The Humanities First-Year Learning Community (FLC, pronounced "flick") is where you can discover research and writing norms in the humanities, think about different approaches to research and learn strategies to navigate University of Toronto Libraries. You will also build meaningful relationships with instructors, upper-year students and alumni from the humanities.
Apply to the Humanities FLC
FLC applications are currently closed for the 2023-24 academic year. You can join a waitlist for the program by completing the following application form. Please note: You will only be contacted if a spot becomes available.
Eligibility
- First-year students in the Faculty of Arts & Science who have been admitted to the Humanities admission category on the St. George campus
- Students living off campus are encouraged to apply to the Humanities FLC
FLC Course Overview
By joining a FLC, you will have the opportunity to connect with a small group of students in regular FLC sessions and core first-year courses. Students in the Humanities FLC will meet at a welcome session during the first week of classes and then every other week starting September 18, 2023.
In addition to your FLC sessions, you will select two of the following Humanities courses on your FLC application:
- HIS101Y1-Y: Histories of Violence
- ENG140Y1-Y: Literature for our Time
- PHL100Y1-Y: Introduction to Philosophy
- RLG101H1-F: Reason and Religion in the Modern Age AND RLG107H1-S: "It's the End of the World as We Know It"
If accepted, you will be automatically enrolled in the two courses (and any accompanying tutorials) you selected along with other students in your FLC who selected the same courses.
During course enrolment, you will have the option to choose additional courses to complete your first-year course schedule. The courses you are pre-enrolled in with your FLC are the core courses that your FLC peers will be enrolled in. However, if you have a conflict between these core courses and any new courses that you will be adding to your schedule, you have the option to change your course section. Visit the New Student Guide for more information about course selection and enrolment.
For the Fall term, FLC participants will be pre-enrolled in the Humanities FLC (HUM099Y1-Y) plus two additional courses from the list below, which you will select on your FLC application form:
| Course Name | Course Code | Section | Day of Week | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Humanities FLC | HUM099Y1-Y | Lecture 0101/0102 | Monday | 2:30 pm – 4 pm |
| Histories of Violence | HIS101Y1-Y | Lecture 0101 | Tuesday, Thursday | 4 pm – 5 pm |
| Histories of Violence | HIS101Y1-Y | Tutorial 0201/0202 or 0801/0802 |
0201/0202: Tuesday 0801/0802: Thursday |
12 pm – 1 pm |
| Literature for our Time | ENG140Y1-Y | Lecture 0101 | Friday | 1 pm – 3 pm |
| Literature for our Time | ENG140Y1-Y | Tutorial 0101/0102/0103/0104 |
Friday | 11 am – 12 pm |
| Introduction to Philosophy | PHL100Y1-Y | Lecture 0101 | Tuesday, Thursday | 11 am – 12 pm |
| Introduction to Philosophy | PHL100Y1-Y | Tutorial 0101/0102 or 0801/0802 |
0101/0102: Monday |
1 pm – 2 pm |
| Reason and Religion in the Modern Age | RLG101H1-F (to be taken with RLG107H1-S) | Lecture 0101 | Monday | 11 am – 1 pm |
| Reason and Religion in the Modern Age | RLG101H1-F | Tutorial 0101/0102 or 0301/0302/0303 |
0101/0102: Monday 0301/0302/0303: Tuesday |
1 pm – 2 pm |
For the Winter term, FLC participants will be pre-enrolled in the Humanities FLC (HUM099Y1-Y) plus two additional courses from the list below, which you will select on your FLC application form:
| Course Name | Course Code | Section | Day of Week | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Humanities FLC | HUM099Y1-Y | Lecture 0101/0102 | Monday | 2:30 pm – 4 pm |
| Histories of Violence | HIS101Y1-Y | Lecture 0101 | Tuesday, Thursday | 4 pm – 5 pm |
| Histories of Violence | HIS101Y1-Y | Tutorial 0801/0802/0901/0902 | Thursday | 12 pm – 1 pm |
| Literature for our Time | ENG140Y1-Y | Lecture 0101 | Friday | 1 pm – 3 pm |
| Literature for our Time | ENG140Y1-Y | Tutorial 0101/0102/0103/0104 | Friday | 11 am – 12 pm |
| Introduction to Philosophy | PHL100Y1-Y | Lecture 0101 | Tuesday, Thursday | 11 am – 12 pm |
| Introduction to Philosophy | PHL100Y1-Y | Tutorial 0101/0102 or 0801/0802 |
0101/0102: Monday |
1 pm – 2 pm |
| "It's the End of the World as We Know It" | RLG107H1-S (to be taken with RLG101H1-F) | Lecture 0101 | Wednesday | 11 am – 1 pm |
| "It's the End of the World as We Know It" | RLG107H1-S | Tutorial 0101/0102 or 0301/0302/0303 |
0101/0102: Wednesday 0301/0302/0303: Thursday |
0101/0102: 1 pm – 2 pm 0301/0302/0303: 2 pm – 3 pm |
Your FLC Student Team
Kristina (she/her), Peer Mentor
Year: Five
Programs: Criminology & Sociolegal Studies (CrimSL), Critical Studies in Equity & Solidarity (CSES), Philosophy
College: University College
Hometown: San Francisco, California
Studies: I am studying CrimSL alongside my CSES and Philosophy minors because I want to fight oppression and the unethical practices that take place in the criminal justice system. Also, I am an advisor for the ACLU’s Youth Activism Research Collaborative and a court reporter in Ontario.
Why peer mentorship? I was in the Humanities FLC as a first-year student and it was a great experience for me! I learned so much and still apply the knowledge I gained from FLC in my current academic pursuits at U of T. It was also a great community to be in and I made awesome friends. I want to give others this same experience!
Advice to first-year students: Find a student organization that you can have fun with! You are here for your studies but allow yourself to enjoy and explore what your campus has to offer. This is a great way to make friends too!
Shirley (she/her), Peer Mentor
Year: Three
Programs: English, Philosophy, Book & Media Studies
College: Innis College
Hometown: Guangzhou, China; Vancouver, British Columbia
Studies: I am an English specialist minoring in Philosophy and Book & Media Studies. Besides (many) essays, I write poems, fan fiction and more. You may spot them in The Spec, Goose Journal or the U of T Creative Writing Club. I also volunteer for EmpowerART UofT (@empowart.uoft) to run painting workshops for seniors.
Why peer mentorship? FLC helped me immensely in my first year and I hope to give back to this unique community!
Advice to first-year students: Don't fear office hours! Even if you do not have burning questions, being present and keeping your ears open will help you get to know your prof and feel more comfortable participating in class.
Kaitlyn (she/her), Assistant Peer Mentor
Year: Two
Programs: Ethics, Society & Law, Religion, Political Science
College: Trinity College
Hometown: Toronto, Ontario
Studies: I am majoring in Ethics, Society & Law with double minors in Religion and Political Science. I was the first-year rep for U of T's My Networking Club and hope to (fingers-crossed) work as an office assistant during the summer. After graduating, I plan to pursue law as either a paralegal or law student.
Why peer mentorship? As a peer mentor, I hope to make first year a little less intimidating. I hope to share the helpful knowledge and tips I gained during my first year with others. I am also here to offer any advice or help, whether it is related to university or something completely random.
Advice to first-year students: Take advantage of all the various extracurriculars university has to offer. From the many clubs to events to jobs, you will surely find something for you; just don't be afraid to seek out these opportunities.
Your FLC Faculty & Staff Team
Angie Fazekas (they/them), Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream
About me: I am an Assistant Professor at the Women & Gender Studies Institute (WGSI), where I teach courses on queer studies and pop culture. I recently received my PhD from WGSI, and my dissertation focused on teenagers who read and write fanfiction as a way of figuring out their identities. Before that, I completed my undergraduate degree at U of T in Life Sciences and Anthropology and my Master of Arts at Queen’s University in Gender Studies. I’ve also spent time working at a fair-trade store and at a women’s shelter.
My research interests include fanfiction, pop culture, queer studies and critical race theory, and I’m currently writing an article about monsters in the Jurassic Park franchise. I’ve been teaching for approximately seven years, and I was a Teaching Assistant (TA) for several years before that. Outside of school, I also enjoy reading and writing fanfiction and all things pop culture. Some of my other hobbies include climbing, weightlifting and board games.
Why FLCs? My favourite part about teaching is the opportunity to connect with students. I really enjoyed working as a Faculty Advisor last year, because it gave me the opportunity to get to know students and offer advice and information to help them on their academic journeys. When I was an undergraduate student at U of T, I struggled to find community and figure out my path through academia, and I really enjoy being able to help students not have the same struggles I did. I always find I learn a lot from students as well.
Top tip for incoming students: Be open to new opportunities and unexpected directions. Sometimes, university can open the world for you and present you with opportunities you never even thought of. Being open to those and to taking a different path than the one you'd planned might lead you to new, exciting places.
Claire MacKenzie (she/her), Staff Advisor
About me: I am a Student Service Advisor at the Office of the Faculty Registrar. In 2013, I graduated from U of T with an HBA, double majoring in History and Criminology. During undergrad, I participated in two summer study abroad programs and an international exchange. In 2020, I graduated from OISE with an MEd. Outside of work, I love spending time with my horse Johnny and cat Bamm-Bamm.
Why FLCs? FLCs provide a great opportunity to support first-year students as they transition from high school to university. As a staff advisor, I can share the abundant resources available to students at U of T, such as Health & Wellness, Learning Strategists and the Career Centre. In addition, I can contribute to discussions on time management, program enrolment, maintaining academic integrity, etc. which are all important conversations that will help students succeed.
Top tip for incoming students: Maintaining a healthy school-life balance is important. There are many ways to get involved on campus to learn new skills, add to your resume, follow a passion and/or meet new people. For example, there are intramural sports, fitness classes, student clubs and the Work-Study Program for part-time employment opportunities.