About First-Year Seminars
First-Year Seminars, a unit of the Office of Undergraduate Education, tap into the shared curiosity of UC Davis students and their instructors to create communities of people excited to learn. With approximately 300 seminars offered each year, there’s plenty to discover. Seminar classes are designed to bring UC Davis's newest students face-to-face with instructors and fellow students in small classes where conversation is critical. At one to two units each and limited to a maximum of 19 students, they are also intended to fit into your busy schedule.
You don’t have to be a first-year or new transfer student to take first-year seminars. Although certain courses are only offered to first-year students, for most classes, enrollment is only limited during Pass I and Pass II. Anyone can register during open registration. You can take more than one seminar while you’re here at UC Davis — but only one per quarter.
Our Mission:
The First-Year Seminars program provides students in their first year, including transfer students, an opportunity to engage faculty and their peers on topics of intellectual and social significance in a small class environment.
Our Vision
Every incoming student to UC Davis will have the opportunity to take a transformative small enrollment course that fosters intellectual curiosity, active discussion, critical thinking, a sense of community and engagement with faculty and peers.