Project X: The Project for Learning Excellence: A First-Year, Non-Credit Bearing, Department-Based, Co-Curricular Course for Students in Social Sciences

The purpose of this article was to describe a first-year, non-credit bearing, department-based, co-curricular course tailored for first-year university students in psychology, social work, and sociology. The program was designed based on previous research in first-year education (where we identified four propositions) and experience of faculty members on the needs of new students. The program not only helped new students make better transition from high school to university through teaching them academic and lifelong learning skills but also made them aware of the importance of real-world exploration, so that they were primed to become active community contributors as local citizens and job candidates in their near future.