Pre-Major Learning Communities

Pre-major learning communities are a set of programs designed to help you explore the link between your interests and experiences and academic opportunities at SUNY Cortland. A learning community consists of two to four content courses that address common themes. You will take classes with the same group of students and with highly motivated faculty. As a Pre-Major student, you have the opportunity to select a learning community for the first semester only.

Learning communities lead to greater student satisfaction and success in the first year of college by helping you connect with faculty, learn about the campus, and collaborate with other students.

The fall 2024 learning communities for Pre-Majors include:

Earth and Environment

You should consider this program if you are interested in the earth sciences or the environment.  Earth and Environment provides a unique opportunity for you to explore the earth and environmental sciences by taking classes and labs as a group. Classes are small and students and faculty work together. All the classes satisfy Cortland General Education requirements.

Happiness and Society

This community is a great introduction to philosophy and the major questions of human life. We will provide you an opportunity to study philosophical and ethical issues of significance to contemporary society.

Philosophy and Education

This learning community allows you to consider foundational principles of education, basic approaches to ethics and the connections between them. If you are interested in, but perhaps unsure, about a career in teaching, you will gain insights that will help you make an informed decision. 

World First

World First brings together students and faculty who are concerned about global issues such as racism and multiculturalism, human rights, international violence and global economic structures, including inequality and poverty. You will explore past causes of, and future solutions to, the global issues and problems facing our world. World First is great if you have an interest in international issues, travel, world cultures and ethnic groups or working in international settings.

For additional information please call Advisement and Transition at 607-753-4726.