First Year at Texas State

We want you to be successful in college and graduate on time so you can get to work achieving your goals. First-year programming at Texas State is key to your academic success.

PACE

PACE, Personalized Academic and Career Exploration, will change the way you approach your college education. Through hands-on academic and career counseling, you will learn to assess your future career opportunities in relation to your personal interests, abilities, and values.

PACE will also help you connect with mentors, activities and service opportunities through the efforts of the PACE mentoring coordinator. You will know the classes you need to take, and understand the activities and organizations you need to pursue.

Two students work with PACE center resources
photo of the common reading book, "This Book Will Make You Kinder"

Common Experience

Texas State University presents an academic theme each year with related events for everyone. During the fall and spring semesters, there are often more than 150 total events, including film screenings, philosophy dialogues, panel discussions, theatrical performances, and symposia/conferences.

As part of the Common Experience, we provide all incoming first-year students with a powerful Common Reading book related to the year's theme. Students discuss the book and explore the theme in University Seminar classes and other courses — encouraging multiple, sustained conversations around the topic.

Past speakers include:

Robert Rodriguez

Robert Rodriguez

Film director, screenwriter and producer

Seoledad O'Brien

Soledad O'Brien

Award-winning journalist and CNN anchor

Erin Brockovich-Ellis

Erin Brockovich-Ellis

Environmental activist

Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou

Poet, author and activist

University Seminar

University Seminar is a course designed to help meet the transitional needs of new students. The course helps develop strategies for success during your time at Texas State. Course content includes class discussion, student participation, and involvement in the university community. Students will get the opportunity to hear from various university departments, listen to exciting and diverse speakers, and attend events on campus — all as part of the course.