About

How are IntroSems different from other classes?

Introductory Seminars, sponsored by Stanford Introductory Studies in VPUE, are small-group, hands-on courses of about 16 students designed specifically for frosh, sophomore, and first-year transfer students. These distinctive seminars are offered in a wide range of disciplines, from about sixty departments and programs at Stanford University. Introductory Seminars are only open to matriculated undergraduates and seminar units count towards the 180 units needed to graduate. Many IntroSems fulfill Stanford's general education breadth requirement, or Ways of Thinking/Ways of Doing, and some fulfill the university's second-level writing requirement, Writing 2.

A key pedagogic mission of the seminars is that first- and second-year students have the opportunity to work with faculty directly. Therefore, the hiring and use of Teaching Assistants (TAs) is not supported by the IntroSems Program.

Frosh, sophomores and first-year transfer students are eligible to select their choices for pre-enrollment in IntroSems by selecting their top three seminars each quarter and submitting a statement of interest starting in August. There are deadlines for each quarter. Faculty select students from those who submit a statement and admitted students are enrolled before other courses open for enrollment. Students may self-enroll in IntroSems that still have space available after the pre-enrollment process ends each quarter.