Mission Statement: Seminar fosters learning communities that inquire, analyze, write, speak, and practice scholarship.

Vision Statement: Seminar offers all students engaging and meaningful learning opportunities built on innovative teaching.

Values: Adaptability, Respect, Curiosity, Creativity, Innovation, Community.

General Education’s Purposeful Learning Capacity is fulfilled by Seminar, the first-year academic experience for students entering SOU. This three-term, 12-credit sequence- WR 121Z - Composition I , WR 122Z - Composition II , and WR 123 - Composition III –introduces students to lifelong learning skills through personal and professional self-awareness and goal setting, ownership of education, information gathering and critical analysis, and peer collaboration. Students select a sequence designed around a theme related to broader multidisciplinary issues and contemporary problems. The theme provides ways to explore the other five capacities as well as opportunities to practice reading different genres and responding to different writing situations using appropriate rhetorical strategies, such as description, self-reflection, summarization, and argumentation. Usually, students remain with the same instructor and classmates for all three courses in the sequence. Small group activities and large class discussions allow students to develop interpersonal communication and oral presentation skills. Students need to complete each course in the sequence with a C- or better. The Seminar office is located in Central Hall, room 051.

Courses

Seminar

Optional

• WR 100 - Transition to College Writing  
• WR 185 - Academic Workshop: Reading and Writing Skills  
• WR 187 - Academic Workshop: Presentation Skills   

Required

• WR 121Z - Composition I  
• WR 122Z - Composition II  
• WR 123 - Composition III  

Optional

• WR 199 - Special Studies  
• WR 409 - Advanced Practicum  

Writing Center

The following courses are offered to students who are interested in working as peer tutors in the SOU Writing Center.

• WR 200 - The Writing Center in Theory and Practice  (2 credits) - is required of all Writing Center tutors.
• WR 209 - Practicum  (2 credits) - is recommended for all Writing Center tutors.