IntroSems & Your Stanford Education

What are IntroSems

Introductory Seminars are designed for matriculated frosh, sophomore, and first-year transfer students at Stanford. Frosh have priority for First-year Seminars (catalog numbers ending in 'N') and receive second priority for Sophomore Seminars (catalog numbers ending in 'Q'). It is the inverse for sophomores and first-year transfer students who receive first priority for Sophomore Seminars and second priority for First-year Seminars. Some IntroSems may count towards a major or minor and all IntroSems count toward the 180 units required for an undergraduate degree.

First-year Seminars

First-year Introductory Seminars offer a preview of potential majors and minors and invite you to explore options, whether you have narrowed your focus to a few related fields or are entirely open to discovery. They are designed to be accessible to frosh regardless of prior high-school background. First-year Seminars rarely have prerequisites, except curiosity and an open mind. They can serve as a gateway to Stanford’s research mission by connecting you with Academic Council (tenure-line) faculty in a class related to their research and scholarship, faculty who may serve as a supportive resource throughout your undergraduate years. 

Sophomore Seminars

Sophomore Introductory Seminars aim to personalize education for students who are closer to declaring their major in their second year, and these IntroSems continue to encourage a spirit of mentorship between students and instructors. Sophomore Seminars may have minimal prerequisites, but are still targeted to an audience of non-specialists, keeping in the spirit of intellectual exploration.

IntroSems and Undergraduate Requirements

IntroSems and Ways

Many First-year Seminars and Sophomores Seminars are certified to satisfy the university's general education requirement, Ways of Thinking, Ways of Doing. If an IntroSem is certified for one of the eight Ways areas, look for that to be indicated in each seminar page in the Explore IntroSems catalog and Navigate Classes as well as in the IntroSems' VCA portal where students enter their choices for pre-enrollment.

IntroSems and Writing 2

• Completion of a Writing 2 IntroSem will satisfy the University's second level Writing and Rhetoric requirement, Writing 2.
• Writing 2 IntroSems are an alternative to a PWR2 section.
• The Writing 2 IntroSem must be taken for a Letter Grade to satisfy the Writing 2 requirement.
• If the Writing 2 IntroSem is certified to satisfy a Way, the course may count towards fulfilling the Way in addition to Writing 2.
• Writing 2 Sophomores Seminars are only open to sophomores and first-year transfer students who have completed the first level Writing and Rhetoric requirement, Writing 1 (most commonly through a PWR1), and have yet to complete the second-level writing requirement.
• Enrollment in Writing 2 IntroSems is managed by the IntroSems Office, not the PWR Office. This means all drops from the class and adds from the waitlist must go through the IntroSems Office for Writing 2 IntroSems. If you are enrolled in a Writing 2 IntroSem and subsequently decide to drop, please send your drop request to introsems@stanford.edu as soon as you decide so another student can enroll in the class.

Frosh—Please note that you should not apply for pre-enrollment in Writing 2 Sophomore Seminars even if you have completed Writing 1. Second-year students who need to complete the requirement in their second year are prioritized for all seats. Occasionally, there are offerings of Writing 2 First-year Seminars where frosh receive priority. Check Explore IntroSems to see if any Writing 2 First-year Seminars are being offered in the upcoming year.