Information for New Students

Faculty of Science FIGs


These First-Year Interest Groups (FIGs) are open to any new student in the Faculty of Science who is entering as a first-year undeclared BSc student.

In these FIGs, you’ll meet other first-year students with similar interests, and you’ll have the opportunity to explore those interests, and future academic and career options, with senior peers and with experts—all in a small group setting.

Fall 2022 FIGS options for Science students:

FIGS 0001: Psychology and Human Behaviour

Overview: Psychology & Human Behaviour is a group for first year science students with interests in psychology, the brain, human behaviour and mental health. 

Restricted to Faculty of Science students (Undeclared Science, Integrated Science, Medical Science, King’s Foundation Year) who have fewer than 16 credit hours.

FIGS 0002: Neuroscience of the Brain

Overview: Neuroscience and the Brain is a group for first year science students who are coming to Dal to learn about how the brain works and why that matters.

Restricted to Faculty of Science students (Undeclared Science, Integrated Science, Medical Science, King’s Foundation Year) who have fewer than 16 credit hours.

FIGS 0003: Health and Medicine

Overview: Health & Medicine is a group for first year science students who are coming to Dal to learn about human biology, physiology and/or disease and are interested in pursuing a career in medicine, medical research or another health profession.

Restricted to Faculty of Science students (Undeclared Science, Integrated Science, Medical Science, King’s Foundation Year) who have fewer than 16 credit hours.

FIGS 0004: Oceans

Overview: Oceans is a group for first year science students who are coming to Dal to learn more about oceans and ocean life, including marine conservation, climate change, ocean research, and the living organisms found in ocean environments.

Restricted to Faculty of Science students (Undeclared Science, Integrated Science, Medical Science, King’s Foundation Year) who have fewer than 16 credit hours.

FIGS 0005: Earth and Environment

Overview: You are coming to Dal with an interest in the natural world. You may want to focus your studies on how our world came to be as it is today – continental drift, mountain building, ice ages, river migration, paleobiology, or you may be most interested in how we as humans are changing that world – our impacts on climate, land, water and ecosystems. 

Restricted to UNDS or BSc (College of Sustainability) students with fewer than 16 credit hours.

FIGS 0008: Logic and Problem Solving

Overview: Logic & Problem Solving is a group for first year students with an interest in mathematics, statistics or related areas of study such as economics or physics. 

Restricted to Faculty of Science (Undeclared Science, Integrated Science, Medical Science, King’s Foundation Year) or Computer Science students who have fewer than 16 credit hours.

FIGS 0201: BSc Truro Start I

Overview: This is a not-for-credit course for first year students starting their BSc program on the Truro campus. The class meets weekly throughout the winter semester. You will learn about future academic opportunities available in a BSc program, including research, honours, and co-op. 

Restricted to Faculty of Science students who have fewer than 30 credit hours and are starting their BSc program on the Truro campus.

 


Winter 2023 FIGS options for Science students:

FIGS 0007: Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Science

Overview: Innovation and Entrepreneurship is a group for first year students with an interest in how design thinking and innovation can lead to science or technology-based solutions for real world problems.

Restricted to Faculty of Science students (Undeclared Science, Integrated Science, Medical Science, King’s Foundation Year) who have fewer than 16 credit hours.

FIGS 0009: Navigate your Science Degree

Overview: Each synchronous session begins with a short lecture that is focused on themes such as: exploring career paths, building an academic plan, incorporating professional skill development, finding relevant volunteer opportunities to explore career interests, and resume development. Grounded by the theme explored in the lecture, students will then break into small groups for discussion and hands-on activities. Each small group will work through the weekly theme through small group discussions and other active learning activities.

Restricted to Faculty of Science students (Undeclared Science, Integrated Science, Medical Science, King’s Foundation Year) who have fewer than 30 credit hours.

FIGS 0010: Indigenous Ways of Knowing

Overview: This is a group for first year students who want to know more about the intersection between Science and Indigenous ways of knowing, as both a learner and participant.

Restricted to Faculty of Science students (Undeclared Science, Integrated Science, Medical Science, King’s Foundation Year) who have fewer than 16 credit hours.

FIGS 0021: Toolkit Diverse STEM Students

Overview: Our goal is to affirm and support historically excluded and underrepresented students in STEM. If you have the passion for science but you are bewildered by the many unwritten rules of science, we can help! For first year students in the Faculty of Science.

Restrictions: BSc or BSc (Medical Sciences) students with fewer than 30 credit hours.

FIGS 0202: BSc Truro Start II

Overview: This is a not-for-credit course for first year students starting their BSc program on the Truro campus. The class meets weekly throughout the winter semester. You will learn about future academic opportunities available in a BSc program, including research, honours, and co-op. 

Restricted to Faculty of Science students who have fewer than 30 credit hours and are starting their BSc program on the Truro campus.

 


FIG registration

You sign up for a FIG when you register for your courses! You must first register for the appropriate co-requisite course or courses that are connected to the FIG you're interested in. Make sure the FIG time slot doesn't conflict with any of your other courses.