Discover your passions with Freshman Seminars!

What are the freshman seminars?

Freshman Seminars are exciting, small-class experiences specifically designed for first-year students. Taught by a range of top-notch UC Irvine instructors, Freshman Seminars cover a variety of interesting topics that challenge students to engage their creativity and explore the world through new perspectives. All Freshman Seminars are limited to small class sizes, so students can enjoy a supportive learning environment that fosters connections with peers and instructors.

For Students

Whether you’re looking to delve into “Adventures in AI,” want to “Control the World with Your Mind,” or simply want to go “Into the Wild,” Freshman Seminars have what you’re looking for. Enroll now!

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Seminar Schedule

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Student Opportunities

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Recent Seminars

For Faculty

Teach a Seminar

Interested in teaching a seminar? Apply here!

Apply now!

Faculty Information

Questions about instructor eligibility, reimbursements, the application process, or more? Here’s everything instructors need to know about teaching a Freshman Seminar.

Student Learning Goals

From broadening academic horizons to creating lasting connections, here’s how Freshman Seminars make a real difference for UC Irvine students.

“I loved how this class gave me a chance to try different activities like rock climbing, hiking, and kayaking! I had a memorable time learning about the earth system science with my classmates.”

Into the Wild seminar feedback

“the whole class was outdoors and the professor explained relevant concepts while we did physical activities. Literally, everything in this class was intellectually and creatively stimulating and personally, this is my favorite class of all time.”

Into the Wild seminar feedback

“Learning about “Bug Theorem” for robot motion planning, as it is a very unique concept that I would usually not associate with robots and how their actions can be manipulated by looking towards nature.”

Robot Motion seminar feedback

“I found that the connections made to other coursework, such as MATLAB and Python, aided in exploring the applications of what was taught.”

Robot Motion seminar feedback

“There was a lecture where there were example patients and we got to discuss and compare them. I found that really engaging and makes the class think.”

Life After Cancer seminar feedback

“I am not a STEM major, and I haven’t been in science or math classes in a year, so I was worried I wouldn’t do well in this class. Dr. Chan teaches in a way that I can easily understand, and I don’t feel left behind at all. There’s nothing that needs to be improved, this class was great and so is Dr. Chan!”

Life After Cancer seminar feedback