Your Journey Starts Here
At Georgia Southern, we know that the transition to college is exciting鈥攂ut it can also feel overwhelming. Whether you’re a first-time freshman, transfer, non-traditional, or returning student, our First and Second Year Experience (FYSY) programs are designed to help you find your place, build connections, and gain the academic and social skills you need to soar.
From first-year courses to mentorship programs, leadership opportunities, and academic resources, we’re here to support your success at every step.
Find Your Place. Build Your Future.
Your first years at Georgia Southern set the foundation for everything ahead. With FYSY, you鈥檒l gain the tools, connections, and confidence to make the most of your college experience.
We鈥檙e here to help you soar鈥攍et鈥檚 get started.
The Eagle Experience
Kick off your time at Georgia Southern with The Eagle Experience, which starts during your first week of classes and extends through the school year. You鈥檒l have the opportunity to attend various events and activities 鈥� like our information fair and student socials 鈥� to meet your classmates, make memories and get comfortable on campus.
Foundational Courses for First-Year Success
Designed to Help You Thrive
We offer two essential first-year courses that lay the foundation for academic success. These courses bridge the gap between high school and college expectations while giving you tools to succeed in your journey ahead.
Georgia Southern faculty are deeply committed to the success of all students. Conversations with Professors (CWP 1000) engages faculty with new incoming students the weekend before classes start.
Specific topics covered include:
- Understanding the importance of a syllabus
- The role of faculty in student learning and success
- Important academic dates such as drop/add and the last day to withdraw without academic penalty
- Academic resources for student success
- How to evaluate and improve upon test and assignment performance
- Developing relationships with faculty that help students navigate college.
All students new to college are enrolled into a section of Conversations with Professors. It appears on student schedules as 鈥淐WP 1000.鈥� View 鈥淐oncise Student Schedule鈥� in WINGS for details about your assigned section and room. For more information or to learn more ways to get involved with Conversations with Professors, contact Dr. Chris Caplinger at caplinca@georgiasouthern.edu.
First-Year Seminar is an introduction to college that fosters academic engagement, information literacy, and global citizenship. This course allows students to develop and apply information literacy skills and to engage with their degree programs, campus resources, and the university community. Students take this course during their first semester at Georgia Southern unless they enter as a transfer student with 30 hours or more.
Students will . . .
- Develop and apply information literacy skills in academic and non-academic contexts by:
- Determining the nature and extent of information needs to answer a question, explore a topic, solve a problem, and/or complete a project.
- Identifying and accessing sources for their informational needs while critically evaluating information for its currency, relevancy, authority, accuracy, and purpose.
- Engage with degree programs and pathways by focusing on career growth mindset by:
- Researching potential majors and evaluating the extent to which expectations align with personal and career goals
- Examining expectations and skills necessary for successfully engaging in an increasingly global workforce.
CORE 2000 is a required one-hour Institutional Priority Core Curriculum course for students who are completing their second semester of collegiate work. The course is designed to help students connect their academic learning to their future academic decision, their co-curricular choices, their vision for their own professional practice, and their responsibilities as global citizens.
Students will鈥�
- Articulate how their general education foundation has contributed to their developing global perspective
- Analyze how their academic and lived curriculum (core-level) studies have contributed to the development of their academic and professional goals.
Find Your Flock.
Don’t just attend, engage! Eagle Engage connects you with your community, builds your skills, and helps you make a difference. Explore 400+ student orgs, find your passion, build your network and create your own unique college experience.
Peer Leaders: Learn from Those Who鈥檝e Already Been There
Our Peer Leaders are students just like you鈥攚ho have been through the first-year experience and are ready to help you succeed. Whether it鈥檚 through mentorship, study support, or advice on navigating campus life, Peer Leaders are here to help you feel confident and connected.
Ready Day One
Soar Beyond Expectations: Your Career Starts Here. College is your launchpad. We’ll help you unlock your potential and build the real-world skills that’ll make you unstoppable.
Meet Our Team
Your Support System from Day One
Success doesn鈥檛 happen alone. Our FYSY team is dedicated to helping you navigate your first years at Georgia Southern. Whether you need academic guidance, campus resources, or just a friendly face to check in with, we鈥檙e here for you.
Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society
Celebrating Academic Excellence
Phi Eta Sigma is the nation鈥檚 oldest and largest first-year honor society, recognizing students who achieve academic excellence in their first year. Membership connects you to a national network of scholars, leadership opportunities, and scholarships.
Teach for FYSY
Make an Impact. Inspire the Next Class.
Passionate about leadership and education? Teach for FYSY offers an opportunity for upperclassmen to help shape the experience of first-year students. Gain valuable teaching, mentorship, and leadership skills while making a lasting impact on the Georgia Southern community.