Academic Support and Advising

First Year Linked Courses

What are UNC's First Year Linked Courses?

UNC’s First Year Linked Courses are groups of students who take two, three or four classes together the first semester of their freshman year. UNC's First Year Linked Courses are carefully designed to help students with similar majors or interest areas meet one another, take classes together, and learn how to be successful in their major/interest area. The center of the First Year Linked Courses is UNC’s FYE 108 course, which helps students integrate successfully into the academic and social community at UNC.

Why do First Year Linked Courses Exist?

As a first year student, the requirements for graduation can be confusing and the multitude of options can be overwhelming. Because of this, we have figured out a way to guarantee you the best group of classes possible for your major. All you have to do is rank the First Year Linked Courses available to you, and then, when you show up for Orientation, we will already have enrolled you into one of the First Year Linked Courses you indicated. At Orientation you will only need to add one to three more classes, and your schedule will be complete! The best part is that you can be sure that all of the classes you are enrolled in will help satisfy your graduation requirements.

*Recently Updated* National and local research has shown that students in First Year Linked Courses earn higher grades, feel more connected to campus, feel happier with their college experience, and stay in college longer than those students who do not enroll in First Year Linked Courses. At UNC, we believe that all students should have the best chance at being successful, so we provide this proven opportunity to almost all entering first year students.