The courses they pursue are thematically linked to encourage the exploration of academic majors, and are designed to satisfy general education requirements. Recent FIGs have focused on architecture, business, medieval studies, English, and Environmental Studies. About half of the FIGs include a one-credit course, College Experience, taught by an instructor who teaches one of the FIG lecture classes. Returning students coordinate activities and serve as mentors to new students. Freshman Seminars are innovative courses developed to introduce new students to some of the outstanding faculty at the University of Oregon in a more personalized setting.
Class size is limited to twenty students.
Unlike more traditional lecture courses, Freshman Seminars emphasize active discussion and development of a sense of community. These courses encourage interaction between classmates and the open expression of ideas, helping new students develop confidence in their participation in academic discussion while establishing new friendships with peers and with faculty members. The Robert Donald Clark Honors College is a small liberal-arts college within the UO that provides students with a sense of community and a rich curriculum of liberal arts. The aim of the Honors College is to encourage students to reach beyond professional or specialized training to pursue a lifetime of active learning. The curriculum's intellectual breadth and emphasis on critical learning and communication skills help you meet this goal.