Special Academic Programs

Yale students may choose to take advantage of special academic programs in a variety of fields. The following programs—Directed Studies, Perspectives on Science, and STARS—may be of particular interest to prospective Yale College freshmen who seek focused exploration of the sciences or humanities in their first year of undergraduate study. The Freshmen Seminar Program is a more general option for Yale freshmen with a variety of academic interests and strengths. For a complete list of special programs offered by Yale College, click here.

Directed Studies

Directed Studies, a selective program for freshmen, is an interdisciplinary study of Western civilization. One hundred twenty-five students are accepted each year.

All students enrolled in Directed Studies take three yearlong courses—literature, philosophy, and historical and political thought—in which they read the central texts of the Western tradition. The fall term introduces students to the principal works of classical antiquity and to the Judeo-Christian tradition. The fall term ends with the Middle Ages. The spring term begins with the Renaissance and ends with the twentieth century.

Click here for Directed Studies program description and application procedures. The Freshman Handbook, mailed in May to all students who plan to matriculate at Yale, also contains information on this program. Some students are offered admission to the program on the basis of their Yale College application.

Additional Resources

The Freshman Seminar Program

The Freshman Seminar Program offers incoming students the opportunity to enroll in small classes that have been designed specifically with freshmen in mind. In addition to fostering a stimulating intellectual environment, these seminars help first-year students forge relationships with faculty members and peers. Many of the seminars offer an introduction to a particular field of study and provide an opportunity for students to join the community of inquiry in that discipline. The number and the range of seminars vary from year to year. Students must apply and preregister for Freshman Seminars during the summer before freshman year. A list of the current Freshman Seminars can be found here.

Perspectives on Science

Perspectives on Science is a lecture and discussion course designed to supplement the standard academic program for a select group of freshmen with unusually strong backgrounds in science and mathematics. The course explores a broad range of topics at the frontiers of science. It also highlights the interdependence of the various fields of science and the relation between science and society. Participants attend biweekly lectures by members of the Yale science faculty. In the intervening weeks, groups of ten to fifteen students and two faculty participants meet to discuss these lectures. The course runs through the entire academic year; one course credit is awarded for successful completion of both terms.

Enrollment is limited to about sixty freshmen who, having applied, are selected on the basis of outstanding admissions records in mathematics and natural science. Click here for Perspectives on Science program description and application procedures. The Freshman Handbook, mailed in May to all students who plan to matriculate at Yale, also contains this information.

STARS

The STARS (Science, Technology and Research Scholars) Program provides undergraduates of every year with an opportunity to combine research, course-based study, and development of mentorship skills. The STARS Program offers research opportunities and support to students historically under-represented in the fields of natural science and quantitative reasoning, such as racial and ethnic minorities, women, and the physically challenged.

Since its inception in 1995, STARS has provided academic enrichment to freshmen and sophomores. With the development of STARS II, the program now provides similar support to juniors and seniors, as well as to an increasing number of summer fellows. More than 100 students each year participate in the academic year and summer STARS programs. Click here for STARS program description and application procedures.