Please note: The information displayed here is current as of Sunday, December 22, 2024, but the official Course Catalog should be used for all official planning.
First Year Studies
| Professor | J. Clark (Geosciences, chair) |
|---|
First-Year Studies has been the cornerstone of the Lawrence curriculum for over 70 years. Originally designed by Lawrence President Nathan Pusey, it was first taught in 1945 and is still best understood as an introduction to liberal learning.
Students take First-Year Studies in their first term on campus. Each section of the course includes about fifteen people, allowing for close relationships between students and instructors. The small seminar-style sections are supplemented by community-wide events such as panel discussions, lectures, and performances by Lawrence faculty members or by visiting presenters throughout the term. Because each section addresses the same works at the same time, First-Year Studies also helps students join in the life of a larger intellectual community, one that now includes generations of Lawrentians.
The course has a central theme that changes every four years. For 2024-2027 the theme is “Water”. Works include ancient flood narratives of Gilgamesh and Noah, writings about the Great Lakes and sea-level rise, contemporary poetry, and music of the Delta Blues tradition. Through this cohesive but varied collection of works, students cultivate intellectual curiosity and develop fundamental skills: the ability to read actively, to appreciate multiple perspectives, to discuss challenging topics, and to hone writing. In all these ways, the course helps students to develop the skills needed for success in college and in later life.