First Year Foundations: The One Programs

First Year Foundations: The One Programs are optional combinations of courses, seminars and experiential learning opportunities specially designed to help first-year Arts, Science and Business students get off to a solid start at
U of T.

Like the Greater Toronto Area itself, the University is a collection of distinct and diverse communities. Start building your own core community from day one. Within dynamic small-group offerings, you will learn key critical thinking and writing skills, develop intellectual independence, expand your creative side and make a successful transition into university life.

One recent graduate took this route in her first year, and found it transformative. “I learned about ideas from disciplines as varied as anthropology, equity studies, philosophy, global health, and Classics, and from classmates whose political view ranged from Marxism to the Tea Party,” says Christine Farquharson. As an aspiring policy analyst, these perspectives helped her develop a nuanced worldview. She went on to complete a double major in Economics and European Studies with a Political Science minor.

While that One Program at Victoria College focused on social sciences, you can choose from a variety of these small-group programs offered at each U of T campus, at all seven St. George colleges and at the Munk School of Global Affairs. You can enroll in a One Program even if you aren’t a member of its college. Immerse yourself in the polemics of public policy in the Trinity One program, develop a creative and critical approach to the urban environment with Innis One, tackle real-world global problems at Munk One, or integrate your studies with community service at SMC One (all of these are at St. George). Conduct geological fieldwork or map your own genome sequence in the experiential-learning-focused UTSC One, or examine the role of creative expression in society at utmONE.

Take time to find the best fit for you.

Innis One: The Creative City

Drawing from the College’s three academic programs – Cinema Studies, Urban Studies, and Writing and Develop your creative and critical thinking skills by exploring your urban environment. Drawing from Cinema Studies, Urban Studies and Writing and Rhetoric, Innis One will challenge you to venture beyond the academy walls and engage in an imaginative, inquiry-based and civic-minded learning experience.

Who is eligible? Faculty of Arts & Science (St. George campus) newly admitted first-year, full-time students
How do I apply? Enrol during July course selection
Contact: programs.innis@utoronto.ca

New One: Learning Without Borders

Explore, question and deepen your understanding of aspects of your daily life – food, language, digital technology and science – that can easily be taken for granted. Together with your peers, professors and community leaders, you’ll participate in conversations about what it means to be a responsible global citizen in the 21st century.

SMC One: McLuhan and Gilson Seminars

St. Michael’s College offers first-year students the chance to join one of two exclusive seminars:

SMC One: The McLuhan Seminar in Creativity and Technology: Inspired by Marshall McLuhan’s innovative thinking, this seminar explores the relationship between creativity and technology and includes creative classroom experiences designed around innovative technology.

SMC One: The Gilson Seminar in Faith and Ideas: Explore the intersection of faith with today’s most important questions. The Gilson Seminar consists of two half-courses and includes an international learning experience in Rome.

UC One: Engaging Toronto

Engage with Toronto and its diverse communities by exploring concepts like citizenship and belonging; the connection between performing arts, urban spaces and cultural diversity; access to health care; and the city’s sexual politics. This program will not only prepare you for academic success, but also teach you to apply learning to the world around you.

Trinity One

Since 2005 The Margaret MacMillan Trinity One program has been a destination for students looking to Trinity One students choose from one of six academic streams where they’ll explore major issues and ideas pertaining to human life and world affairs. You’ll benefit from academically rigorous courses and connections to a number of undergraduate programs, providing an excellent foundation for the rest of your undergraduate career.

Who is eligible? Faculty of Arts & Science (St. George campus) newly admitted first-year, full-time students. Biomedical Health is limited to science students. All others are open to any entering student.
How do I apply? Apply online
Contact: trinityone@trinity.utoronto.ca

Vic One

Featuring weekly guest lectures with professors, visiting artists, writers and other public figures, Vic One has eight academic streams to choose from, each offering a unique, interdisciplinary perspective and designed to help you build your critical thinking, research and writing skills.

Who is eligible? Faculty of Arts & Science (St. George campus) applicants
How do I apply? Apply online

Woodsworth One

Woodsworth One offers two streams: Order and Disorder, which looks at issues pertaining to law, crime, war and justice; and Popular Culture Today, which examines the products of the entertainment industry and the behaviours associated with their consumption. Both streams include workshops, filed trips, films and guest lectures.

Munk One: Global Innovation

In Munk One, you’ll work closely with your peers, professors and experts to create innovative solutions to real-life global issues.

Who is eligible? Faculty of Arts & Science (St. George campus) newly admitted first-year, full-time students
How do I apply? Apply online
Contact: munk.one@utoronto.ca

UTSC One

www.utsc.utoronto.ca/admissions/utscone

The first year experience at UTSC offers options for small seminars, fieldwork and engaging workshops to provide you with hands-on educational opportunities. You will have access to a multitude of resources to support your transition to university and your future success.

How many credits? 0.5 credit for each academic course; other options not for credit

How is the program structured? Small seminars, travel, fieldwork, co- and extra-curricular activities

Who is eligible? Students registered at UTSC entering first year

How do I apply? Online enrolment through ACORN for academic courses

utmONE: First-Year Transition Courses

http://uoft.me/utmone-courses

Develop foundational learning strategies, and sharpen your academic skills while engaging and reflecting on themes related to becoming a successful, well-rounded student. utmONE first-year transition courses are interdisciplinary and small in size giving you the opportunity to connect with classmates from all disciplines and to develop meaningful connections with your instructors. All utmONE course sections are designed to provide you with the transferrable skills you need for a successful university career. utmONE courses are open to all first-year students.

How many credits? 0.5 credit

How is the program structured? utmONE courses consist of weekly class sessions and small tutorial sections (maximum 28 students)

Who is eligible? Students registered at UTM entering first year

How do I apply? Online enrolment through ACORN for academic courses.

The Institute for the Study of University Pedagogy also offers utmONE Scholars seminars to incoming first-year students who have received an entrance scholarship and have an incoming CGPA of 90% or above. Entrance to the utmONE Scholars seminars are application-based and by invitation. More information can be found at https://uoft.me/utmone-scholars

Academics