<p>Can anyone comment on how available small, discussion-based seminars are to freshmen? I’m particularly interested in classes in the social sciences and humanities. Thanks.</p>
<p>We have something like 75 FYS which are pretty much all like that. Other than that, there are many courses easily accessible to freshman that are like this, probably over 100 additional courses. Can you be more specific? Also, due to shopping period at how registration/enrollment works, the courses that become discussion based seminars are not always obvious on day one of the class, it often depends on how many people stick around after shopping period. It’s rare in any social science or humanities class, IME, to have a lecture style class with less than 20 people.</p>
<p>I think you’ve answered my question. I may have more specific questions on this topic once our son gets home from ADOCH and delves more deeply into the Brown catalog, but for now, I definitely understand that he will have plenty of opportunity for face-to-face small group discussions! Thank you.</p>
<p>Yes, first year seminars are great in this respect. Here’s how my freshman year broke down, which (except for the taking five classes… a decision I might not advise you to emulate) I think is pretty typical proportion-wise for a humanities. A few intro/more popular classes in there, a few seminars, a few that are a mix through section…</p>
<p>2 freshman seminars (Education Controversies, Lit. and the American Presidency)
1 upper level seminar (Sociology of AIDS)
1 language class (Spanish)</p>
<p>2 lectures that broke down into sections (one with TA, one with prof)
2 science lectures with labs (not super discussion-y, but they’re there)
2 large lectures without sections (230ish, 120ish)</p>