Introductory Seminars: Current Quarter Info

CLASS

                     APPLY NOW! at vcais.stanford.edu
View the 2012-13 Catalog      

1. The course offerings contained in this catalog may change; please check the table of changes and updates on this page.
2. To verify GER's, schedule, grade type or special notes, go to Explore Courses as it is the university's official record of courses.

• Like feedback on your application essay? Sign up for an online consultation with a Hume Writing Center  tutor
• Review Tips on Writing an Application Essay by Dr. Joyce Moser, SIS Associate Director.
• Follow the Stanford IntroSems Facebook page for IntroSems updates.

Application Period, Deadline, Result Postings and Enrollment

Application website is http://vcais.stanford.edu  -  SAVE will submit an application; return to the application website to view the results about 10 days later.

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Changes and Updates

PLEASE NOTE: For the most current and official information about schedules, GER's and special course notes, see Stanford Bulletin's Explore Courses which supersedes course information contained in the Introductory Seminars catalog or online application website. 

IntroSems With Spaces Available: Autumn Quarter

SIS Introductory Seminars that have space available are listed here. Unless required by the instructor, applications are not necessary. While attending Freshmen, Sophomores and first year transfers still have preference for the open seats, an instructor may also grant permission to upperclassmen as well.

PHYSICS 45N Advanced Topics in Light and Heat [Prerequisite concurrent enrollment in Physics 45 or consent] (Romani)

RELIGST 16N The Story of Human Virtues (Sadeghi)

TAPS 184Q The Personal is Political: Art, Activisma nd Performance (Hill)

SPECLANG 198Q Modern Greece in Film and Literature (Prionas)

GERMAN 120Q Contemporary Politics in Germany [Prerequisite: prior study of German] (Berman)

GERMAN 128N Medicine, Modernism, and Mysticism in Thomas Mann's the Magic Mountain (Berman)

SLAVIC 77Q Russia's Weird Classic: Nikolai Gogol (Fleishman)

SOC 15N The Transformation of Socialist Societies (Young)

ITALIAN 41N Imagining Italy (Springer)

COMPMED 89Q Ouch! It Hurts! The Comparative Neurobiology of Pain (Pacharinsak)

EE 60N   Man Versus Nature: Coping with Diasters Using Space Technology (Zebker)

CLASSGEN 22N  Technologies of Civilization: Writing, Numbres, and Money (Netz)

ANTHRO 27N  The Anthropology of Globalization: Place Matters (Ebron)

POLISCI 28N  The Changing Nature of Racial identity in American Politics (Davenport)

CS 76N  Elections and Technology (Dill) 

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 Nuts and Bolts: Application Status, Enrollment Process

• ACCEPTED is not the same as enrolling for the course in Axess. The program will add any acceptance(s) to study lists--provided that doing so will not exceed the maximum allowable units on your study list. Write-2 certified courses are handled differently, please see below.
• One week before the first day of instruction in a quarter, SIS Introductory Seminars that are not Write-2, will be opened for general enrollment. Instructor permission is required for self-enrollment (ae. Accepted or by instructor notification).
• Write-2 courses:  students accepted into these courses are handled differently. The program offices will add/drop the course to their Axess study lists. Accepted students will be notified prior to this action. If  plans change and the student cannot take the course, notification to the program and the  instructor is required.
• More on Write-2 introsems:
  • Completion of a Write-2 introsem will satisfy the University's Second level Writing and Rhetoric requirement, Write-2.
  • These courses are primarily limited to students who have completed the first level Writing and Rhetoric requirement (PWR 1) and have not yet fulfilled (PWR 2) Write-2. 
  • The class rosters (ADD/DROP) for these courses are managed by Stanford Introductory Studies (SIS).
• WAIT LISTED: If your status is “Waitlist,” attend the first day of class to enhance or find out your chances. If it is a Write-2 introsem and you are still interested, attendance is a good way to let the instructor know that if a space opens, you are a "good candidate".
• NOT ADMITTED: check for space available courses, usually posted on the same day as statuses are released. At the online catalog, check the box for "Space Available" in the specified quarter.
• UNREVIEWED: The instructor may decide at the first class meeting, so be sure to attend.

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Tips on Applying to Seminars

• Hume Writing Center offers consultation and tutoring as well as workshops at the dorms on "Writing an Application" - look for the schedule and for drop-in hours on the Writing Center's calendar.
• TELL A STORY about yourself and your interest in the subject. Faculty look for students with diverse backgrounds and attitudes. The better the instructor can understand your motivations and approach, the more likely he or she will be to keep you in mind in constructing the final class list.
• Write a well-crafted paragraph or two for the application questions. Essays have a limit of 3,000 characters.
• PROOFREAD and share your essays with an advisor, family member, or friend.
• Keep an open mind about what might interest you. Remember that while some seminars are over-subscribed, others will have spaces available after the application deadline.
• Save your applications as you write, and be aware of deadlines. Your application will not be accepted after the 5:00pm deadline.

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Further Resources

• FAQs for students about using the online course selection and application system.
• Have a question? Check-out answers to the most frequently asked student questions here at the Introductory Seminar FAQs .
• Download the  Course Selection Worksheet (PDF)
• ExploreCourses is the primary source for course schedules and GER certifications.
• Contact us at [email protected] or (650) 724-2405.

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