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Your First Year Experience

At the University of North Florida, we know that the first year is important in laying the right foundation for your success throughout your college career. The First-Year Experience (FYE) is a student-centered initiative designed to assist first-year students in making a successful transition to college and to prepare you to make the most of your college experience. Below are some "ospreytunities" to get involved with FYE!

Osprey Connections Experience

Interested in taking courses together that ask a BIG question? Listed below are our Osprey Connections Experience course groupings available this fall.

  • Death, Dying, and the Meaning of Life
    This course pairing explores philosophical and literary perspectives on death, dying, and meaning. Students examine how different traditions understand mortality, what it means for human existence, and how awareness of death influences how we live and relate to others.

    Courses within this grouping:
    • PHI 2010 - Intro to Philosophy
    • LIT 2000 - Intro to Literature 
  • "Ever, Ever, Ever": Theatre, Time, and the Human Condition
    This course pairing examines how theatrical works both reflect and transcend their historical contexts. Students analyze adaptations across time while exploring how performance elements shape meaning and audience experience. 

    Courses within this grouping:
    • ENC 1143 - Writing with Evidence & Style
    • THE 2000 - Theatre Appreciation
  • Rethinking Identity and Citizenship
    This course pairing explores identity, citizenship, and nationhood through historical and literary perspectives. Students engage with texts and experiences that examine belonging, difference, and the formation of American and Floridian identities.

    Courses within this grouping:
    • HUM 2020 - Intro to Humanities
    • AMH 2020 - U.S. History since 1877
  • Social Prescription and Student Well-Being
    This course pairing explores how movement, nature, service, and the arts contribute to student well-being and belonging. Through discussion, experiential learning, and writing, students build connections that support academic and personal success.

    Courses within this grouping:
    • ENC 1143 - Writing with Evidence & Style
    • HUM 2020 - Intro to Humanities
  • The Body: Boundaries, Limits, Beginnings, and Endings
    This course pairing explores physical, social, and ethical dimensions of the human body. Students examine boundaries and definitions of the body while developing research and communication skills.

    Courses within this grouping:
    • ENC 1143 - Writing with Evidence & Style
    • HSC 2100 - Personal and Public Health
  • Scientific Writing and Biology
    This course pairing supports students in developing scientific reading and writing skills alongside foundational biology content. Students engage with scientific literature and learn to communicate complex ideas effectively. 

    Courses within this grouping:
    • ENC 1143 - Writing with Evidence & Style
    • BSC 1005 - Principles of Biology
  • Forms of Fossils and Arguments
    This course pairing examines how we interpret the Earth's past through scientific and rhetorical lenses. Students explore fossil records and develop multimodal science communication skills.

    Courses within this grouping:
    • ENC 1143 - Writing with Evidence & Style
    • ESC 2000 - Discovering Earth Science
  • Digging Up the Past in Stories and Artifacts
    This course pairing explores how historical and archaeological evidence shapes our understanding of past societies. Students examine both physical artifacts and narrative texts to interpret human history. 

    Courses within this grouping:
    • ENC 1143 - Writing with Evidence & Style
    • ANT 2000 - Intro to Anthropology
  • Florida Flora and Fauna: The Nature of Knowing

    This course pairing explores Florida's ecosystems as both subject and text. Students engage with the natural world through inquiry, representation, and experiential learning.

    Courses within this grouping:
    • ENC 1143 - Writing with Evidence & Style
    • LIT 2000 - Intro to Literature
  • From Camelot to the Frontier: America's Medieval Obsession

    This course pairing explores how the humanities address crucial questions, challenges, and wonder within the human experience. Students will engage with a variety of media on the theme of Medievalism.

    Courses within this grouping:
    • ENC 1143 - Writing with Evidence & Style
    • HUM 2020 - Intro to Humanities

Consider a Living-Learning Community

Living-Learning Communities allow students with similar interests to connect academics with residential life by taking classes together, living on the same floor in the residence hall, participating in out-of-class activities that enhance what they are learning in class, and creating meaningful relationships with faculty, staff and other LLC students. Listed below are some of the Living-Learning Communities available to you. Some of the LLCs have a required course that you take together and some do not.

  • ASL Zone
    This community is for any first-year student who has experience with American Sign Language, is a heritage ASL user, wants to learn more about ASL, or is interested in ASL, Deaf Education, and Interpreting majors or minors. LLC participants will build connections with fellow students, faculty, and staff, and will create bonds within the Jacksonville community. No required courses are taken together, but you should enroll in an ASL course at your appropriate level.
  • Business
    This community assists you in becoming a competitive candidate for a career in business. The Coggin College of Business LLC creates a cohort of students interested in many areas of business. Applicable majors include the nine business majors. Required course taken together: GEB 1011.
  • Environmental Sustainability
    This community fosters critical thinking about environmentalism and sustainable projects. Students will engage in experiences in the campus environment, local Northeast Florida ecosystems, and beyond. Students will be empowered to make a positive impact on their environment in ways that are exclusive and unique to the first-year students in the LLC. Required course: either BSC 1010C or HSC 2100.
  • Freshman Admit Nursing (FAN)
    The FAN LLC is open to first-year students admitted into the Freshman Admit Nursing program. Through shared living spaces, collaborative learning opportunities, and engaging activities, you will receive mentorship from experienced nursing faculty and peers. Required course taken together: NUR 1010.
  • Film
    Are you a film enthusiast dreaming of a career in the film industry? This vibrant community is open to all incoming students with a passion for film. You will dive into the world of film, building lasting relationships with fellow film lovers, and gain hands-on experiences with others. Required course taken together: ENC 1143.
  • Healthy Osprey
    The Healthy Osprey LLC is open to all incoming first-year students who want to continue or start living a healthy lifestyle. All levels of fitness are welcome to participate, and "healthy" is pursued to the fullest extent of the word. As a participant in the Healthy Osprey LLC you will experience organic gardening, the high-ropes course, group fitness classes, healthy cooking demonstrations and much more. Required course taken together: HSC 2100.
  • Honors
    The Hicks Honors College is intentional in its efforts to create a living and learning environment within our Honors community. The goal is to create a seamless transition between learning in and outside of the classroom. This community will heighten student intellectual and personal growth and promote a greater degree of engagement in campus life. Required course taken together: IDH 1923.
  • Making a Difference in Education (M.A.D.E.)
    The MADE LLC is open to first-year students who plan to major in education. This LLC will provide a range of opportunities to connect with faculty, explore careers within the education field, and prepare students for the General Knowledge Exam. Students will benefit from skills workshops, classroom tours, leadership opportunities and faculty support. Required course taken together: EDF 2260.
  • Music
    The Music LLC boasts a musically immersive environment for music majors to foster creativity, collaborate with other artists, and enhance their musical talents. Participants in the Music LLC can expect a close relationship with faculty and staff from the School of Music, programs catered directly to the interests and passions of the community, and support in establishing your personal musical identity and network.  For first-year and returning students.
  • Pre-Medical
    This community assists you in becoming a competitive candidate for admission to professional schools in the medical field. The Pre-Med LLC creates a cohort of students interested in the medical profession. Applicable majors for the Pre-Medical LLC include biomedical sciences, biology, chemistry and physics. Students must be interested in pursuing medical, dental or veterinary school to be eligible. Required course: BSC 1010C or CHM 2045.
  • ROTC
    The Army ROTC LLC provides a place where students can further develop lifelong leadership and communication skills, increase their physical, social and emotional health, and improve their understanding of the Army. For first-year and returning students.
  • STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math)
    The STEM LLC connects first-year students interested in pursuing a degree or career in science (non-medical aspects of science), technology, engineering, or math. The living-learning community will help students develop the academic and professional skills needed to succeed in their careers and socially at UNF. Required course taken together: ENC 1143.
  • THRIVE
    The THRIVE LLC is open only to students who are accepted into the THRIVE program at UNF or serve as an ally or mentor for the THRIVE program. Students will experience tailored study halls and tutoring, weekly THRIVE classes on executive functioning and career development skills, and individualized attention from the THRIVE program staff. For first-year and returning students.

Attend Week of Welcome

Want to get familiar with UNF? The Week of Welcome (WOW) helps to kick off the new schools year and allows you to get connected the moment you step on campus with events and opportunities to help you learn your way around the nest. This first week will give you a head start to flourish socially and academically by participating in campus programs and school traditions.

Past Week of Welcome events have included:

  • Welcome to the Nest Party
  • Flight School
  • Block Party
  • Pep Rally
  • SG Comedy Night
  • Food Truck Frenzy
  • Dive-In Movie Night
  • Market Days
  • Eco Adventures
  • Welcome to College Luau
  • Ozzie's Weekend

For more information and a schedule of this year's events, visit the Week of Welcome website.

Visit WOW Webpage

Get Involved

Students who get involved on campus in both academic and co-curricular activities tend to have better grades and have a more enjoyable college experience overall. Though being at a university can feel intimidating at first, becoming involved with student organizations and connecting with university departments can quickly transform anxiety into comfort, and inevitably open doors to bigger opportunities. You will begin to establish relationships, create connections, and define your First-Year Experience.

Getting involved can take many forms. With more than 150 student organizations, multiple service opportunities, campus events and friendly people to help you find the right resources, finding your niche at UNF is simple. Visit our Osprey Involvement Center website for a list of current student clubs and organizations at UNF. Also, talk with your academic advisor about student organizations within your major of interest.