First Year Seminar
The First Year Seminar (FS) will bring the best faculty teacher-scholars on campus together with first year students in small enrollment classes to explore rich and engaging topics related to faculty interests and current issues. Through this experience, communities will be established among the Seminar students, strong mentoring relationships formed with Seminar faculty, and students will learn about research opportunities.
Courses are designated under the Liberal Studies Program distribution block categories. Some courses may not be offered every year, and topics may vary. FS courses are not open to students with more than 30 units.
FS 111 Science: Students learn the logic and techniques of scientific inquiry to understand the basis and limits of contemporary scientific knowledge. Students develop practical skills to understand scientific issues relevant to society.
FS 121 Aesthetic & Humanistic Inquiry: Students learn about competing conceptual frameworks and the relationship between context and creative expression.
FS 131 Cultural Understanding: Students learn about features and perspectives of cultures.
FS 141 Social & Political Worlds: Students learn about the dynamic relationships between and within human communities, as well as significant psychological, social and/or political components.
Academic Transition Programs
FYE101
EPS101
Summer Reading Program
Reports on Freshman Year
Excutive Summary (pdf)
Full Report (pdf)
Interim Executive Summary (pdf)
Interim Full Report (pdf)
Other Useful Links
New Student Programs
Freshman Connections
Center for International Education