Learning Communities

A learning community (LC) is a group of students who share a common experience around their academics and/or their residential environment. Students and faculty involved in learning communities share common interests and build relationships in and outside the classroom through out of class excursions, social events and unique programs related to their field of study.

All learning communities are designed to:

  • Ensure academic success
  • Foster friendships and connections
  • Introduce the abundance of resources at Rutgers
  • Link students, faculty and staff


Connections in learning communities are established through co-enrollment in common courses, allowing you to see friendly faces in those large introductory classes. In addition, some learning communities provide exclusive course offerings for students. Below is a listing of Learning Communities offered within our residence halls; if you want to find out more about a particular community or not sure which learning community to consider, complete the Learning Community Interest Form.

 

Achievement in Math and Science (AIMS) Learning Communities

(For SAS and SEBS first-year students only)

The AIMS Program is a unique Rutgers University, SAS/SEBS Living-Learning Community at Metzger Hall on the Busch and Perry Hall on the Cook campus. Small, select groups of first-year students enjoy the benefits of sharing common residential and academic experiences while making new friends, exploring common interests and being a part of a close community of peers. The AIMS program creates purposeful links among the academic, residential, and social elements of the undergraduate experience during the first year.

For additional information, click here.

 

Bunting-Cobb Math, Science, and Engineering Hall for Women

Located on the Douglass Campus, Bunting Cobb is the first residence hall in the country designated for women interested science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Graduate mentors, women who are enrolled in a STEM graduate program, reside in the hall, serving as mentors to the undergraduate residents. There is also a PAL (Peer Academic Leader) in residence to assist first year students with their transition to college. Recognizing the challenges and academic rigor of a STEM major, the hall offers a supportive community for women pursuing these areas of study. Programming centers around peer study groups, career programs, internship resources, and skill enhancement sessions. The residents also have access to a resource library, networked computer room, and in-house tutoring.

All Rutgers University women pursuing a major in science, technology, engineering or math are eligible to apply. To learn more about the communities and to complete an application, click here.


For questions related to Bunting-Cobb, please contact the Douglass Project at 732-932.9197, ext. 10 or dougproj@echo.rutgers.edu. 

 

Discovery House Living-Learning Communities

Discovery Houses are unique Rutgers University, Living-Learning Communities at the Livingston campus. Small, select groups of first-year students enjoy the benefits of sharing common residential and academic experiences while making new friends, exploring common interests and being a part of a close community of peers. Discovery Houses create purposeful links among the academic, residential, and social elements of the undergraduate experience during your first year.

Discovery Houses are available in four interest areas: Business, Heath & Medicine, Law & Leadership and Psychology. Students considering studies in these areas will benefit from living in Quad 2 on the Livingston campus and taking a cluster of three shared courses with the same cohort of peers. If you want to be a part of a unique community while gaining insight into one of the four interest areas, living in a Discovery House may be for you!

To learn more about the communities and to complete an application, click here.

 

Engineering Living-Learning Community

Located in Barr Hall on the Busch Campus, the School of Engineering sponsors the Engineering Living-Learning Community that incorporates activities including social events, presentations of interest to prospective engineers regarding academic major choices, career preparation, undergraduate research and cooperative education arrangements, international study opportunities, and other valuable extensions to the normal curriculum. This environment offers increased out of classroom faculty interaction and in hall tutoring opportunities.

 

French Language & Culture Language Living-Learning Community

Located in Frelinghuysen Hall on the College Avenue Campus, students in this community range from first-year students through seniors, who are interested in developing their knowledge of French language and culture. It is open to all Rutgers students with a strong interest in French who have completed one year of college French or the attainment of the equivalent level on the placement exam. Students are required to participate in the 1.5 credit French Cultural Experience course taught in residence every semester in the community. Activities are offered that take place in and outside the residence creating extensive opportunities for immersion in the French language, an experience that helps to prepare students for further study abroad.

To learn more about the community and to request an application, click here.

 

German Language & Culture Living-Learning Community

Located on the first and second floor of Frelinghuysen Hall a residence hall on the College Avenue Campus, students in this community are immersed in German language and culture, while living with peers, ranging from first year students through seniors. This community is open to all Rutgers students. Students are required to take the 1.5 credit course Contemporary German Media and Society taught in residence every semester in the community. The prerequisite for the course includes successful completion of German 102 or German 122, or placement exam. The community offers numerous events and activities that introduce students to contemporary German culture.

To learn more about the community and to request an application, click here.

 

Global Village Living-Learning Communities for Women

The Global Village is for Rutgers University women who want to live in a community with others who, regardless of major or career focus, share similar interests in self-development in areas such as foreign language proficiency, gaining inter-cultural appreciation, achieving global awareness, applying burgeoning leadership skills and/or making a difference locally and globally. Students living in the Global Village develop close relationships with faculty, institutes and centers affiliated with the house topic. Located in Jameson Residence Hall, this unique residential environment combines curricular and co-curricular activities designed to enhance each student's overall college experience and provide her with the knowledge and skills necessary for effective global citizenship and leadership. This goal is achieved by combining academic course work, village-wide programming and group or individual study abroad opportunities for which special funding is available.

A graduate fellow, who teaches the house course, and a Peer Academic Leader live in residence. There are currently eight Global Village houses: French Language House, Spanish Language House, Africana House, East Asian House, Human Rights House, Leadership House, Middle-East Coexistence House, Women & Business Entrepreneurship House and the Women & Creativity House.

All Rutgers University women are eligible to apply. To learn more about the Global Village and to apply click here.

 

Livingston Social Justice Living-Learning Community

This community is a great opportunity to meet other students, faculty, and staff that are looking to make a change in the world and find solutions to societal inequalities. As a member of this community you will be connected to fellow students who share your social justice interests, build a close community, and forge friendships. If you are a student living on campus, you will get the added benefit of living in Quad II on the vibrant Livingston campus. You will acquire a greater understanding of social justice movements, contemporary issues, and career options under the mentorship of distinguished faculty and staff.

For more information and to complete an application, click here.

 

Rosalind Franklin House

Rosalind Franklin House is a unique living and learning community for first and second year female students who plan to pursue majors in science, technology, engineering or mathematics. Rosalind Franklin house is located in Winkler Hall on the Busch Campus.

Rosalind Franklin House provides its residents with unique opportunities to meet graduate students and faculty in informal settings, learn about majors and careers in the sciences, share a residential community with undergraduate peer mentors, develop friendships with other women interested in science, and have the convenience of academic support services in residence. All female Rutgers-New Brunswick residential students considering majors in math or the sciences are welcome to apply.

For more information and to complete an application, click here.

 

RU-tv Broadcast Communications Living-Learning Community

The RU-tv Broadcast Communications Living-Learning Community offers special benefits to its student residents who want to learn about broadcast communications and video production. Located in Winkler Hall on Busch campus, this community provides the opportunity to work and learn in the field while living with students who share common interests. These residents have use of an in-hall professional television studio!

In the fall semester, students will be co-enrolled in Introduction to Media Systems and Processes, offered through the School of Communication and Information (SC&I), during their first year of residence on the floor. This course focuses on the historical development of mass media institutions and the role of media in society. In the spring, students will be co-enrolled in a uniquely designed course that focuses on analyzing programming, regulation, changes to technology and exercises in script writing


All Rutgers University-New Brunswick students are welcome to apply. For more information and to complete an application, click here.

 

WeatherWatcher Living-Learning Community

If you are interested in weather and video production, this is the community for you! This program offers you the opportunity to live and work with a group of students to produce daily weather forecasts and longer science journalism shows for the university's television network.

You will even have use of an in-hall professional television studio! Students are required to participate in a 1.5 credit course, focusing on media messages and scientific aspects of weather reporting, for both fall and spring semesters during their first year of residence on the floor. Participants will also enroll in the 3-credit Elements of Meteorology course.

All Rutgers University-New Brunswick students are welcome to apply. For more information and to complete an application, click here.

 

Douglass Women in Engineering Living-Learning Community

The Douglass Women in Engineering Living-Learning Community, located in Barr Residence Hall on the Busch Campus, provides a supportive community for first-year women studying engineering. Through this exciting community, you will live on a floor with other first-year women in the engineering residence hall while participating in special programs just for you. You will have the opportunity to live, learn, and connect to an active academic and social network of students designed to ease the transition to Rutgers. You will also develop a personal and professional network through a special section of the Engineering Orientation course that will offer hands-on learning and faculty mentoring available only to women in this community. If that’s not enough, individualized tutoring and study groups will help you through the rigorous first-year math and science classes.

If you choose to live in the Douglass Women in Engineering Living-Learning Community, you will also be a member of Douglass Residential College, the women's residential college of Rutgers New Brunswick. For more information on Douglass Residential College, visit http://douglass.rutgers.edu.

For questions related to the Douglass Women in Engineering Living-Learning Community, please contact Laura Stiltz at 732-932-9197 ext. 19 or lstiltz@echo.rutgers.edu. For additional information on the community, visit http://douglass.rutgers.edu/content/women-in-engineering-living-learning-community

 

Science Success Fast Track (SSFT)

(SAS Transfers Only * Residential and Non-Residential)

Science Success Fast Track program is a learning community for incoming transfer students considering studies in science, technology, engineering or math (STEM) related major. Students in this program will enjoy the benefits of co-enrolling in the required School of Arts and Sciences (SAS) Students in Transition Seminar with other STEM transfer students, special programming, STEM focused academic coaching and a peer mentoring program.

Incoming transfers planning to live on campus should apply to the Living-Learning community. Commuting and DRC students can apply to the Non-Residential program
For application consideration, you must attend a STAR day (advising day) by end of July. Online application and phone interview required.

For more information, please visit http://rulc.rutgers.edu/content/science-success-fast-track