Resources for Students
Your first year at college can be hard. In high school, it was clear that you were there to listen and learn, but now, all of a sudden, a world-renowned expert is asking you what you think about the role of intrinsic versus extrinsic factors on neurobiology, the emergence of early agricultural societies, or Proust’s madeleines. It can be hard to know where you stand, and what is expected of you. That’s where the First-Year Seminar comes in.
Over the course of a semester, in a small group, and guided by one of our renowned faculty members, you will engage closely with a topic of shared interest. This topic need not relate to your intended major, the seminar is its own degree requirement, and a chance for you to pursue an academic topic as an adventure, in and of itself. Along the way, you will explore, discuss, and critique this topic in an academic conversation, develop critical skills, and learn how college-level scholarship is all about critical inquiry.
First-Year Seminars bridge the transition to college, and will introduce you to how research and scholarship actually works, and help you develop the key liberal arts skills you will need to succeed in your career at CAS. Think of it as your icebreaker into the academic conversation.
What is a learning community?
A learning community is simply a group of peers who come together to collectively pursue a common academic goal - such as your seminar classmates. New York City can be daunting, and many of your introductory classes are large lecture groups, where it can be hard to get to know people. Your seminar group will provide you with a supportive, collaborative community of peers, as you together launch your academic journeys.
The importance of dialogue
Unlike a lecture, a seminar is a type of class in which you are expected to contribute to discussion. It's not about answering questions correctly, but about asking them. Seminars are not passive learnign spaces, but active ones - by offering opinions and debating ideas, you help steer the conversation. Seminars are also places you can really engage with and get to know your professor - so don't be shy, and speak up!
How does this fit into the College Core Curriculum?
The First-Year Seminar is one of the five parts of the Core, along with the Foundations of Contemporary Culture, Foundations of Scientific Inquiry, the expository writing requirement, and the foreign language requirement. Each part provides unique but complementary skills that will allow you to flourish in you major, and in life. The First-Year Seminar is taken in your first year, as the general academic skills it provides are foundational to your success here at CAS.