First Year Foundation Courses

Embrace Your Marian Journey

As a new student, you will complete a three-credit course titled FYS 110: First-Year Seminar. Incoming students will register for a section of FYS at New Student Orientation and take the class during their first semester.

This community-building course creates a space for students to learn about the Franciscan values that guide the Marian experience, to explore campus resources, and to practice skills for college success. All sections of FYS will provide students with an opportunity to build skills for critical thinking and reflection through joint programming offered by campus partners and individual class meetings. Some themed sections offer a unique focus while still introducing students to campus and college success skills.

To review our FYS course offerings for the upcoming semester, please visit the orientation Canvas course. All incoming students will receive an email with access to this course about one month prior to their orientation date. For questions about FYS, please contact Holly Gastineau-Grimes at hgastineaugrimes@marian.edu.

Discover Holistic Health at Marian

At Marian, your first year is not just about academics—it is about learning how to thrive as a whole person. That is why every student takes HWB 110: Holistic Health: Mind, Body, and Spirit, a three-credit, workshop-style course designed to help you build balance, resilience, and self-awareness.

Through engaging discussions, interactive activities, and large lectures from Marian University experts, you will explore the eight dimensions of wellness—Intellectual, Occupational, Financial, Physical, Social, Emotional, Spiritual, and Environmental. Throughout the course, you will practice strategies that support your wellbeing across all eight domains and develop skills that will benefit you not only during your time at Marian but throughout your life.

Most students take HWB-110 in the spring of their first year, setting the stage for a healthier and more balanced college experience. For questions about HWB, please contact Matthew Walsh at mwalsh@marian.edu.