Freshman & Sophomore Seminars

What are Freshman/Sophomore Seminars, and should I take one?

• The College Advisers strongly recommend the Freshman & Sophomore Seminars as a wonderful academic opportunity available for new students. Here's why:
  
  
  1. Seminar topics vary widely in order to appeal to many interests.
     
  2. Seminars are different from the standard lecture/discussion/laboratory class structure in that they are smaller classes taught directly by professors, offering students an opportunity to get to know the professors.
     
  3. Seminars often provide needed variety and balance in a busy first or second term schedule.
     
  4. One seminar per term is generally enough. You should select it to compliment your other regular courses, which should address your two main freshmen priorities: completion of Subject A/Reading & Composition and preparing for a major.
     
     
• The Freshman & Sophomore Seminars may help you decide if you want to pursue a certain Entry Level Writing area in greater depth. Seminars, however, usually do not count as prerequisites for entry into an academic major. For this reason, you do not want build your schedule around seminars.
  
  
• You should note that seminars come in various unit-values, which reflect the work required for each.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q - Can a seminar complete one of the seven breadth requirements?

A - Some seminars, if at least 2 units in value, can count towards the Seven Course L&S Breadth requirements. One-unit seminars cannot count towards breadth.

Study Abroad

Undergraduate Research