What is Freshman Seminar?

Freshman Seminar is our nationally-recognized first-semester course designed to assist students in a successful transition from high school to college. Students taking this course earn three hours of graded elective credit that also meets special designator requirements in writing, computing, and cross-disciplinary experiences.

Freshman Seminar creates opportunities for you to build lasting friendships with other freshmen, strengthen your academic skills, learn about the resources and opportunities available to you throughout your college career, and learn what to expect from college-level classes. Additionally, as a student in a Freshman Seminar class, you will be a part of a Learning Community. You and the other students in your Freshman Seminar section will also be enrolled together in one or two other classes (such as English or history) in your first semester. This link provides opportunities for study groups, special field trips, and greater academic success.

Some Things You'll be Doing in FS

• Learning strategies for managing time, stress, wellness, and faculty expectations
• Attending a cultural event
• Eating dinner at a faculty member's house
• Learning to navigate the library and research tools
• Visiting important campus resources
• Strengthening academic skills, including note-taking, test-taking, and memory techniques
• Participating in community building activities with your classmates

Why should you take Freshman Seminar?

• Taking responsibility for academic and personal development early makes college easier to manage
• Freshman Seminar students use learning strategies from the program to improve their performance in their other classes
• You will get to know at least 23 other students (classes are small with a maximum of 24 students)
• Your communication skills will improve (writing, speaking, listening)
• You can learn about ASU and all it has to offer

Former Freshman Seminar students think it's a good idea

"Freshman Seminar helped start me on my way to college success by making me a better informed and well-rounded student. This class and the friends I made in it gave me the support I needed to start my college journey."

"Freshman Seminar was such an amazing experience that I was sad to see the semester come to an end. I know, however, that the friendships made in this class will continue to grow, and that I will be able to use the skills gained in this class to continue to succeed academically."

"Being enrolled in a learning community environment made it easier to adjust to the course load of college and meeting new people."