what is seminar in college

A seminar in college is a small, discussion-based course where students complete readings and assignments before class and discuss major themes or topics during class. Seminars are often higher-level classes that focus on a specialized subject area in a given major or minor. They are usually led by a professor and are limited in scope and duration. Seminars are interactive, with students participating in a dialogue rather than just listening to a professor and taking notes. Students are expected to participate regularly in college seminars, including giving presentations and participating in discussions. Seminars are usually smaller than lecture classes, often fewer than a dozen people, and are limited in scope and duration. Seminars can occur at a conference, as part of a learning community structure, or as a stand-alone course. The Freshman Seminar, for example, is a single 3-credit course embedded in the learning community structure, which is designed to ease students transition from high school to college life and to promote discussion and reflection about academic goals.