. This course is in addition to the one required Writing Rich (WR) course.

Transfers exempt from FYE may opt in on a space-available basis.