FYS - First Year Seminar

The purpose of this course is to help students develop the critical thinking and written and oral communication skills necessary to engage difficult questions and to help them recognize that grappling with difficult questions is at the heart of a liberal arts education. The focus of these courses is on exposing students to difficult questions and helping them learn the process of formulating thoughtful, intellectually-appropriate responses. As such, courses will introduce students to a variety of readings or perspectives related to the central theme and help them develop the critical thinking and constructive discussion skills necessary to analyze these perspectives. Courses will also help students develop their ability to use written and oral communication as tools of thought, analysis and argumentation. In addition, students will develop and demonstrate their research and information literacy skills.

The purpose of this course is to help students develop the ethical thinking as well as written and oral communication skills necessary to engage ethical questions and to help them recognize that grappling with such questions in a communal context is at the heart of a responsible, well-lived life.  The focus of these seminar courses is on exposing students to difficult ethical questions and helping them learn the process of formulating thoughtful, intellectually appropriate responses. As such, courses will introduce students to a variety of readings or perspectives related to the central question and help them develop the ethical thinking skills necessary to analyze these perspectives.  Courses will help students develop the ability to effectively articulate their views as well as speak and write persuasively about them.