University of Washington
U101: Understanding College and College Life
University of Washington

U101: Understanding College and College Life

Taught in English

Some content may not be translated

14,036 already enrolled

Course

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals

Dr. Matt McGarrity
First Year Programs

Instructors: Dr. Matt McGarrity

4.6

(478 reviews)

10 hours to complete
3 weeks at 3 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace

Details to know

Assessments

12 quizzes

See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills

Placeholder

There are 8 modules in this course

Welcome to University 101. This short course will help you get the most out of your college experience. We want to help incoming undergraduates understand their universities. This opening module lays out what the course is and how you will navigate this online space.

What's included

2 videos3 readings

Now that we have discussed the basic approach in this course, we can dive into the material. A good place to start would be understanding how the university operates. Modern universities are large, complex organizations employing thousands of different teaching and researching faculty, all of who have slightly different roles. College isn’t simply larger than high school, it is structured differently.

What's included

3 videos3 readings2 quizzes

You’re coming to college to get an education. Classes will take up a significant amount of your time, so we should discuss some strategies for success. As discussed in the last module, high school differs significantly from college. Incoming freshmen are often most worried about the classes. You have much more flexible time, but that time needs to be filled with self-directed study. In this unit, we’ll talk a bit about how understanding these classes and studying effectively for them.

What's included

4 videos3 readings2 quizzes

One of your big questions at college is, “What should I major in?” This module will tackle this question head on. In all honesty, what you major in matters less than how you prepare yourself to be an expert in an area. This requires you to move beyond simply your major and take ownership of your intellectual and professional development during your college years.

What's included

4 videos3 readings2 quizzes

Paying for college is a challenge. This module will talk about some strategies for budgeting your money while at college and all the options available to you for funding. There are so many different resources out there to help you pay for college. Regrettably, these are so broad that students remain unaware of them. This module should direct you to some of the most fruitful areas for finding funding.

What's included

2 videos3 readings2 quizzes

Are you going to live on-campus or off? There are strengths and benefits to doing both. This module will talk to some students about their experiences living on and off campus. Wherever you live while at college, odds are that you will experience homesickness at some point. This is entirely natural. We’ll talk a bit about why this happens and identify a few strategies for effectively dealing with homesickness.

What's included

3 videos2 readings2 quizzes

Going to your classes is probably the most important thing you’ll do during your time here. But it won’t be the only thing. Campus clubs and groups offer you a great opportunity to experience new things and ideas during your time here. They can introduce you to lifelong friends and enrich your education in untold ways. This module will talk about some options for getting involved in campus life.

What's included

2 videos4 readings2 quizzes

Here we are at the end of this online orientation. Thank you for participating. This module will recap the key themes from the course and help you figure out what to do next as you prepare to enroll in college. Good Luck!

What's included

1 video

Instructors

Instructor ratings
4.7 (96 ratings)
Dr. Matt McGarrity
University of Washington
9 Courses801,918 learners
First Year Programs
University of Washington
1 Course14,036 learners

Offered by

Recommended if you're interested in Education

Why people choose Coursera for their career

Felipe M.
Learner since 2018
"To be able to take courses at my own pace and rhythm has been an amazing experience. I can learn whenever it fits my schedule and mood."
Jennifer J.
Learner since 2020
"I directly applied the concepts and skills I learned from my courses to an exciting new project at work."
Larry W.
Learner since 2021
"When I need courses on topics that my university doesn't offer, Coursera is one of the best places to go."
Chaitanya A.
"Learning isn't just about being better at your job: it's so much more than that. Coursera allows me to learn without limits."

Learner reviews

Showing 3 of 478

4.6

478 reviews

  • 5 stars

    76.15%

  • 4 stars

    15.89%

  • 3 stars

    4.81%

  • 2 stars

    0.83%

  • 1 star

    2.30%

SH
5

Reviewed on Feb 21, 2017

KH
5

Reviewed on Feb 15, 2017

R
5

Reviewed on Jul 22, 2020

Placeholder

Open new doors with Coursera Plus

Unlimited access to 7,000+ world-class courses, hands-on projects, and job-ready certificate programs - all included in your subscription

Advance your career with an online degree

Earn a degree from world-class universities - 100% online

Join over 3,400 global companies that choose Coursera for Business

Upskill your employees to excel in the digital economy

Frequently asked questions