Commons Seminars are optional, one-credit, spring-semester seminars for first-year undergraduates only.

Interested in exploring music? Healthcare? Environment? Theatre? Sports? Gender? Mental Illness? Whether or not these themes have anything to do with your general area of study—and whether they are offered through your or any other school—these courses bring you together with fifteen first-year students and a professor or team of instructors, all equally passionate to discuss these issues and questions.

The semester calendar can be flexible (weekly, bi-monthly, over several weekends) and courses meet for the equivalent of fifteen contact hours. They are open to first-year students from all four undergraduate schools and colleges and have no pre-requisites.

Think outside the box. Participate in a course with students and instructors from a different school or college. Indulge an intellectual passion. Enjoy the small learning community of fifteen first-year students. Sign up for a Commons Seminar.

Faculty interested in proposing a Commons Seminar, please click here.

The Medical Center Reporter covers Commons Seminars: Series lets undergrads explore new ideas

In YES, go to “Search Classes“ and click on “Advanced.” Go to the drop-down menu for “Class Attributes” and choose ”Eligible for Commons Seminar.”

Only enroll in one Commons Seminar!

As first-year students, you are allowed to be registered in one Commons Seminar only.