Online Faculty Application
Deadline for Winter 2010 Applications: August 7, 2009.
Deadline for Spring 2010 Applications: November 13, 2009.
Welcome to the Freshman Seminar Program. This program, administered by the College of Letters & Science, offered 95 seminars during the 2008-2009 academic year.
Freshman Seminars are for first-year UCSB students, and aim to introduce them to intellectual discourse in a small group environment. Surrounded by a small (20 students maximum) group of their peers, freshmen have the opportunity to learn about a topic of interest to them and also get to know members of UCSB's faculty. Seminars meet for a total of 10 hours over the course of the quarter, students receive one unit of credit, and grading is Passed/Not Passed only.
Funding has been provided for both course support and a faculty incentive. Faculty receive a $1,500 research stipend (not salary) and each department will receive $300 per seminar for supplies and expenses.
Evaluation for 2008-2009 from both faculty and students was quite positive. Some faculty report their Freshman Seminar as being one of the highlights of their teaching careers. Our goal is to offer 95 seminars during the 2009-2010 academic year. Please review the information below and then click on the Application link to submit a proposal online.
Who is eligible to teach a Freshman Seminar?
Only regular-rank faculty (including LSOE) are eligible to teach Freshman Seminars. Unfortunately graduate students or unit 18 lecturers are not eligible. Seminars are taught over and above the normal teaching load.
Who is eligible to take a Freshman Seminar?
All first-year UCSB students (not including junior transfers). Some eligible students may require an approval code to enroll on GOLD due to "junior" standing from Advanced Placement test credit or transfer units.
How are Freshman Seminars identified?
The "Freshman Seminar Program" administers the one-unit courses numbered Interdisciplinary (INT) 94AA-ZZ.
When, where and how often do Freshman Seminars meet?
Seminars must meet for a total of ten hours over the course of the quarter. Thus, a seminar may meet one hour a week for ten weeks, two hours a week for five weeks, or whatever reasonable arrangement works with your schedule and sound pedagogy.
Seminars should meet in general assignment rooms to maximize classroom utilization on campus, so we ask that professors choose off-peak times when rooms are more likely to be available. Early mornings, late afternoons, evenings, and Friday afternoons are all good times and less likely to conflict with students' required courses.
Since five-week courses can result in unoccupied classrooms for half the quarter, we will ask some faculty interested in this schedule if they are willing to teach the last five weeks rather than the first five. Our aim is to coordinate seminars whenever possible so that rooms are fully utilized.
Are off-campus trips allowed?
Professors are more than welcome to plan on- or off-campus field trips. Outings to museums, field research sites, plays, lectures, etc. could be wonderful contributions to class material. The funds supplied to cover course costs can be used to pay for such an outing, though trips should not cost more than that $300. Proposed field trips will be reviewed for cost and, if necessary, the class may be limited to fewer than 20 students unless supplemental departmental funding is available.
What kind of reading and course work should be assigned?
As they are one-unit classes, formal research papers are rarely assigned. Grades might be largely based on attendance, class participation, or in-class work/presentations. A final exam may be given or a short paper assigned instead. One or two books might be ordered, or a reader compiled.
Do seminars have a final during Finals Week?
Freshman Seminars do not have finals scheduled during Finals Week. Any final exam should be administered in the final class meeting. Also, regular class meetings may not take place during final exam week.
How are seminars graded?
Freshman Seminars are graded only on a Passed/Not Passed basis.
What subjects/topics are taught in Freshman Seminars?
Freshman Seminars are taught by faculty from every college and every department on the UCSB campus. Many seminars are based on professors' current research topics, giving students the opportunity to learn about your current interests and get exposure to the process of research. Other faculty have selected topics of professional or personal interest but not from their current research. Whatever the assignment, since these seminars are for first-year college students, coursework and discussion level should be appropriate.
What kind of financial support is involved with teaching a Freshman Seminar?
Funding has been provided for both course support and faculty incentive. Each department will receive $300 for supplies and expenses per seminar, and each professor will receive a $1,500 research stipend (not salary).
How can I use the $300?
The $300 can be used to pay for any costs associated with the course: copies, handouts, a video to be shown in class, transportation on a field trip, museum admission, etc.
How can I use the research stipend?
The research stipend may be used for any research-related activity. So far it's been used for books, equipment, a laptop computer, and to fund a research assistant. It may also be used towards professionally-related travel.
How do I get the money?
Both the $300 and the $1,500 will be transferred to the professor's home department approximately one month after the start of the quarter in which the seminar is taught. The Freshman Seminar Coordinator will be in touch with the appropriate departmental staff regarding the details of the transfer.
What is the application procedure?
To submit a course proposal, please see the online Application. Please complete all fields. A copy of the form will be emailed to you for your records. The freshman seminar coordinator will be in contact with you to discuss the proposed seminar. The College of Letters & Science will take care of all room scheduling, book orders, and publicity to reduce the burden on your department.
How Did My Freshman Seminar Go?
To submit a course evaluation, please see the Online Evaluation Form. Please complete all fields. A copy of the evaluation will be emailed to you for your records. Thank you for your participation in Freshman Seminars.
