(Approved unanimously by the FS Staff on January 29, 1997; placed on all FS syllabi)

Freshman Seminar is a year-long course taken by all freshmen. The goal of this course is to initiate students to membership in a Catholic liberal arts community dedicated to life-long inquiry in the pursuit of truth. This initiation entails their engagement in a process of reflection which brings them to examine critically the beliefs, opinions, and value judgments which inform their actions in both the Mount Saint Mary’s community and society at large. Freshman Seminar facilitates the development of writing, reading, critical thinking and speaking skills central to such inquiry and prerequisite for academic and personal success. Students develop these skills and self-awareness as they explore issues relevant to work, education, and values. Faculty assist such exploration as seminar instructors and as advisors who are attentive to the personal well-being of students.