Freshman Seminars

We have developed two Freshman Seminar courses which help students transition successfully into college life. In Freshman Seminar, we keep the classes small so that students can build relationships with both their professor and classmates.

Freshman Seminar 1500

Focuses on the following topics: critical thinking skills, study skills, learning styles, test preparation skills, research skills, oral presentation skills, and writing assessments. The course explores interdisciplinary topics through case studies, written assignments, discussions, guest speakers, group work, and technology. Essential to the course is the incorporation of discipline-related learning strategies, the university's academic policies and procedures, and current campus issues. Library information literacy and technology literacy are also introduced.

Freshman Seminar 1510

Incorporates self esteem building, understanding the role of self esteem in college, risk taking behaviors, stereotypes, familial relationships, and academic support systems. The course also investigates majors and career outlooks for those majors.

Topics in Freshman Seminar 1500/1510 include:

• CSU History
• Campus Resources
• Library Literacy
• Financial Literacy
• Developing Self Esteem
• Values and Goal Setting
• Learning Styles
• Assertiveness
• Problem Solving
• Decision Making
• Reading and Studying
• Removing Internal Barriers
• Listening and Note Taking
• Memory and Test Taking.
• Choosing a Career

Freshman Seminar employs technology through use of the following:

• Cougar Connect
• Moodle
• CAPPS

Freshman Seminar uses the following self assessment tools

• Noel Levitz College Student Inventory
• Multiple Pathways to Learning
• Personality Spectrum Assessment
• Various Chapter Assessments
• SIGI Career Assessment