First-Year Seminars
Seminars are taught each fall by faculty from a range of disciplines throughout the university. Seminar topics focus on exciting and important questions that provide students with the opportunity to explore issues, gather and evaluate evidence, and develop their ideas through writing. By participating in a First-Year or Transfer Seminar, students develop essential academic skills that they will use throughout their time at KU.
Student FAQs
- Taking a First-Year or Transfer Seminar will enable you to explore an unfamiliar area that intrigues you or delve into a topic related to your academic interests.
- First-Year or Transfer Seminar are designed to help you develop university-level skills in critical thinking and writing that you will use at KU and throughout your professional career.
- All First-Year and Transfer Seminar have fewer than 24 students. You will get to know other students in your class and your professor.
- Your First-Year or Transfer Seminar Seminar will emphasis introduce you to different cultures and satisfy either the US or Global Culture goal in the KU Core 34.
- First-Year and Transfer Seminars involve active learning, discussion, and engagement with peers in your class.
- First-Year and Transfer Seminars provide hands-on experiential learning opportunities, such as field trips, research, service projects, or attending artistic performances or exhibits.
- First-Year and Transfer Seminars offer opportunities for you to participate in on-campus events and explore interesting places and traditions at KU.
- The only prerequisite to enroll in a First-Year Seminar is first-year status. Prior knowledge of the subject matter is not expected.
Your academic advisor is a fantastic resource when it comes to selecting first-year or transfer seminars or any class! All first-year seminars are listed by their subject (eg. COMS, FREN, BIOL) and number 176 or 177. All transfer seminars listed by their subject and 276 or 277.
Courses using the 176/276 number satisfy the US Culture goal of KU Core 34. Courses using the 177/277 satisfy the Global Culture goal of KU Core 34.
Fall 2025 First Year Seminars
This course explores how language shape's identity, power, and culture in the Arab world through the lenses of gender, religion, history, class, and education. It will help you deepen your understanding of MENA cultures and the complex role language plays in everyday life.
Fulfills Global Culture Goal of KU Core 34.
Meet the Instructor... El Haimeur, Amal
Where you know me from…
I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of African and African American Studies (AAAS) at KU. I teach Arabic language courses and Arabic studies courses that explore the intersections of language, identity, culture, gender, and history. I also serve as the coordinator for African and African diasporic languages.
When I was a freshman…
My freshman experience was both exciting and challenging. I was the first in my family to attend college, and I had to travel away from home to pursue my undergraduate studies. One memorable aspect of that time was that I didn’t own a computer—books were my primary source of knowledge! During my undergraduate years, I also passed the national exam to become a public-school teacher in Morocco. By the time I completed my final year, I was already a certified teacher in the Moroccan public school system. It was a period of growth, determination, and resilience.
Pro-Tip for Success at KU...
Practice good time management and stay consistent with your work. Don’t hesitate to contact your instructors—whether in class, by email, or during office hours—if you need help or have questions. Build a strong academic and social network to enrich your experience and take advantage of the many opportunities and resources KU offers.
When you visit my office…
You’re always welcome—whether it’s for an informal chat to get to know each other or to ask questions about class. I enjoy having students stop by, and many appreciate the Moroccan decorations in my office. I promise a welcoming environment… and yes, there will be candy!
You may be surprised to know…
In addition to teaching, I conduct research on a wide range of topics—including Arabic linguistics, pedagogy, online learning, and the representation of Muslim women. My work brings together language, culture, and gender studies in ways that often surprise people who only know me from the classroom.
How is ‘Blackness’ conceptualized within Islam? How have Black Muslim identities been shaped by history, culture, and resistance? This seminar explores the intersections of race, religion, and justice by centering the experiences of Black Muslims across time and place.
Fulfills Global Culture Goal of KU Core 34.
Meet the Instructor... Muazu, Rahina
Where you know me from…
You may know me from one of my classes in the Department of African and African American Studies, where I teach courses on Islam, Women and Gender in Muslim societies and Islamic Literature. My classes often explore intersections of religion, culture, and lived experience—especially across Africa and the around the world.
When I was a freshman…
I was so excited, motivated, and ready to learn. One of the highlights of my first year was studying Arabic and History—both of which deepened my curiosity and set the foundation for my academic path. I also made a few close friends who were my anchors throughout college and beyond.
Pro-Tip for Success at KU
Learn how to manage your time in a way that fits your personality and life rhythm. Whether it’s a paper planner, digital calendar, or sticky notes on your fridge—find a system that helps you stay grounded and on top of your goals. And don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it!
When you visit my office…
You’ll find a warm and welcoming space where you can speak openly about your academic journey, interests, or questions related to class (and life!). I’m always happy to talk through readings, brainstorm ideas, or help connect you with resources on campus. You might even hear a story or two from West Africa.
Currently Streaming…
I’m currently watching A Discovery of Witches on Netflix— there’s something fascinating about how it blends love, magic, and mystery.
You may be surprised to know…
I’ve studied and taught in several countries—including Germany, Morocco, England, Nigeria, and the United States—and I speak multiple languages: Hausa, Arabic, English, and German. I’m also married and a mother of four. My research focuses on Muslim women’s religious authority and Qur’an recitation in Africa, but I also have a deep love for memoirs, storytelling, and oral traditions.
ITAL 177 - That's Amore: Fragments of a Discourse on Love
Perhaps Emily Dickinson was right when she wrote, “That Love is all there is, / Is all we know of Love”, for what do we know about it after all? The main goal of this course is to investigate love as a mysterious, most pleasant, and most deceitful subject, while in the process becoming better readers, critical thinkers, and writers. Through the analysis of novels, short stories, poetry, music, and live theater, we will consider how humans relate to love relationships as a main bond among individuals and as a tool of self-discovery as well. Read about Dante’s lustful souls in the Inferno, debate Boccaccio bawdy tales from the Middle Ages, and listen to Mozart’s Don Giovanni and Verdi’s La Traviata. A comparative literature course with an Italian core and focus on close reading.
Fulfills Global Culture Goal of KU Core 34.
Meet the Instructor... Patrizio Ceccagnoli
Where you know me from…
I normally teach in the Italian Program. You might have met me in Hell, Dante’s Inferno.
When I was a freshman in college…
I was in Italy. I was a student of classics in my hometown Perugia.
Pro-Tip for Success at KU
Focus on studying, work hard.
When you visit my office…
You’ll find me available, and I’m pleased to know you better.
You may be surprised to know…
I am a decent tennis player.
Last Concert I attended…
Lawrence Brownlee’s concert at the LIED center. Brownlee is an American operatic tenor.
UNIV 176 - KU Traditions & Transformations
In this course you will explore KU’s past, present, and future through the students, staff, and faculty that shaped it. Learn about KU's traditions, from the ones that stood the test of time (like the Rock Chalk chant!) to the ones that didn't (like freshmen beanies).
Fulfills US Culture Goal of KU Core 34.
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Meet the Instructor... Rachel K. Davis
Hometown:
St. Louis, MO
When I was a freshman...
I was excited and terrified! I was ready for college classes, but less ready for living on my own and attending a college none of my friends had chosen.
Pro-tip for success at KU...
Ask for help. Lots of students are scared or embarrassed to ask for help, but I promise no one thinks less of you for it. KU faculty and staff want you to feel welcome and supported.
Currently streaming...
I watch too many shows, but I especially love Hacks, Severance, The Last of Us, Yellowjackets, and Saturday Night Live.
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Meet the Instructor... Kate Kemper
When I was a Freshman…
I was in Des Moines, Iowa at Drake University. I studied International Relations and Environmental Policy!
Pro-Tip for Success at KU...
Find a time management strategy that works for you. Whether it’s a software like Notion, a paper planner, or your Google calendar, use a system that you will actually use!
When you visit my office…
Be ready to be civically engaged by other members of the CSL team! We’re here to help you identify service opportunities that fit your interests and goals and can provide some guidance to the voting process for eligible students.
You may be surprised to know…
I studied abroad for a semester in India while I was in college!
Furry Family Members (Or not so furry)…
My partner and I have two dogs - Kai, a Shiba Inu; and Twyla, an Australian Cattle Dog mix
Why should we care about people who use drugs? What can we really do to make a difference? Dive into this eye-opening course that tackles the complexities of drug use, abuse, and the policies that govern them. This isn't just another class—it's a call to action! We'll step out of the classroom and into the community, starting with a visit to local homeless shelters. You'll be at the forefront of creating impactful drug education campaigns and uncovering the deep-seated reasons why every segment of society deserves our empathy and support.
Fulfills US Culture Goal of KU Core 34.
Meet the Instructor... Kelley, Margaret
Where you know me from…
I am a sociologist and Professor in the Department of American Studies at the University of Kansas. I teach AMS176 On Drugs: Heroin Users and American Drug Policy, AMS324 Being Deviant in America, and AMS321 American Gun Culture.
When I was a freshman…
I was the first in my family to go to college, but my dad started college shortly after me. He got an MBA, and then my mom went for her nursing degree, too! I played volleyball at Wichita State University and lived in the dorms for two years. I was super busy and had lots of amazing memories. I am still in Facebook contact with many of my dorm friends.
Pro-Tip for Success at KU
Use the Writing Center!! And make sure you get to know everyone on your dorm floor.
Currently Streaming…
Law and Order SVU and Alone
Furry Family Members...
We have Tazzy, a 7-year-old Border Collie mix. One of my daughters also has a tortoise named Goldie and a bearded dragon named Marvel.
Last Concert I attended…
1. Taylor Swift
2. Amos Lee
Next up this fall are the Indigo Girls, Melissa Etheridge, and The Swell Season.