Freshman Seminars
Seminars set the tone for freshmen
Princeton NJ — In their first semester as Princeton students, freshmen this fall have been exploring issues of identity through movement and dance, evaluating truth in historical texts and examining the impact of global warming through fieldwork in the waters of Bermuda.
These are among the array of topics covered in this year’s Freshman Seminar Program. The seminars stress close interaction with faculty members in small-group settings and an emphasis on inquiry that will set the course for the students’ years at Princeton. The 75 seminars being offered this fall and spring are expected to enroll some 1,000 freshmen, including a number who have signed up for both semesters.
Almost universally, students say that their freshman seminar was one of their best academic experiences at Princeton and was the catalyst for some of their most enduring intellectual friendships with fellow students. Each seminar is hosted by a residential college. Class discussions often continue in informal settings both on and off campus, through meals, guest lectures, field trips and other activities.
This issue of the Princeton Weekly Bulletin includes stories on three of this fall’s freshman seminars.
Related articles in this issue
• Expressing identity through movement ... Full story
• Testing the waters in Bermuda for global warming ... Full story
• Promoting a fresh look at history ... Full story
