First-Year Seminars

< Academics

Entering DePauw students normally take four academically rigorous courses each semester. In one course, the First-Year Seminar, discussion in a small group, exploration of ideas, careful reading of texts, and critical thinking are especially emphasized.

First-Year Seminars count as a full academic credit. DePauw works on the course system, not the credit hour system. One full course counts as one course credit, and you need 31 course credits to graduate (or just about four per semester). The first-year seminar is a full credit course and counts toward graduation. Seminars are small and provide an opportunity for class discussion, participation and interaction with the professor and other students. For most seminars, the instructor also serves as the students' academic advisor. A student mentor is assigned to each seminar group. The group will take part in orientation activities together and will meet outside of class to participate in programs and discussions about college life and campus issues.

The list of seminars for Fall 2009 will be available here around May 1. Take some time to read through the descriptions of seminars. We hope that you will use your imagination in making your seminar choices. Our seminars are designed to open new areas of interest and to allow you to think in new ways. We hope you will include in your list of choices seminars that sound intriguing to you, no matter what subject you intend to major in and no matter what career you have in mind.

On your course request form, you will indicate 10 seminars which are of interest to you. While we cannot guarantee that you will get your top choice, we will try to enroll you in a seminar that will interest you.

Several new first year seminars have been added, including Colonial Confrontations and Redefining Landscape.