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August 24-September 18, 2009

2009 REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED

On this page:
Courses for new freshmen: Discovery Seminars; Preparing for College Writing
Courses for currently enrolled UW students: Exploration Seminars

Early Fall Start offers students a wide variety of intensive courses and experiences. Since courses will be kept small, you will get to know your professor and fellow students, and enjoy more personalized instruction.

Courses for new freshmen

Discovery Seminars

Discovery Seminars are intensive, five-credit, month-long classes designed to meet the needs of incoming freshmen. Emphasizing interdisciplinary study, focused inquiry and writing, Discovery Seminars give you the chance to jump-start your freshman experience the month before autumn quarter begins. Discovery Seminar professors have worked together to establish shared, stimulating goals and strategies for these special classes. The intense interaction provides both a sense of belonging and responsibility as you confront the new rigors and opportunities of your University experience. For more information and to register, click on the "Discovery Seminars" link above.

Read comments about Early Fall Start from previous students.

Preparing for College Writing

ENGL 108 Writing Ready: Preparing for College Writing
What can freshmen new to the University of Washington but unsure about the quality of their writing skills learn that will enable them to perform more effectively in their college writing courses? This course answers that question by offering students an introduction to a series of reading and writing habits and strategies. That series includes:

how to use writing to deal with difficulty in college-level readings,
how to understand more fully the demands of different writing situations,
how to develop writing-related critical thinking skills,
how to assess your writing strengths, and how to build on those, and
how to read one's own and one's peers' writing more productively.

The course will also help students learn to use writing resources like campus writing centers, writing reference works and grammar texts. Students enrolled in the course will also have access to a writing center for additional support. This course will count as an elective toward the 180 credits required for completion of a bachelor's degree, but will not satisfy either the University's English composition or W-course requirements. To register, click on the "Preparing for College Writing" link above.

Read about ENGL 108.

Courses for currently enrolled UW students

Exploration Seminars

These month-long study-abroad seminars place learning into a global context. Designed as 5-credit, four-week courses, these Exploration Seminars will offer you the chance to explore a topic intensively within the focused inquiry of a learning community and separated from the familiarity of the everyday. Issues and ideas become much more immediate in a totally new learning context and in the give and take of on-going discussion. You will have the chance to gain flexibility of thought by being offered the chance to think, work, and interact in unfamiliar settings while experiencing the rich diversity of issues and approaches that our world has to offer. Now, more than ever, it is time to learn about our world. For additional information, click on the "Exploration Seminars" link above.

Participate in a unique learning experience
All of these engaging and innovative opportunities are offered during the four-week Early Fall Start session, August 24-September 18. Regular autumn quarter classes begin September 30, 2009. Early Fall Start opportunities offered as traditional courses will meet in the morning. Since they are intensive, they will meet for two to two and one half hours each day. Experiences offered as other than traditional courses will operate on their individual schedules.