First-year Interest Groups (FIGs)
What are FIGs?
First-Year Interest Groups (FIGs) at Western are course clusters designed to make your transition to college life easier by connecting more closely with peers, faculty, and campus resources. Each FIG consists of 25 or fewer students who enroll in shared classes and participate in Seminar 101, creating a small community within the larger campus.
Each cluster typically consists of two General University Requirement (GUR) courses, along with the Seminar 101 course, covering a variety of interests, such as:
- The Business of Music
- Film Studies
- Leading for a Sustainable Future
- Marketing for Social Change
Complete List of FIGs Clusters >
Why participate in FIGs?
- Early Registration: Secure popular classes early for fall quarter.
- Academic Support: Learn from top professors and receive guidance from experienced student advisors.
- Community: Form meaningful connections with peers and professors.
- Higher Success Rates: Students in FIGs typically achieve higher grades in their first quarter and better utilize campus resources.
How to reserve your spot?
FIGs are open to all incoming first-year students and do not require a reservation fee.
While the FIGs reservation will add 2-3 courses to your fall quarter schedule, you must still attend Advising & Registration to complete your schedule.
Reservations close on July 17, 2024, at 11:59 p.m.
You will need your W# (student number), which is given to you through your admissions letter. The ID Recovery tool can help you look up your W#.
Other First-Year Academic Programs
At Western, our priority is your success—your sense of feeling in place, finding your people, and progressing in your academic goals. FIGS and other first-year programs prepare you for success during your college transition.
Early Start: Viking Launch
Join our campus a week before fall quarter, form social connections, and earn academic credit in the Viking Launch program.
First-Generation Navigational Seminars
The First-Generation Navigational Seminars is a year-long seminar series designed to help first-generation students successfully navigate their first year of college.
New Student Experience Seminars
A New Student Experience Seminar explores a special topic or community-engaged learning opportunity. In a small class of first-year learners, connect with students who share a common interest.