Students are introduced to college-level writing and thinking as students are given an arena for grappling with course content and interdisciplinary ideas.
These groundbreaking courses embrace the mission of connecting every first-year student at one of the nation’s best research universities with distinguished faculty members utilizing innovative teaching techniques in unique learning environments. Signature Courses serve 11,000 students per academic year. The professors’ areas of expertise and passion are the vehicle for this rigorous intellectual experience, in which students develop a common set of important college-level skills in research, writing, information literacy, communication, and discussion through an approach that is interdisciplinary, collaborative, experiential, and contemporary.
Course Essentials
University Gems
Distinguished Faculty
Students enrolled in Signature Courses learn from award-winning teachers, renowned scholars, and distinguished researchers from across campus.
Interdisciplinary &
Contemporary ContentStudents will have the opportunity to acquire knowledge through symbiotic relationships between disciplines as well as the opportunity to apply that knowledge to contemporary issues.
Writing
Students are introduced to college-level writing and thinking as students are given an arena for grappling with course content and interdisciplinary ideas.
Oral Communication
Students will acquire the skills needed to effectively communicate their thoughts and share their work at the college level.
University Lecture Series
Students have the opportunity to interact with leading members of our faculty, scholars, scientists, and civic leaders‹who are nationally and internationally renowned.
Critical Thinking
Students will improve the quality of their thinking by analyzing, assessing, reconstructing, and applying creativity to form an argument, solve a problem, or reach a conclusion.
Information Literacy
Students will learn to critically examine valid sources of material as they are taught basic research and information evaluation skills.