Academic Program

A learning community is a group of students and faculty who are learning and teaching interactively. Stony Brook's Learning Communities Program provides a national model for building a small college community with all the assets of a large research university. Students with similar interests and goals take a cluster of courses together in groups of 30. A special LRN linking seminar uses its own intellectual content to integrate the courses and provide a relevant social context for them. The seminar uses collaborative research experiences and other activities to strengthen students' abilities in information processing, critical thinking, problem solving, teamwork, oral and written communication, self management, and self assessment that are sought by employers and are so essential for success in college and careers. The LRN seminar instructor serves as the students' academic advisor and guides them regarding their responsibilities, the requirements of discipline majors and professions, and the resources of the University.

Mission

• To facilitate the transition of students new to Stony Brook to the university culture by helping them become part of the University community, set goals and recognize what is needed to attain those goals, utilize the resources of the University, and understand the opportunities and requirements of discipline majors and careers.
• To cluster courses, which are taken by a group of students, with a linking seminar that examines issues connected with these courses in societal, historical, philosophical, or literary contexts, thereby enhancing the relevance of these courses and the value of the general education experience.
• To encourage the use of teaching strategies that foster the development of learning abilities in areas of information processing, critical thinking, problem solving, and teamwork, and associated abilities in oral and written communication, self management, and self assessment as well as mastery of discipline content.
• To support faculty in their collaborations to develop more effective modes of teaching, connect courses, help students develop life-long learning abilities, and provide students with collaborative research experiences.

What's Special About Stony Brook's Learning Communities Program?

In a Stony Brook learning community, you have the advantages of a small college environment within a nationally-ranked research university.

“You get to meet all the students in the community and you meet other students with the same interests you have easily and quickly.”

In a learning community you will find that studying together and having the company of friends will make your life and studies easier.

“Since we have exactly the same schedule, it is easy for us to study together and help one another. Plus, I have made great friends.”

“One of the strengths of the program is that we are able to work in little groups, do problems together, and if one person does not understand, we are able to help each other.”

The program is designed to give you greater insight in your course of study. Linking seminars show how the material is related to different disciplines and cultures, and world-wide social and economic issues.

“Linking all classes together allows us to apply ideas we learn to new things and situations. Overall this makes for better understanding of new topics.”

“The program tries to make sense of all the classes as a whole.”

“I think that it is helpful that all my classes have at least a little to do with each other. I understand it better when it comes from more than one person.”

“My teachers are in contact with each other so they know what we are doing and don't give a huge work load all at the same time.”

Since the classes are small, you get to know your teachers, they get to know you, and they can provide all the help and advice that you need.

“The biggest strength of the program is that the teachers make an attempt to help us be better students and better learners.”

“We are given all the attention we want.”

“The small classes help you learn better. You can have your questions answered directly.”

“Teachers help you understand your other classes.”

“I love that I have small classes.”