Watch videos of professors describing their first year seminar! (Click here if video does not display below)

The seminar method of instruction facilitates learning in a small collaborative classroom setting where emphasis is placed on discussion, analysis and debate of a text rather than a lecture. That is, critical inquiry is employed with both student and teacher asking probing questions during the reading of an author's work. Therefore, the seminar method requires active participation by students to illuminate and dissect the theme and perspectives of an assigned reading. Although First Year Seminars vary from one discipline to another, at their core the seminars are designed to provide students with the opportunity to cultivate their writing, speaking and research skills. 

The First Year Seminar also encourages students to experience interdisciplinary dialogue with students in a variety of seminars, thus fostering an appreciation for subject matter within the larger context of the Arts and Sciences. Electronic forms of intellectual discourse are employed for the purpose of fostering an on-line community of active and engaged learners.         

With this perspective, information literacy competence is also a key element of the freshman seminar. Information literacy is also a key component of the First Year Seminar so that students can learn to retrieve, analyze, manage, and apply information effectively and ethically. Competence in the area of information literacy will enable students to become self- directed learners, and will inevitably result in substantive research projects grounded in reputable scholarship.   

A final key element of the first year seminar is civic engagement. The FSC believes that the integrative learning model should also prepare students for the social, cultural, political, and environmental responsibilities of civic life.                

Take a look at the videos above that outline the exciting themed-based and intellectually rigorous courses we are offering this AY 2011-2012 from a group of our talented, innovative, and creative faculty at SHU.