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Freshman Focus and Academic Theme Living Options

Freshmen Focus and Academic Theme living options are living-learning communities in specific Washington State University residence halls. Through Freshmen Focus, entering freshmen are pre-enrolled in one or two classes, making such a choice a partial fall course registration method as well as a housing choice. In Academic Theme Living communities students with similar interests live together in a residence hall.

Freshman Focus enables freshmen to enjoy the benefits of living with other students with whom they share one or two classes.

Benefits of Freshmen Focus and Academic Theme living options

Assessment results have shown that choosing an Academic Theme living option or participating in Freshmen Focus has resulted in these advantages:

  • Highest levels of student satisfaction with their residence hall and university experience.
  • Higher fall grades
  • More fall credits completed
  • Fewer academic deficiency problems
  • Better fall to fall retention at Washington State University
  • More out-of-class conversations about shared academic interests
  • Easier formation of study groups
  • New freshmen friendships that include academic interests
  • Greatest educational benefit from room and board costs

Freshmen Focus contains courses meeting General Education Requirements and all Freshmen Focus classes count towards graduation. To find out more about the courses included in Freshmen Focus, see the course descriptions on the Washington State University Course Catalog Web site or Residence Hall Freshmen Focus classes, for a more concise listing of all the Freshmen Focus course descriptions.

Courses in Freshman Focus include English 101, Environmental Science 101, General Education 110 and 111, Geology 101, Human Development 101 and 205, Humanities 103, Science 101, and Theatre 160. Each residence hall provides a selection of Freshman Focus course options, which are as follows:

  • Freshmen who choose Coman Hall, a coed Scholars/Global Learning Community hall, will be enrolled in a Freshman Focus section of World Civilizations (Gen Ed 111).  This class is appropriate for all majors.
  • Freshmen who choose Community Hall, an all female hall, will be enrolled in a Freshman Focus section of either World Civilizations (Gen Ed 110), Geology 101, or English 101.  These courses will be linked with Waller, an all male hall, and Wilmer Davis, an all female hall.  Classes in this hall are appropriate for all majors.
  • Freshmen who choose Gannon Hall, a coed hall, will be enrolled in either the Freshman Focus paired courses of World Civilizations (Gen Ed 110) and Human Development 205, or in a stand-alone Freshman Focus section of  Sociology 101 or Humanities 103. Classes in this hall are appropriate for most majors.
  • Freshmen who choose Goldsworthy Hall, a coed hall, will be enrolled in either the Freshman Focus paired courses of World Civilizations (Gen Ed 110) and Human Development 205, or in a stand-alone Freshman Focus section of Sociology 101 or Humanities 103. Classes in this hall are appropriate for most majors.
  • Freshmen not in the Honors College who choose to live in Honors Hall, a coed hall, will be enrolled in a Freshman Focus section of World Civilizations (Gen Ed 110).  This class will be linked with Waller, an all male hall, and Wilmer Davis and Community halls, both all female halls.  This class is appropriate for all majors.
  • Freshmen who choose McCroskey Hall, a coed International hall, will be enrolled in a Freshman Focus section of World Civilizations (Gen Ed 110).  This class will be linked with Waller, an all male hall, and Wilmer Davis and Community halls, both all female halls.  This class is appropriate for all majors.
  • Freshmen who choose to live in McEachern, a coed age-restricted hall, will have the option to enroll in a Freshman Focus section of World Civilizations (Gen Ed 111).  This course will be linked with Olympia and Rogers halls.  This class is appropriate for all majors.
  • Freshmen who choose to live in Olympia, a co-ed hall, will be enrolled in a Freshman Focus section of World Civilizations (Gen Ed 111).  This course will be linked with Rogers.  This class is appropriate for all majors.
  • Freshmen who choose to live in Orton, a coed age-restricted hall, will have the option to enroll in a Freshman Focus section of World Civilizations (Gen Ed 111).  This course will be linked with Olympia and Rogers halls.  This class is appropriate for all majors.
  • Freshmen who choose Perham Hall, a coed hall, will be enrolled in either the Freshman Focus pairing of World Civilizations (Gen Ed 111) and Geology 101, or in a stand-alone Freshman Focus section of World Civilizations (Gen Ed 110), Human Development 101, or Theatre 160. The classes in this hall are appropriate for all majors.
  • Freshmen who choose Regents Hall, an all female hall, will be enrolled in a Freshman Focus section of World Civilizations (Gen Ed 110), Fine Arts 101, or Environmental Science/Regional Planning 101. These courses will be linked with Stimson Hall, an all male hall.  The classes in this hall are appropriate for all majors.
  • Freshmen who choose Rogers Hall, a coed hall, will be enrolled in a Freshman Focus section of World Civilizations (Gen Ed 111).  This course will be linked with Olympia, a co-ed hall.  This class is appropriate for all majors.
  • Freshmen who choose Scott Hall, a coed Scholars/Global Learning Community hall, will be enrolled in a Freshman Focus section of World Civilizations (Gen Ed 111).  This class is appropriate for all majors.
  • Freshmen who choose Stephenson North, South, or East, all coed Math, Science, and Engineering halls, will be enrolled in a Freshman Focus section of World Civilization (Gen Ed 110 or 111).  Math, science, and engineering students will also be placed in an additional Math, Chemistry, or Geology course appropriate for their intended major. The World Civilizations courses are appropriate for any major; the additional science and math courses available are appropriate for students majoring in STEM disciplines.
  • Freshmen who choose Stevens Hall, an all female hall, will be enrolled in a Freshman Focus section of World Civilizations (Gen Ed 110).  This class will be linked with Waller, an all male hall, and Wilmer Davis and Community halls, both all female halls.  This class is appropriate for all majors.
  • Freshmen who choose Stimson Hall, an all male hall, will be enrolled in a Freshman Focus section of World Civilizations (Gen Ed 110), Fine Arts 101, or Environmental Science/Regional Planning 101. These courses will be linked with Regents Hall, an all female hall.  The classes in this hall are appropriate for all majors.
  • Freshmen who choose Streit Hall, a coed hall, will be enrolled in either the Freshman Focus pairing of World Civilizations (Gen Ed 111) and Geology 101, or in a stand-alone Freshman Focus section of World Civilizations (Gen Ed 110), Human Development 101, or Theatre 160. The classes in this hall are appropriate for all majors.
  • Freshmen who choose Waller Hall, an all male hall, will be enrolled in a Freshman Focus section of World Civilizations (Gen Ed 110), Geology 101, or English 101.  These courses will be linked with Community and Wilmer Davis halls, which are all female halls.  Classes in this hall are appropriate for all majors.
  • Freshmen who choose Wilmer-Davis Hall, an all female hall, will be enrolled in a Freshman Focus section of World Civilizations (Gen Ed 110), Geology 101, or English 101.  These courses will be linked with Waller, an all male hall, and Community, an all female hall.  Classes in this hall are appropriate for all majors.

Academic Theme Living Options include:

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