First Year Seminar
First Year Seminar (UCO 1200) introduces first year Appalachian students (freshmen and transfers*) to rigorous academic study at the University level through interdisciplinary engagement with a broad topic or question. Experienced faculty engage FYS students in a shared process of inquiry in small seminar-style classes. (The average class size is 22.) The faculty also help students make the transition to academic life at Appalachian by introducing students to a variety of library research tools, making connections with faculty and other students, introducing the wide range of resources Appalachian provides its students, and involving the university and local community. Additionally, all First Year Seminars share in common the following learning goals, which are the foundation of the University's General Education Program:
- developing creative and critical thinking abilities
- cultivating effective communication skills
- making local-to-global connections
- and understanding responsibilities of community membership
Appalachian's First Year Seminar course also serves as a designated Global Learning Opportunity ("GLO" for short) because all FYS courses cultivate intercultural competence by examining a single issue from multiple perspectives.
Every First Year Seminar is designed by the individual faculty member on their topic of choice that integrates the aforementioned objectives. Prospective instructors propose their topic and describe how they will meet the common learning goals to an elected faculty committee which reviews each proposal about a year in advance.
*Effective Fall 2012, transfer students bringing in 30 or more hours may choose to waive the First Year Seminar requirement. Transfer students choosing to waive FYS will have a total of 41 s.h. of General Education requirements.
Meet the Core FYS Faculty
The First Year Seminar Core Faculty are dedicated Lecturers in First Year Seminar. They are award-winning faculty members who are innovative in their teaching methods and deeply committed to Appalachian's first-year students.