The First Year Seminar program aims to facilitate the successful transition of new students to Penn State through their engagement with other members of the campus community and through their introduction to the use of university and campus resources.
First Year Seminar courses are designated with an "S" or "T" and are offered both in the fall and in the spring semester. In addition to the in-class work of the course, students are required to attend 5 out-of-class cocurricular events:
- An Advising event (mandatory)
- A WE ARE One Community (Title IX) event (mandatory)
- A Writing Ethics and Academic Integrity event (mandatory)
- 2 other events of your choice (mandatory)
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Transfer students are not required to complete a First Year Seminar. Penn State defines transfer students as having attempted or completed 18 or more credits at another college or university after high school graduation. Other students can check if they've already completed the First Year Seminar requirement by running a What-If Report for their major and seeing if the First-Year Seminar section is listed as "Satisfied" by a previous course.