First-Year Seminars
First-Year Seminars (or FYSPs, a reference to the First-Year Seminar Program) are classes offered each semester that cater exclusively to new students. These classes are special in that there are fewer students in the class than is normal for an entry level class. The average seminar has a maximum of 14 students. The reasoning behind this program is that it gives first-years and new transfer students an opportunity to have more individualized contact with professors and get to know each other better. The professors for these classes often take on the role of a second advisor and many good friends are formed in them.
The topics covered by these courses are as diverse as the rest of the course catalog and often change year to year. FYSP courses satisfy one of the two writing proficiency requirements needed to graduate. This means that they involve a fair amount of writing, although it varies course to course. One of the other perks of FYSP courses is that they may come with a writing tutor. Each section of a course may have its own tutor who is available via email and scheduled meetings to help out with writings for the course. If you don't procrastinate too much, these helpful people will review and edit your drafts for you.
