UW Collegium Seminars

Collegium Seminars are 1 credit, discussion-based seminars intended to introduce first year students to the excitement of ideas and the richness of academic discovery. Students in these seminars learn “shoulder-to-shoulder” with the UW's best researchers and faculty, engaging in deep inquiry and developing a sense of community with a small group of students around a shared area of interest. They are an excellent introduction to the intellectual world of the university and a welcoming environment for students still new to the campus. 

Collegium Seminars are informed by the following learning objectives:

• Help students successfully transition from high school to college by providing faculty-led guidance, practice, and mentorship within the culture of higher learning at the UW;
• Help students develop an intellectual identify by fostering intellectual curiosity, confidence, and a passion for exploring, questioning, and learning;
• Practice essential learning skills such as reading, observing, critiquing, deliberating, synthesizing, and communicating through writing and speaking;
• Build a sense of community and belonging around shared intellectual interests;
• Provide close access to a faculty member or researcher during a student’s first year at UW;
• Introduce students to fascinating questions, grand challenges, and leading research from a wide variety of fields;
• Introduce students to UW resources and opportunities for further study and exploration.