Program content
The program's instructional team determines the specific and broad academic foci of each seminar. While some activities might be specific to a track or theme, some activities will be done as a full group. Hence, all participants, regardless of location or track, will engage with the history, culture, and/or politics of the site and make comparisons back to the United States. |
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All programs will also typically include common large group activities—such as guest speakers, excursions, and cultural events, which give all students the opportunity to share their experiences and learning with each other. Based on these activities and the intercultural content of the entire program, students will begin to engage in MSU's Liberal Learning goals for undergraduate students. Specifically, students will:
- Learn to think about problems and problem-solving from multiple perspectives;
- Become more adept at interpersonal and academic communication, both orally and in writing;
- Explore the influence of culture on human interactions and decision-making;
- Use analysis and critique to consider important societal and disciplinary questions; and
- Investigate personal responsibility, identity, and role within society.
Though knowledge of the respective foreign language is not a requirement for participation in seminars in non-English speaking countries, students will learn linguistic and cultural strategies for coping in non-English-speaking environments.
Track content
To enhance faculty-student interaction, students participate in small groups called tracks. Each track has a thematic focus and consists of about 15 students and an MSU instructor. While on the program, students will meet for class discussions and activities with their tracks, complete assignments for their tracks, and be evaluated by their track instructor.
Enrollment in these tracks—as on the program itself—is on a first-come, first-served basis with effort made to give students their first preference. Typically, the faculty work together to ensure that both tracks fit with the overall program content, so all students will receive a similar experience, just with a different thematic emphasis.
General format
Typically, Freshman Seminars Abroad are short-term study abroad programs (12 to 18 days) designed exclusively for first-year students. In addition to the time spent abroad, all students participate in a campus orientation session and follow-up session when they return to campus in the Fall (see Post-program Activities below).
Students earn two credits for UGS 102 and receive a numeric (4.0-scale) grade for their work.
In most cases, UGS 102 will count as general university elective credits for students; however, some departments may use the course to substitute for certain requirements. Students should contact their academic advisor directly to see if the UGS 102 course will satisfy any MSU requirements. For students enrolled in the Residential College in the Arts and Humanities, UGS 102 tracks taught by RCAH faculty members will substitute for RCAH 195: First-Year Seminar. At this time, the RCAH approved tracks are "Culture and Resistance" in Mexico, "Work, Leisure and Employment Relations in our Global World" in Canada, and the (TBA) track in South Africa. Please note that the RCAH approved tracks could be subject to change if, for some unforeseen reason, the faculty member associated with the track changes. In the unlikely event that this should occur, the students enrolled in this track will be contacted directly.
Even if the course does not satisfy a specific graduation requirement, the UGS 102 seminars still provide the following academic benefits: (1) they help students improve college-level skills such as reading and writing, which prepares them better for their first semester at MSU; (2) they provide experience and insight into interesting topics and have helped students make major and career decisions; (3) they provide a means for students to engage with the university and distinguish themselves academically and professionally; and (4) they allow students meet new friends and MSU faculty and staff, which provides them with support and mentoring during their first year.
Post-program activities
After the program concludes in the summer, students will have at least two required meetings in September and October prior to grades being due. Students will receive the dates, times, and specific expectations from their instructors. Generally though, students will participate in at least two activities:
- Unpacking Your Freshman Seminar workshop this program is jointly run between the Career Services Network and the Office of Study Abroad and focuses on helping students connect their international experience with their personal and professional life.
- Final class meeting this session is a mandatory meeting to follow up on the program and includes the program students and faculty members. Activities can range from having dinner, giving presentations, doing reunion-type activities, or taking final exams.
In addition to these mandatory sessions, students will have the opportunity to engage in many other international and cultural events on campus. In the past, students have organized meals, movie nights, social activities, and seminars around their interests.
A new option this year is the opportunity for students continue their international learning by enrolling in special sections of required MSU courses. MSU has arranged, in cooperation with the Colleges of Arts and Letters and Social Science, special sections of WRA (first-year writing), and IAH (integrative studies in arts and humanities), and ISS (integrative studies in social science). Sections of these university requirements will be reserved especially for FSA participants and international students, and the courses' content will focus on extending students' international and cultural learning over their first year.
Please note that this program is not mandatory, and there are a limited number of open seats in these classes. Also, students may want to check their major requirements prior to signing up for this opportunity. Although all students must fulfill writing, humanities, and social science requirements to graduate from MSU, some students may satisfy these requirements through alternative means, such as transfer credit, AP credit, honor's courses, or discipline-specific coursework. Additional information about this opportunity, including the sign-up process, will come with students' acceptance materials. |
