Every student should have the opportunity to thrive during their first year on campus. The First-Year Seminar champions this by equipping first-year students with the resources needed to excel.
First-Year Seminar Courses feature:
- Distinguished faculty to convey the importance of life-long learning.
- A small seminar environment to illustrate expectations for college-level intellectual discourse.
- Dedicated peer mentors to introduce the many opportunities for academic and social engagement.
- Experiential learning to connect course content to community through field trips and class speakers.
The First-Year Seminar strives to supply first-year students with the foundation necessary for development and success from orientation through graduation and beyond. All students register for a First-Year Seminar during their first semester at Tulane.
There are two options for First-Year Seminar courses: TIDES and Colloquia (COLQ).
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The Tulane Interdisciplinary Experience Seminar (TIDES) is an opportunity to make meaningful connections with faculty and peers in a small group environment. By definition, TIDES is an interdisciplinary experience, driven by intellectual curiosity, active learning, and experiential education.
- The Honors Colloquium (COLQ) serves as the foundation of the academic honors experience. Distinguished faculty convey the importance of academic leadership and life-long learning in a small discussion-based seminar on a special topic; Dedicated peer mentors attend each class and introduce opportunities for academic and social engagement. We encourage all First-Year Honors Scholars to register for a Colloquium to experience a challenging academic environment.
Please note, honors scholars are allowed to take either a TIDES course or a Colloquium. TIDES courses are 1 credit, COLQ courses are 1.5 credits (with the exception of Great Books Colloquium being 3 credits).
Whether engaging in class discussion or exploring New Orleans, the classroom environment is unique, promoting interdisciplinary scholarship, relationship building, and the transition to campus. Committed faculty and upperclass peer mentors work to help every student thrive at Tulane, both academically and socially.