First-Year Seminar
Unlock your potential in our First-Year Seminar, a course designed to provide support and resources to help you navigate your first year successfully.
Design
This is a 1-credit hour course that meets in-person once per week in a seminar format.
Purpose
This course is structured to create support systems and connections with peers, university programs, and resources designed to benefit students in their academic and personal life.
Description
This course covers topics related to personal, academic, and professional growth and provides opportunities for students to discuss concerns, issues, and successes they are encountering within their first year at the university.
Objectives
In this course, students work toward fulfilling the following objectives:
- Understand obstacles to success and develop strategies to overcome them,
- Learn strategies for holistic student success, including self-management, learning styles, study skills, interpersonal and emotional intelligence,
- Discover how to set attainable goals and strive to reach them,
- Explore academic and career options, and
- Learn about college and university resources.
Course Materials
There are no course materials required to enroll in this course.
Students enrolling in the First-Year Seminar must meet the following qualifications:
- Must be a current, undergraduate first-year or first-year transfer student admitted to or interested in admission to the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics or
- Must be in progress to complete the TC Energy Summer Scholars Academy.
Students enrolled in the First-Year Seminar are responsible for:
- Registering for the course during open enrollment periods as outlined in the Enrollment Schedule.
- Adhering to the policies and deadlines outlined in the Undergraduate Student Handbook, the Undergraduate Academic Catalog, and the Undergraduate Academic Calendar as well as the course expectations outlined in the course syllabus.
Benefits
Make Real Connections
Build friendships and a sense of community with other first-year students in a supportive strengths-based environment.
Learn from Someone Who’s Been There
Gain guidance from an embedded peer tutor who can share tips, answer questions, and help you feel more confident as you adjust to college life.
Build Skills for Success
Practice study strategies, time management, and self-advocacy that will help you thrive throughout college.
Discover Campus Resources
Get introduced to programs and services that can support both your academic goals and personal well-being.
Get Connected & Apply
See what makes the First-Year Seminar great!
“…it provide(d) me with guidance and a support system my freshman year, it also fostered the establishment of many friendships I’m still maintaining in my last semester of college. [It] enabled me to jump out of my comfort zone and meet new people, all while instilling good study habits and techniques that helped me succeed throughout my college career.”
– Former Student
Register for First-Year Seminar
Two sections will be offered in Fall and Spring.
If registering in the Fall:
- Discuss your interest in registering for IDNS 2197: First-Year Seminar with your academic advisor during your registration period as part of New Student Orientation.
If registering in the Spring:
- Refer to the Enrollment Schedule to determine your enrollment date to register for IDNS 2197: First-Year Seminar.
If you have any questions, connect with us at nsmyear1@uh.edu.
Connect With Us
Email us at nsmyear1@uh.edu or find us on Instagram @nsmfirstyear.