First-Year Launch
Admitted Students

What really makes us happy—and how can we make it last? In these courses, we’ll dive into practical ways to boost joy and well-being, from gratitude and mindfulness to building strong relationships and finding purpose. Instead of just talking about happiness, we’ll practice it: weekly challenges, reflection activities, and real-life strategies you can use right away. Along the way, we’ll explore what research says about habits that help us thrive and why happiness looks different across cultures and communities.

FYL Course LAC Linked

This is an eight-week course where we spend each class exploring one of our local trails. We will meet once each week, where we'll talk about your trail to success as a college student, build community with like-minded, friendly students, and spend time exploring the beautiful landscape in our backyard. We will hike rain or shine. No previous hiking experience is required.

The two-credit Engineering First Year Launch (FYL) course is designed for incoming general engineering students. This course introduces students to engineering as a discipline, the engineering program at FLC, and the people, places, and practices that shape our departmental community. Through interactive presentations, hands-on mini-projects, department events, structured reflection, and engagement with campus resources, you will gain early exposure to engineering pathways while building the academic and social foundations needed to thrive at FLC.

Solutions for environmental problems are complex. In this interdisciplinary course, we will study climate, sustainable agriculture, water conservation, environmental justice, and more. Learn from outdoor activities, lively discussions, and informative lectures. This is the first course students interested in majoring in Environmental Science or Environmental Conservation & Management should take. And as a combination Liberal Arts Core/First-Year Launch course, this course also meets two core requirements for first year students.

FYL Course LAC Linked

This course uses pickleball as a fun, accessible way to build community, get active, and start strong in college. Through skill development, play, and reflection, you'll connect with your peers while exploring campus resources that support academic success, well-being, and belonging. No prior experience required—just a willingness to move, learn, and engage.

Theatre is immediate, alive, and inspiring! This course is a blend of experiential “on-your-feet” learning, plus lectures.  We’ll explore theatre histories, and experiment with acting, playwriting, designing, and directing. Through hands-on mini-projects, seeing live theatre, reflections, and engagement with campus resources, students will explore, grow, and be creative together. No previous theatre experience is necessary! 

Students are often surprised to learn that The Wall Street Journal is about much more than business news. It has a quirky, funny, feature story every day. It has fantastic investigative journalism and is often the first outlet to break a story about an outrage. Reading The Wall Street journal will make you more broadly knowledgeable, more interesting, and will make you better prepared for job interviews. Students will read assigned articles from The Wall Street Journal which will prepare them for class discussion.  This course is open only to Katz Honors students.

In Honors First Year Launch, we’ll build our Honors community, discuss practices to help you manage your time and engage in self-compassion. We’ll also learn more about what life is like at FLC and in Durango and learn bridging skills. Our course is focused on exploring place and creating community to care for others and for ourselves.

What if your college experience was something you could design, just like an event? In this hands-on course, you’ll learn the fundamentals of event planning while building real-world skills you can use throughout college. From idea to execution, you’ll explore how to plan, promote, and bring an experience to life. Through interactive activities, campus exploration, and group collaboration, you’ll: Discover your strengths and how they shape your role on a team; Learn the basics of planning, marketing, and logistics; Explore campus spaces, events, and opportunities; and Design your own event or experience as a final capstone. This course is active, creative, and collaborative. Perfect for students who want to get involved, meet people, and learn by doing.

Students will connect to their new home in Durango by learning about local history, traditions, and favorite spots. Activities may include trying local coffee, visiting a trail, attending community events, finding a favorite study spot, connecting with campus resources, and creating a personal Durango guide.  Build relationships with your peers and fall in love with our community.