Freshman Seminar is a 2-credit elective class designed to help students make connections between what they are learning in their classes and current issues at the local, national, and global levels. Making these connections will help students see how what they are learning in the classroom can apply to the world outside the college setting.

During the semester, students in Freshman Seminar create a group research project. Throughout this process students will:

• understand current issues,
• analyze and evaluate how the issues are currently being addressed,
• propose their own realistic ways to address the issues, and
• design and produce a project to communicate their research.

All Freshman Seminars are connected to a course meeting a General Education Requirement (GER). This connection provides an opportunity for undergraduate students to become involved in research at the beginning of their academic career. 

A Learning Community

The learning community in Freshman Seminar brings together freshman students, faculty members, and librarians in a collaborative, intellectually challenging environment where:

• New students are supported in becoming successful members of the WSU academic community.
• Experienced students serve as leaders in the roles of Peer Facilitator, participating as an academic mentor, and Graduate Facilitator, providing academic guidance and mentoring for the Peer Facilitators.
• Faculty members serve as intellectual role models.
• Librarians provide research expertise and personalized attention to each seminar.

Washington State University's Freshman Seminar courses is a nationally recognized Learning Community.  Learn more about other resources geared toward enhancing first year experiences in college:

• National Resource Center for the First Year Experience Students in Transition
• Washington Center for the Improving the Quality of Undergraduate Education
• National Learning Communities Project