Freshman Seminars
For Students
The Freshman Seminar Program offers first-year students the opportunity to work in a small-group setting with a professor on a topic of special interest. Seminars are limited in size to 15 students, who are assigned randomly to seminars from among those in which they have expressed an interest.
Each seminar is hosted by a residential college and the seminar, in turn, contributes to the intellectual and cultural life of the college. Class discussions often continue over meals or in other informal settings at the college. The seminars, in conjunction with the colleges, frequently sponsor special events, such as film series, guest lectures, or cultural excursions to museums or the theater.
Freshman seminars count as regular courses, and most fulfill a distribution requirement. Unless specifically indicated in the course description, freshman seminars do not assume prior knowledge or advanced placement in the subject. The seminars depend for their success on the expertise of the professor and on the hard work and enthusiasm of all the participants. Emphasis is on discussion, papers, and in-class presentations rather than on quizzes or exams.
In mid-July of each year, the incoming freshman class is mailed the freshman seminar program booklet which describes all of the seminars to be offered that year and includes an application form. Students are strongly encouraged to apply online. Students write a short one-page essay describing their interest in the seminars they would like to take. Seminar assignments are emailed to students just before freshman orientation week.
For an online version of the Freshman Seminar Program brochure and for the online application, click here. Freshmen will have an opportunity to apply for spring seminars in November. For complete information, visit the Program in Freshman Seminars Web site.
For Faculty
Faculty who are interested in teaching in the Freshman Seminar Program, or who have questions about the program, should contact Dean Peter Quimby.