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First-year Academic Programs

Western Washington University has created special first year academic programs designed to facilitate the transition of new students to college.

Learn more about how these programs contribute to student success in the First-year.
 

Viking Launch students gather for an outing at the beach.

Early Start: Viking Launch

Early Start Viking Launch brings students on campus a week before fall term, with early move-in and a head start on academic success in a credit-bearing course.

Jump into Viking Launch

First-Generation Navigational Seminars

A group of students pose lined up on a mossy log in the forest.

The First-Generation Navigational Seminars are open to all first-generation, Washington College Grant eligible, first-year students seeking a cohort experience. Fully funded, early housing onboarding and activities, social activities and opportunity to learn about campus life and resources.

Explore First-Gen Nav Seminars

New Student Experience Seminars

A group of students in the New Student Experience Seminars program plant flowers in the soil.

New Student Experience Seminars are stand-alone courses with limited enrollment of 25 students. They are special topics courses or community-engaged learning experiences that are designed to enhance your experience as a first-year or transfer student.

Experience NSE Seminars

First-year Interest Groups

First-year Interest Group students gather around a laptop

In their first quarter, new students in First-year Interest Groups enroll with a small group of students in a seminar course that is linked to one or two other courses in the general education curriculum.

Discover FIGS