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 Sexual Misconduct Training, Alcohol and Drug Training and Education (Title IX) event (mandatory)
- A Writing Ethics event (mandatory)
- 2 other events of your choice
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Students are excused from First Year Seminar at Penn State Harrisburg if they transferred at least 18 academic credits from another institution after high school or transferred at least 24 credits from a prior Penn State campus that did not require a first year seminar. Please note that students who completed college credits during high school as dual enrollment students are still required to complete a First Year Seminar.