Course Description:
The First Year at Siena Seminar (FYSM) is a two semester, writing intensive course taken sequentially by all first year students, and passing both is a graduation requirement. The goal of FYSM is to prepare students for the intellectual life of college: how to read critically, how to engage with a text, how to articulate an informed position on big questions, how to write clearly and persuasively, how to voice an opinion in a classroom conversation, how to make connections between and among the texts they are reading, the subjects they are studying, as well as between Siena and the world. Incoming students will become deep critical thinkers, and they will understand and appreciate the Franciscan heritage that guides the mission of Siena University. First and foremost, this course is academically rigorous and a symbol of academic excellence.
Under most circumstances, students remain with the same faculty member and classmates for both semesters. The Franciscan Concerns explored during the Fall semester are Heritage and the Natural World and those explored during the Spring semester are Diversity and Social Justice. There are interdisciplinary texts associated with each Franciscan concern that are common to all sections of the course. Individual faculty assign additional texts related to the overarching theme of their choosing. In order to meet the goals of the seminar, class size is limited to 19 students. Classes are structured along a learning community model, where careful reading, vigorous class discussions, writing as a way of learning, and thesis-driven argumentative essays are valued.
In order to meet the goals of the seminar, class size is limited to 19 students. Classes are structured along a “learning community” model, where careful reading, vigorous class conversation, using writing as a way of learning, and thesis driven argumentative essays are valued.
Transfer students are required to take specially designated sections of FYSM.
- Students who transfer to Siena with fewer than 24 credits earned while matriculated at another college or university, must take (and pass) FYSM 100-transfer and FYSM 101-transfer in order to graduate.
- Students who transfer to Siena with 24 or more credits earned while matriculated at another college or university, must take (and pass) FYSM 200 in order to graduate.
Learning Goals:
1. Informed Reasoning: Students will think clearly, critically, and creatively. They will do this through rigorous engagement with both the common, shared texts and with the texts specific to the individual theme of the course.
Students will demonstrate competence in information literacy and research.
A two semester, incremental approach to information literacy is recommended.
Fall Semester: Each First Year at Siena Seminar professor is required to schedule a library research session that emphasizes finding and evaluating a variety of credible sources.
Spring Semester: Ideally, a second session will be scheduled that emphasizes the development and organization of the research process.
2. Effective communication: Students will read carefully, write clearly, listen closely, and voice their positions persuasively.
3. Reflection on Franciscan concerns: Students will read and reflect on the values of both St. Francis and St. Clare.
Students will explore the four Franciscan core values: Heritage, Natural World, Diversity, and Social Justice.
4. Social and Personal Development: Students will develop socially and personally.