We offer courses that build students’ knowledge and skills in areas of interest to them during their undergraduate years. Currently, these include courses on academic success; financial literacy, career and internship readiness, and more.
Transition Through Mason Courses
UNIV 110: Academic Success
This course focuses on academic transition and planning issues for students in their first or second year at Mason. Emphasis is placed on resources and techniques to assist students with assessing and improving their academic performance. Students will work closely with the instructor to track their academic progress over the course of the semester. During the semester, students will:
- Set short and long term goals for individual courses.
- Develop an overall academic plan.
- Understand and develop strategies to improve learning such as reading, note taking, memorization, and test-taking strategies.
- Understand and develop strategies to improve self-regulation such as self-evaluation, organization, and time management.
- Understand university policies and improve communication skills in order to improve self-advocacy.
- Identify and utilize support services such as the Writing Center, Counseling and Psychological Services, and Career Services.
UNIV 310: Academic Success
This course will be taught together with UNIV 110 but is intended for students in their third or fourth year. The academic transition and planning curriculum will be the same for both course levels, however students in UNIV 310 will experience an enhanced application of the material in terms of formulating a graduation plan (versus a shorter term academic plan) and participating in an instructional video project.
UNIV 170: Financial Literacy
Financial Literacy (UNIV 170) is an introduction to important personal finance concepts that every adult needs to succeed in our world of online banking, Roth IRAs, taxes, and insurance. Every student is given the tools and knowledge they need to create their own personal financial plan by the end of the semester.
Topics Covered:
- Why knowledge of personal finance is important
- Stocks and bonds: What they are and how they differ
- Mutual funds and exchange traded funds
- Individual retirement accounts: IRAs (Traditional v. Roth)
- Employment-based retirement accounts: 401k, 403b, 457(b)
- Dollar Cost Averaging
- The importance of starting early w/ saving and investments
- Debt and budgeting
- The risks associated with overly conservative investing
- Insurance – life, disability, auto, home, liability, long- and short-term care
Other insurance products – annuities - Renting v. purchasing a home
- Paying for college
- Taxes
- Diversification
- Financial advisors
UNIV 370: Financial Literacy
This course will be taught together with UNIV 170 but is intended for students in their third or fourth year. The financial transition will be the same for both course levels, however students in UNIV 370 will experience an enhanced application.
UNIV 170: Protecting Biodiversity
Protecting Biodiversity: Resources for the Conservation of Life, is a brand new course designed to teach the students conservation concepts and introduce them to campus opportunities and careers related to protecting the planet. No science background is needed, only your curiosity!
Topics Covered:
- What is conservation?
- Exploring careers connected to protecting the planet
- How to connect with campus opportunities related to environmental conservation
UNIV 370: Protecting Biodiversity
Protecting Biodiversity: Resources for the Conservation of Life is a brand new course designed to teach the students conservation concepts and introduce them to campus opportunities and careers related to protecting the planet. No science background is needed, only your curiosity! Counts as a 300-level, 1- credit elective.
Topics Covered:
- What is conservation?
- Exploring careers connected to protecting the planet
- How to connect with campus opportunities related to environmental conservation
UNIV 170: Building Resilience
Building Resilience (UNIV 170) is designed to develop your mental resilience through content knowledge and practices backed by science. Deepening your knowledge in these areas and honing your self-awareness will allow your thinking to become more flexible, adaptable, and creative. Completing this course will contribute to your ability to thrive in college and beyond by boosting your ability to solve problems, make decisions and building the life you want.
Topics Covered:
- What is resilience?
- Engaging resilience through a growth mindset
- The concept of optimism to boost resilience
- Fear in the context of resilience
- Responding to stress from a place of resilience
UNIV 220: Decide/Confirm Major
For second semester students and beyond, explore career paths that align with your values, interests, and personality in Decide/Confirm Major (UNIV 220). Think of it as an experiment. Be open minded. You might be surprised by what you discover about yourself and the path for you.
93% of students who completed the course reported they had either significantly narrowed their choices or had made a final decision on their major.
100% of students who completed the course reported they were able to articulate their career-related skills as a result of UNIV320.
UNIV 320: Internship/Career Readiness
For sophomores and beyond, prepare to pursue internships and other career-related experiences with Internship/Career Readiness (UNIV 320). Develop your internship goals and search strategies.
Career classes are designed to help students choose their major, build their resume, and prepare to pursue internships or jobs.
For more information about our courses, see the University Catalog.