What are TLCs?

TLC is short for Themed Learning Community, which enrolls a cohort of students in a small, personal "learning community" by linking general education or other undergraduate courses around a common theme or area of interest. View TLC course information. Typically, a TLC consists of two or three courses taken in conjunction with each other, which examine a common theme in disciplines within and across the humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences. Faculty members create integrated assignments which in students will draw information across their TLC class to enhance their learning.

Because students are co-enrolled in the TLC courses with students of similar interests, they all will have a chance to get to know fellow TLC participants more readily than in isolated classes. As a member of a TLC, each student is an active participant in a constant and stable group of peers taking classes together, so each member has greater intellectual interaction and more opportunity for collaborative learning. A TLC provides a wonderful opportunity to form study groups with students in a learning community who share common interests; and it is a great way to make friends.

Why should students consider enrolling in a TLC?

There are some compelling personal and academic reasons for doing so. Studies repeatedly have shown that participation in focused learning communities throughout the freshman and undergraduate years broadens students' college experience and contributes significantly to their success. By linking courses to a central theme or area of interest, a TLC integrates ideas across disciplinary boundaries and allows students to explore different intellectual perspectives, while synthesizing their own. At the same time, a TLC fulfills key university requirements.

What are the requirements to enroll in a TLC?

Registration for a TLC is not difficult at all. Students simply register all the course associated with the TLC they are interested in. Remember, TLC courses are for freshmen only. You MUST have all TLC courses in your “shopping cart” before proceeding to “Finish Enrolling” or you will receive an error message.

1. Sign into MyNIU.
2. Click Self Service.
3. Click Enrollment.
4. Click Enrollment: Add Classes and select Fall 2011.
5. Enter the Class Number of one of the TLC courses in the box provided and hit Enter. You can find Class Numbers for all the TLCs here. Select the TLC you are interested in to find the Class Numbers you will need to register.
6. Click Next.
7. Repeat steps 5 & 6 to add all of the courses associated with the TLC.
8. Once all the TLC courses are in your Fall 2011 Shopping Cart, click Proceed to Step 2 of 3.
9. Click Finish Enrolling.

If you receive an error message, please check that you have selected the TLC section of the course and check that you meet the requirements of the TLC (three TLCs are for selected majors only).

We encourage you to check out the TLCs to see if one is for you. We will continue to support TLCs as they foster greater intellectual interaction among students and faculty, while also enhancing academic and social relations among students themselves. This means an enriched learning environment and a broader educational experience for everyone.

For more information, please contact the Office of Student Engagement and Experiential Learning at engage@niu.edu or 815-753-8154.