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.
Spring 2025 First Year Seminars
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 my 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 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
In this course you will explore KU’s past, present, and future.
Fulfills US Culture Goal of KU Core 34.
Meet the Instructor... Donna Wyatt
When I was a freshman...
I didn't have a clue what I was doing.
Pro-Tip for Success at KU...
Use the resources that are available to you. There is no reason for you to struggle alone.
You may be surprised to know...
I have a camper van and I hit the road for months at a time.
My furry family member and my co-pilot on road trips is Holly, my dog.
When you visit my office...
Come hungry! There are always snacks.