Each first-year seminar offers a nondepartmental alternative to disciplinary surveys or other introductory courses. Enrollment is limited to fifteen students, to ensure the active participation of all class members and to permit students and instructor to concentrate on developing the skills necessary for successful college writing.
The first-year seminars are limited-enrollment courses that may be taken only by first-year students. Topics vary from year to year, but they always represent a broad range of issues and questions addressed within the tradition of the liberal arts and sciences.
The first-year seminars enable entering students to work with faculty and other students in the context of a small class; they provide closely supervised training in techniques of reasoning, writing, and research; and they foster an attitude of active participation in the educational process.
First-year seminars carry full course credit toward the baccalaureate degree.
With few exceptions, a student's first-year seminar professor also acts as their faculty advisor until the student declares a major.
