First-Year Studies (FRST) Program

First-Year Studies (FRST) is a program within the William T. Daly School of General Studies that provides first-year students with skills to help them succeed in college. The program supports students in their transition to college by offering small class sections taught by specialized faculty committed to helping students improve their academic skills.

The curriculum includes courses in critical thinking, writing, and mathematics especially suited to the academic needs of First-Year students, including students with anxiety in math and writing.

FRST Program Logo

For questions concerning First-Year Writing, Math, or Critical Thinking classes, please contact:

Emily Ryan

Program Chair of First-Year Studies

Emily.Ryan@stockton.edu

Image of Emily Ryan

The First-Year Studies curriculum includes courses associated with the University’s competency requirement as well as other courses in writing and mathematics especially suited to the academic needs of First-Year students. Nearly all First-Year students will take FRST courses in writing, mathematics and/or critical thinking. In addition, any First-Year students may take F-designated courses. F-designated courses are program and General Studies courses which are particularly appropriate for First-Year students. Faculty teaching F-designated courses opted into special training to teach these courses in ways that are appropriate for any student but that also especially support students transitioning into college.

Always Check DegreeWorks!

First-year students have an area (block) on their Degree Works evaluation— “First Year Studies” – that keeps track of these requirements. Always check there and for any notes!!!

Competency Requirement (Math, Writing, Critical Thinking/Reading)

All newly admitted undergraduate students must demonstrate competency in math, writing, and critical thinking/reading. Competency in each category may be met by one of the following:

Prior College Credit (16+ credits)

Students who transfer 16 or more college credits completed before their first matriculated semester satisfy all three competencies.
Prior College Credit (individual courses)

Alternatively, a transferred 100-level or higher course may satisfy the corresponding area(s):
Math (Q1)
Writing (W1)
Critical Thinking/Reading
AP Exam Scores

Students who earn qualifying scores on AP Exams are eligible to apply transfer credits to meet individual Math (Q1) and Writing (W1) competencies or the 16+ college transfer credit threshold.
Placement

Earning qualifying placement scores for the relevant category (per current University placement standards).

Click here to review placement criteria and scoring
Successful Completion of FRST Courses

Students without earned college credit eligible for transfer or qualifying placement scores will satisfy First-Year competency requirements by registering for FRST courses. The sequence of FRST courses are determined by placement scores.

FRST Courses:
FRST 1102: Mathematical Thinking and/or FRST 1103: Quantitative Reasoning (math)

FRST 1101: College Writing (writing)

FRST 1002: Critical Thinking and Reading

Students who need to satisfy the competency requirement by taking one or more of these classes are required to enroll in them in their first matriculated semester. If students are required to take FRST 1102, they must take that in their first semester and FRST 1103 in the following semester. They need to pass the classes with a C or better within two attempts, including withdrawals.

If a student does not pass one of these classes with a C or better, they are required to repeat the class the next semester. Failure to pass each class with a C or better within two attempts will result in dismissal from the University.

FACULTY

Daniel Al-Daqa (2022)

Teaching Specialist in Writing & First-Year Studies

MFA, West Virginia University

Harman Aryal (2022)

Assistant Professor of Mathematics & First-Year Studies

Ph.D., Ohio University; MS, Syracuse University; Ed.M., Tribhunan University

Robert J. Blaskiewicz (2015)

Associate Professor of Critical Thinking & First-Year Studies

Ph.D., Saint Louis University; MA, Saint Louis University; BA, University of Notre Dame: rhetoric and composition, 20th century American literature, Cold War literature and culture, WWII veterans’ writing, US cultural rhetoric, the rhetoric of extraordinary claims, conspiracy theory, science and critical thinking advocacy.

Joseph Cirio (2018)

Associate Professor of Writing & First-Year Studies

Ph.D., Florida State University; MA, Florida State University

Emari DiGiorgio (2006)

Professor of Writing

MFA, New York University; BA, ΢��è: creative writing (poetry and fiction), contemporary world poetry, why poetry matters, composition, women’s studies, social activism.

Lauren M. Fonseca (2015)

Tutoring Center Specialist/Coordinator of Academic Support

MS, ΢��è; MA, Mercy College; BA, ΢��è: working with students in special populations, first-year writing, fairy tales, hypertext.

Alysia Goyer (2023)

Assistant Professor of Mathematics & First-Year Studies

Ph.D., University of Nevada; Ed.M., University of California, Santa Cruz

Geoffrey W. Gust (2014)

Associate Professor of Critical Thinking & First-Year Studies

Ph.D., University of York; MA, Arizona State University; BA, Drake University: Geoffrey Chaucer and contemporaries, medieval studies, premodern history, literary theory, critical thinking.

Jimmy Hamill (2023)

Assistant Professor of Writing & First-Year Studies

Ph.D., Lehigh University; MA, Lehigh University

Eddie Horan (2017)

Writing Center Coordinator

MA, ΢��è

Aleksondra Hultquist (2017)

Associate Professor of Critical thinking & First-Year Studies

Ph.D. University of Illinois, Urbana -Champaign; MA, San Franciso State University; BFA, Rutgers University: First Year Writing and Reading: Affect Theory and History of Emotion; Restoration and Eighteenth-Century Literature and Culture; Women Writers; Adaptation Theory

Mariam Hussein (2018)

Teaching Specialist in Mathematics & First-Year Studies

MS, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Marcy R. Isabella (2015)

Associate Professor of Writing & First-Year Studies

Ph.D., University of Rhode Island; MA, BA, State University of New York at Albany: critical pedagogy, writing center pedagogy, writing program assessment, zines, comics, anarchist praxis and poetics.

Lauren Mamolite (2023, 2025)

Teaching Specialist in Writing & First-Year Studies

Ph.D., University of Miami; MA, Rutgers University

Heather McGovern (2002)

Professor of Writing

Ph.D., Texas Tech University; MA, Clemson University; BA, College of Idaho: technical and professional writing, assessment of student learning, environmental rhetoric, composition theory, online writing, document design, rhetoric, rhetoric of science.

Betsy McShea (2001)

Associate Professor of Mathematics & First-Year Studies

Ph.D., American University; BS, University of Hartford: algebraic problem solving, quantitative reasoning, methods of teaching elementary mathematics, elementary school math, numbers and patterns, sports and math, politics and math.

Willmaria Miranda (2023)

Tutoring Center Specialist

Ph.D., George Mason University (in progress); MA, Kean University

Francis Nzuki (2008)

Associate Professor of Mathematics & First-Year Studies

Ph.D., MS, Syracuse University; MS, BS, Nairobi University: algebraic problem solving, quantitative reasoning, elementary school math, college algebra.

John O’Hara (2013)

Professor of Critical Thinking & First-Year Studies

Ph.D., University of Miami; MA, University of Miami; BA., Kent State University; American literature, American studies, gender studies, writing, critical and interpretive theory.

Luis E. Peña (2004)

Math Center Coordinator

MS, University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign; BS, ΢��è: mathematics, quantitative reasoning, tutor training, aerospace engineering, space science, history and policy.

Nancy Reddy (2015)

Associate Professor of Writing & First-Year Studies

Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison; MFA, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Ed.M., University of Houston; BA, University of Pittsburgh: writing pedagogy, extracurricular literacies and writing groups, archival research, creative writing (poetry and nonfiction).

Margarita Rivera-Santiago (2022)

Teaching Specialist in Critical Thinking & First-Year Studies

Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University; MA, University of Puerto Rico

Emily Ryan (2018)

Chair of First-Year Studies, and Tenured Instructor of Mathematics & First-Year Studies

Ed.M., Rutgers University

Christopher Roman (2025)

Assistant Professor of Mathematics & First-Year Studies

Ph.D., Portland State University; MS, Emporia State University; Ed.M. Rutgers University

Thierry Saintine (2018)

Associate Professor of Mathematics & First-Year Studies

Ph.D., Temple University; MFA, City College of NY (CUNY); MA, City College of NY (CUNY)

Siobahn Suppa (2018)

Associate Professor of Mathematics & First-Year Studies

Ph.D., University of Delaware; MS, University of Delaware

Emily Van Duyne (2014)

Associate Professor of Writing & First-Year Studies

MFA, Pine Manor College; BFA, Emerson College: composition, first-year studies, critical race and feminist theory, poetry and poetics, rhetoric of social media.

Lisa Youngblood (2018)

Assistant Professor Writing & First-Year Studies

J.D., Widener University School of Law

ASSOCIATED FACULTY

Pamela G. Kennedy Cross (1986)

(Retired) Writing Center Coordinator/Developmental Education Specialist

MA, Georgetown University; BA, ΢��è: tutor training, teaching first-year students, working with at-risk students, developing students’ information literacy skills, writing for the workplace, understanding learning differences.

Anne F. Pomeroy (1999)

Professor Emerita of Philosophy - In Memoriam

Ph.D., Fordham University; M.A., Columbia University; B.A., Connecticut College: social and political philosophy, Marxism, existentialism, process philosophy.

John M. Quinn (1990)

Associate Professor of Education

Ed.D., Pepperdine University; M.A., Rowan University; B.S., ΢��è: mathematics, curriculum development, mathematics education, technology in education.

PROFESSORS EMERITI

Frank A. Cerreto (1976)

Professor Emeritus of Mathematics

Ed.D., Rutgers, The State University; MS, Stevens Institute of Technology; BS, MA, City College, The City University of New York: general education mathematics, mathematics education, curriculum development, first-year studies, technology in education, visual literacy.

Young Doo (Peter) Cho (2013)

Associate Professor Emeritus of Mathematics & First-Year Studies

Ph.D., MA, State University of New York at Buffalo; MS, Molloy College; BE, Korea University: mathematics education, function’s domain, range and slope.

Jack Connor (1984)

Professor Emeritus of Writing

Ph.D., University of Florida; M.A., Seton Hall University; B.A., Franklin and Marshall College: composition, writing about nature, natural history, ornithology, the Pine Barrens.

Judith Copeland (2005)

Associate Professor Emerita of Writing

J.D., University of Oregon; MFA, University of Iowa; BA, Duke University: creative nonfiction, memoir, travel writing, humor writing, spiritual writing, freshman seminars.

Penelope A. Dugan (1976)

Professor Emerita of Writing

D.A., State University of New York at Albany; M.A., State University of New York at Binghamton; B.A., LeMoyne College: personal essay, memoir, African-American literature, autobiography, composition theory, history of rhetoric.

Carra Leah Hood (2005)

Associate Professor Emerita of Writing

Ph.D., MA, Yale University; BA, Hunter College, The City University of New York: expository writing and research, digital composing, visual rhetoric, new and traditional media.

G. T. Lenard (1984)

Emerita Professor of Writing

Ph.D., Temple University; MA, BA, Rutgers, The State University: American studies, 18th century literature, composition, popular culture.

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Multicultural Center

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