FIRST-YEAR CONNECTIONS
First-Year Seminars
Fall 2026
FIRST-YEAR SEMINARS AND CLUSTERS
Connecting students to faculty, to New York City, and to one another!
Your first year of college is a time of exciting changes and transitions. First-year seminars and clusters are designed to get your college experience off to a great start. We encourage you to look at the course offerings and then let us know about your preferences.
What’s special about seminars and clusters?
• They are reserved for first-year students only. Taking a class with other first-year students will help with the transition to college – you will be able to form connections with other students who are sharing that experience with you.
• They help you explore possible interests for majors or minors. We offer seminars and clusters on a wide range of topics, taught by outstanding faculty who are excited for the opportunity to teach first-year students. This is our faculty’s chance to shine a spotlight on their area of expertise, and to share their enthusiasm with you!
DISTRIBUTION COURSE LEGEND
AA Appreciation and Analysis (Humanities)
BH Behavioral (Social Sciences)
CC Cross Cultural
CP Creative Participation (Humanities)
CS Computer Science
HP History/Philosophy/Religion (Social Sciences)
IS Interdisciplinary Studies
LT Literature (Humanities)
MA Mathematics
NS Natural Sciences
QR Quantitative Reasoning
• They satisfy graduation requirements, even if you are undecided about your major, or even if you switch majors down the line. These courses could satisfy a major requirement, a general education requirement (see “Distribution Course Legend”), or in some cases, both.
• They connect course topics to venues in New York City For example, faculty teaching music, dance, and drama courses accompany their students to performances, and science faculty take their students to museums and laboratories. Although it is easy to use public transportation to get from Hofstra to NYC, students find it helpful to have someone who knows what they are doing explain the process for their first NYC experience. To that end, seminar and cluster faculty accompany students for the duration of their course-related trips.
Reserve your spot!
Please look over the first-year seminar and cluster options in this brochure. Then, any day after April 2 2026, log in to the Hofstra portal (my.hofstra.edu) and indicate your preferences. Provide your top three choices in any combination (for example, two clusters and a seminar, or two seminars and a cluster). We can’t guarantee your first choice, but we can generally enroll you in one of the top three you indicate. When you attend one of the orientation sessions this summer, you’ll meet with an advisor and complete the rest of your fall schedule. At that time, you’re welcome to select a different seminar or cluster
Living-Learning Communities:
Living on campus? Several of the first-year clusters and a number of seminars are aligned with the academic theme of one of the living-learning communities in the first-year residence halls. Residential students enrolled in these clusters or seminars may choose to live together in one of these living-learning communities. Through these vibrant communities, first-year students are exposed to environments that are intellectually stimulating, supportive, and conducive to building lasting friendships and fostering academic excellence.
Note: Students may register for a seminar or cluster even if they do not choose to reside in an associated living-learning community.
Visit hofstra.edu/livelearn for information.
SEMINARS
Seminars are stand-alone courses – limited to 19 students. Each seminar fulfills a distribution requirement, and many also double-count toward major or minor requirements They allow you to interact in a small setting and connect with a faculty member who may become a mentor or perhaps even your major advisor, depending on the major you choose We’ve tried to design seminars to fit every interest, from astronomy to psychology and philosophy
ANTHROPOLOGY
1 ANTH 14F, sec 01: Bones, Bodies, and Burials (BH), 3 s h CRN 92656 T/TH, 9:40-11:05 a m , Kristen Hartnett-McCann
A skeleton is found in a shallow grave in a wooded area behind a strip mall. How should you collect all the evidence at this scene? How can you figure out who this person is and what happened to them? Is it a male or female? Child or adult?And what are those holes in the skull? Find out the answers in this course and learn about the diverse roles of a Forensic Anthropologist in a modern, medicolegal setting Students will participate in hands-on skeletal analyses, case studies, and class discussions. Contemporary issues such as human rights, serial killers, mass fatalities, and ethics of human subjects’ research will be investigated through readings and case examples
Please note: This course satisfies a University graduation requirement in the Social Sciences category
ART HISTORY
2. AH 14F, sec. 01: Exploring New York City’s Art Museums (AA), 3 s.h. CRN 91143 M/W, 11:20 a m -12:45 p m , Susan Schafer
This course will be an introduction to art history through virtual tours of the great art museums of New York City. We will begin with the extraordinary collections of Egyptian art at The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Brooklyn Museum, and continue through Ancient Greece and Rome and the Middle Ages Next, we will focus on the great artists of the Renaissance and Baroque periods -- for example Titian, Caravaggio, Rembrandt, and Vermeer -- in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and The Frick Collection We will continue our exploration with the art of the 18th and 19th centuries including Impressionist painters Monet and Degas and Post-Impressionists Van Gogh and Gauguin and will end our semester-long virtual journey in the rich collections of 20th and 21st-century art in the Museum of Modern Art and the Whitney Museum of American Art.
Please note: This course satisfies a University graduation requirement in the Humanities category.
ASTRONOMY
3. ASTR 14F, sec. QR1: Cosmic Explosions: The Cataclysmic Lives of Stars & Galaxies (NS, QR), 3 s h CRN 92742
MW, 4:50-6:45 p m ; Christina Lacey
This course investigates the birth and lives of stars, including stars like our sun. We study how stars produce energy and how some stars die with a whimper and some die spectacularly in massive supernova explosions. From there we talk about galaxies that are composed of these stars and the supermassive black holes that lurk at the hearts of most galaxies
Please note: This course satisfies University graduation requirements in both the Natural Sciences and Quantitative Reasoning categories
COMPARATIVE LITERATURE
4. CLL 14F, sec. 01: The Perils of Love in Literature (LT), 3 s.h. CRN 91997
T/TH, 1-2:25 p m , John Krapp
There are few things people desire more than love. We revel in it when we feel it. We fear the loss of it We lament it when it is gone But what is love? Is it anything more than an idea and a feeling associated with biochemical and neurological responses to our own bodies and the world around us? Would such knowledge help us negotiate love any more successfully? One of the places we can look for understanding and appreciation of love is literature, which represents characters with the same desires, appetites, and needs as we have. In this course, we will look at a variety of literary texts to prompt a conversation about the meaning and value of love both historically and in contemporary American culture Along the way, we will discuss whether unconditional love is possible, how social circumstances may color our understanding of love, whether or not love may have a spiritual component, whether we should separate love from sexual desire, and what may happen if we confuse the two
Please note: This course satisfies a University graduation requirement in the Humanities category.
COMPARATIVE LITERATURE
5 CLL 14F, sec 02: Knickerbocker New York (LT), 3 s h CRN 93486
T/TH, 4:20-5:45 p.m., Neil Donahue
Washington Irving’s popular fictions not only established him as America’s first internationally renowned author, but also mixed historical fact and scenic landscapes with supernatural folk legends in a potent, entertaining and timeless brew (as in Rip Van Winkle) This seminar will explore such stories set in the Hudson Valley against the background of excerpts from Irving’s quasi-historical History of New York (1809, under the pen name Diedrich Knickerbocker – where we get the name New York Knicks!) That work is a funky mix of remarkable New World mythology with historical fact about the Dutch colonial settlement of New Netherland and New Amsterdam, what later became New York City and New York State under the English The seminar will fun, interesting, and interdisciplinary and will introduce students to the greater NY metropolitan area in ways that will also surprise and delight those who have grown up here without knowing the history and connections
Please note: This course satisfies a University graduation requirement in the Humanities category
CREATIVE WRITING
6 CRWR 14F, sec 01: Keeping a Journal (CP), 3 s h CRN 92101 T/TH, 11:20a.m.- 12:45 p.m., Kelly McMasters
Using Lynda Barry’s book Syllabus as an inspiration this course will be an exploration of the artistic benefits of keeping a journal Students will be required to keep a daily journal, using exercises as prompts for noticing the world, for becoming aware of how to be present with our own selves and our inner lives while also coming to understand the importance of observation and seeing what’s there right in front of us Prompts will come in many forms and generally engage questions that writers are constantly asking either indirectly or directly: What makes good art? Where does imagination come from? How do we learn from books we love? Can creativity be contagious? Why do details matter? How does writer’s block get broken? What is bad writing? Why does art exist? In addition to Lynda Barry we will also look at journal excerpts from Anais Nin, Sylvia Plath, Virginia Woolf, Ann Frank, Susan Sontag, Vladimir Nabokov and others.
Please note: This course satisfies a University graduation requirement in the Humanities category.
ECONOMICS
7 ECO 14F, sec 01: The Future of Capitalism: Economics and Politics in Our Times (BH), 4 s.h. CRN 90388 M/W, 9:10-11:05 a m , Massoud Fazeli
Globalization and technological change are potent forces that offer prosperity to many and yet are also causing deep rifts, anxiety, and anger in considerable segments of our society Many
observers have referred to rising inequality and the erosion of economic security as defining characteristics of our evolving capitalist economy. Is it feasible to generate sustainable economic growth that is more equitably distributed? Do populism and nationalism merely signify a passing backlash against the new global order? Has the U.S. lost its economic and political dominance permanently? And is it possible to envision a new and qualitatively different global order?
Please note: This course satisfies a University graduation requirement in the Social Sciences category
FINE ARTS
8 FA 14F, sec 01: Curious Stranger: Experimental Drawing (CP), 3 s h CRN 92029
M/W, 9:40 -11:05 a.m., James Lee
This course is devoted to the exploration of alternative techniques, methods and concepts in contemporary art Students will develop individual artworks and experiment with materials and processes that contribute to a broadened understanding of drawing as a discipline Selected readings may be required, along with virtual/actual field trips to galleries and museums in New York City During the semester each student will develop a small series of drawings (approximately 8–12) of a body of work that incorporates some form of experimentation or the use of a specific technique or alternative material that we have discussed and worked on during class.
Please note: This course satisfies a University graduation requirement in the Humanities category.
9 FA 14F, sec A: Reclaiming Photography (CP), 3 s h CRN 92774
T/TH, 4:20- 5:45 p.m., Richard Odell
In this course you'll step away from the digital screen and immerse yourself in the timeless art of alternative photographic techniques, processes, and concepts in contemporary art. Students will create individual photographic works while experimenting with a variety of materials and methods that expand the understanding of photography beyond traditional practices. The course will focus on hands-on experimentation with processes such as, pinhole photography, image transfers, and other historic or unconventional techniques Selected readings may be assigned, and field trips (virtual or actual) to galleries and museums, including those in New York City, will provide context and inspiration Over the semester, each student will develop a small series of photographic works that incorporate experimentation with specific techniques or alternative materials discussed in class, culminating in a unique body of work that reflects their creative and technical growth
Please note: This course satisfies a University graduation requirement in the Humanities category
GEOLOGY
10. GEOL 14F, sec. 01: The Rise and Fall of Dinosaurs (NS), 3 s.h. CRN 93527 T/TH, 2:40-4:35 p.m.; J. Bret Bennington
Great cataclysms have shaped the history of life on Earth The dinosaurs came into the world on the heels of two of the greatest environmental catastrophes to ever scramble the biosphere, only to be rendered mostly extinct by an extraterrestrial impact that set the stage for our mammal-dominated world. In this course we will learn about how paleontologists document the history of life using rocks and fossils to tell the remarkable story of the rise of the dinosaurs and the extinction event that made the evolution of humans possible
Please note: This course satisfies a University graduation requirement in the Natural Sciences category
GEOGRAPHY AND GLOBAL STUDIES
11 GEOG 14F, sec 01: At Worlds’ End: Mapping Disasters (BH), 3 s h CRN 93580 or GS 14F, sec 02: At Worlds’ End: Mapping Disasters (IS), 3 s h CRN 93585 T/TH, 2:40-4:05 p.m.; Ruth Trumble
From collapsing cities to flooded planets, this course examines how film both popular and amateur imagines, documents, and remembers the end(s) of worlds across scales, from the local to the planetary Students use film as a lens for understanding geography, examining how disasters across different scales reveal the connections between environment, politics, and the human imagination of both collapse and renewal. In addition to watching and analyzing films, we will incorporate drawing, writing, place-based fieldtrips, and mapping to explore the power of the visual in shaping our understanding of human–environment relations and the geographies of hope that emerge amid disaster.
Please note: This course satisfies either a University graduation requirement in the Social Sciences category OR Interdisciplinary Studies category dependent on which CRN is used for registration
HISTORY
12. HIST 14F, sec. 01: Italian Diaspora (HP), 4 s.h. CRN 92357 M/W, 9:10-11:05, Stanislao Pugliese
Italy is a country of 60 million people. There are at least another 60 million people of Italian descent scattered across the globe, not just in the US, but in Canada, the Caribbean, South America, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Australia. What can these different migrations and
subsequent histories tell us about Italian history, migration, transnational ties, racism, assimilation, and cultural legacies? How does this diaspora compare to others?
Please note: This course satisfies a University graduation requirement in the Social Sciences category
13. HIST 14F, sec. 02: Medieval at the Movies (HP), 4 s.h. CRN 91851
T/TH, 2:40-4:35 p m , Burton Westermeier
Since the beginning of the twentieth century, films have been one of the main ways that knowledge of medieval European history has reached the broader public. In this course, we will view a range of films set in the Middle Ages while reading the historical sources on which they are based. In doing so, we will have the opportunity to consider to what extent fictional cinematic representations distort, illuminate, or otherwise shape our views of the past. The course will run the gamut from early classics such as La Passion de Jeanne d'Arc (The Passion of Joan of Arc) (1928) and Det sjunde inseglet (The Seventh Seal) (1957) to contemporary works such as The Little Hours (2017) and The Northman (2022).
Please note: This course satisfies a University graduation requirement in the Social Sciences category
LEGAL EDUCATION ACCELERATED PROGRAM (LEAP)
Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and Hofstra’s Maurice A. Deane School of Law offer a selective, accelerated program in which students earn both the Bachelor of Arts and the Juris Doctor in six years (one year less than if each degree were pursued separately) LEAP students can choose from among a wide variety of liberal arts majors. For a full program description, please visit hofstra edu/leap LEAP students are strongly encouraged to register for one of the following first-year seminars:
14 PSC 14F, sec 01: Law, Politics, and Society (BH), 4 s h CRN 91186
T/TH 9:10-11:05 a.m., Celeste Kaufman
Every year, tens of thousands of young people enter law school and begin the study of legal rules Most do so because they see the legal profession as a noble calling, and they enter it with a desire to promote justice. In their three years of full-time study of the law, however, these future lawyers spend little time thinking critically about legal rules and about the place of the lawyer in a just society In this course we explore how our legal rules and constitutional norms have developed; how the American legal system interacts with the rest of our political institutions; how the American legal system reflects the cultural norms, class distinctions, and idiosyncrasies of our society; and how legal rules and the role of the lawyer relate to larger ideals of a just society.
Please note: This course satisfies a University graduation requirement in the Social Sciences category
LINGUISTICS
15 LING 14F, sec 01: Language Detective: Confession, Interrogation, and Deception (IS), 3 s h CRN 93492
T/TH, 2:40-4:05 p.m., Robert Leonard
Interested in true crime and social justice? Hofstra professors work with the FBI, British intelligence units, police and at the Hofstra Death Penalty Justice Project to analyze evidence in the cause of justice This course centers on how Hofstra professors’ linguistic analyses have proved successful in real-world criminal and intelligence investigations--cases of murder, blackmail, terrorism, false confessions, and exoneration. You’ll receive training that the instructor regularly gives to FBI BAU (Behavioral Analysis Unit) agents and many others Our discussions will include specific cases on which Hofstra professors have worked with and sometimes on the opposite side of the FBI, NCIS, British intelligence, and the NYPD. Be advised: Some case studies and other course content contain extremely strong language, themes, sexual situations, and distressing, violent, and often gruesome details of crimes and pathological motivations. It will not be possible for student participants to avoid seeing, hearing, or dealing with this content in analyses.
Please note: This course satisfies a University graduation requirement in the Interdisciplinary Studies category
MUSIC
16 MUS 14F, sec 01: Yoga of Sound (AA), 3 s h CRN 92663 T/TH, 11:20 a.m.-12:45 p.m., Francesca Cassio
Reflecting on the role of “listening as a way of knowing”, this class introduces students to the theories about sound and music in South Asia. Building on Steven Feld’s groundbreaking studies on “acoustemology” (Feld 2024) and Judith Becker’s studies on “deep listening” (Becker 2004), this class explores the relationship between Nature and music-making in South Asia, with focus on the ‘yoga of sound’ as an indigenous knowledge system described in Sanskrit literature, such as the 13th-century treatise Sangīt Ratnākar Through an experiential approach, students will delve into the foundational principles of the South Asian music system, such as melodic frameworks (rāgas) and rhythmic cycles (tāla), and learn how to play and sing according to this tradition This class does not require the physical practice of yoga exercises
Please note: This course satisfies a University graduation requirement in the Humanities category.
PHILOSOPHY
17 PHI 14F, sec 01: The Meaning of Life (HP), 4 s h CRN 93560 T/TH, 11:20 a m -1:15 p m , Mark McEvoy
For us to have a chance of finding the meaning of life, human life must have meaning, or at least the lives of individual human beings must have meaning But perhaps these claims aren’t true, or don’t even make sense. Further, if claims about life having meaning aren’t true, or don’t even make sense, would that horrify or at least disappoint you? If so, does that reaction itself show that life has some kind of meaning after all? We pursue these questions through class discussions and readings.
Please note: This course satisfies a University graduation requirement in the Social Sciences category.
18. PHI 14F, sec. 02: Truth, Lies, and BS (HP), 4 s.h. CRN 93561 T/TH, 2:40-4:35 p m , Terry Godlove
We want to be told the truth, don’t we? Why, then, are we surrounded by so many lies, falsehoods, and nonsense? The question at the heart of this course is, "What is truth?" Truth is sometimes said to be the aim of inquiry, a criterion of knowledge, and the paramount relation between thought or language and the world, but we will see that each of these suggestions runs into problems. The truth about truth turns out to be a deep philosophical enigma. Readings from contemporary and classical sources.
Please note: This course satisfies a University graduation requirement in the Social Sciences category
POLITICAL SCIENCE
19. PSC 14F, sec. 02: Juvenile Justice and Law (BH), 4 s.h. CRN 90891 T/TH, 11:20 a m -1:15 p m , Celeste Kaufman
This course will examine the law and practice of juvenile justice in the United States. We will explore the historical reasons for a separate juvenile justice system, one that holds children legally accountable for criminal acts, and the role of the US Supreme Court in limiting and expanding the constitutional rights of juveniles. In this course, students will learn to analyze the ways that legal, political, and historical factors have influenced the development of the
American juvenile justice system, describe the legal and philosophical reasons for the existence of two distinct courts for crimes committed by juveniles, and identify landmark US Supreme Court cases that have established criminal procedures dealing with issues ranging from apprehension and prosecution to detention of juveniles.
Please note: This course satisfies a University graduation requirement in the Social Sciences category.
RADIO, TELEVISION, FILM
20 RTVF 184F, sec F01: How Did We Get to Sesame Street? How the Cultural Revolution of the 60’s Shaped Children’s Television, 3 s.h. CRN 92947
T/TH, 1-2:25 p m , Kristin Cosover Kanzer
Television programming has always reflected the art, culture, and politics of its time The societal upheaval of the 1960’s changed the children’s television industry forever Using video screenings of undeniably influential shows, entertainment industry publications, and analysis of historical text, students will explore successful children’s programming of the late 60’s and early 70’s Emphasis will be placed on researching and writing about pivotal historical events and will require students to trace television’s contributions This class will allow freshmen who may be interested in studying in the School of Communication to understand the functions and methods of television content producers
Please note: This course satisfies a University graduation requirement in the electives category
SUSTAINABILITY STUDIES
21 SBLY 14F, sec 01: Where Does My Food Come From? (IS), 3 s h CRN 92110
T/TH, 11:20 a m -1:15 p m , Sasha Pesci
Do you ever wonder how your food got to your plate? Do you wonder who produced it and what their farms are like? What are the environmental impacts of food production? Why do so many people in the world go hungry when it seems like so much food is wasted? How did we go from a situation where the vast majority of people were involved in agriculture, to the situation now where most of us only know about food through grocery stores? Should we eat organic and local, or eat more plant-based foods? What efforts exist to make the food system more equitable and sustainable? If these questions are interesting to you, then this is a course for you!
Please note: This course satisfies a University graduation requirement in the Interdisciplinary Studies category.
STUDENT SUCCESS
22-27
University 101 is designed to assist first-year students in making a positive adjustment to University life Students discuss topics that have an impact on a college experience, and they learn about important resources and support services available at the University Through discussions, readings, and assignments, students develop the skills and awareness that will serve them throughout their years at Hofstra and in the future, including study skills and time management
Please note: This course satisfies a University graduation requirement in the electives category Six sections are being offered One is geared toward students interested in pre-health disciplines, and meets for one hour each week throughout the Fall semester. Two sections are geared towards student athletes who need to balance training with their academic activities The other three sections are appropriate for students interested in any discipline for a major, and for students who have not yet declared a major
22. UNIV 101, sec. F01: University 101: Pre-Health, 1 s.h. CRN 92014 TH, 9:55-11:05 a m , Ellen Miller and Monica Schauss
23. UNIV 101, sec. F04: University 101: Student Athletes,1 s.h. CRN 92454 W, 5-6:15 p m , Alessandra Brady and Graham Radcliffe
24 UNIV 101, sec F05: University 101: Student Athletes, 1 s h CRN 93188 T, 8-9 a.m., Rachel Peel-McAndrew
25 UNIV 101, sec F03: University 101: All disciplines, 1 s h CRN 92016 T/TH, 9:55-11:05 a.m., Jennifer Boscarino-Green and Alexa Weber This section ends on 10/23/26
26. UNIV 101, sec. F07: University 101: All disciplines, 1 s.h. CRN 93190 W, 2:40-3:40 p m , Kimberly Sloan-Montalvo
27 UNIV 101, sec F08: University 101: All disciplines, 1 s h CRN 93192 W, 11:20 a.m.-12:40 p.m., Brittany Rhoden
CLUSTERS
Clusters are a “package deal.” You’ll take two or more courses that are grouped around a common theme For example, one of our Pre-Health Sciences clusters includes chemistry, biology, and first-year composition. Each course satisfies a graduation requirement, and by signing up for a cluster, often your fall semester schedule is at least halfway complete!
ANALYSES OF IDENTITY
F1. Inventing My Future: The First Gen Experience (Total = 4 s.h.)
This cluster is intended (ideal) for students who are in the first generation of their family to go to college, meaning that neither of their parents or guardians has earned a 4-year degree from an institution in the USA First-Generation students represent one in every three Hofstra students, and one out of two students nationally Led by faculty who were either first-generation themselves or who have a history of working to support them, this cluster will allow students to connect with faculty and each other, foster a sense of belonging, and engage their intellectual curiosity Students will learn and be encouraged to utilize various University resources that can aid in their academic and social success, read texts and articles pertaining to the first-generation student experience, work on projects comparing such circumstances in a historical context, and reflect and write about their own experience and motivations for going to college Learning in such an environment can help first-generation students better understand “how to college” and form a community of support to draw upon in their time at Hofstra Additional engagement opportunities will include off campus trips, home-cooked meals by first-generation faculty and staff, peer and/or faculty/staff mentorship, networking opportunities, and academic success and career planning workshops
Please note: UNIV 101 satisfies a University graduation requirement in the electives category; WSC 1 (or its equivalent) is required of all students. Students who receive transfer credit for WSC 1 can register for the cluster without the WSC 1 component The First-Generation living-learning community is a good option if you are interested in this cluster Visit hofstra.edu/livelearn for information.
WSC 1, sec F1: Composition (3 s h ) CRN 92892
M/W, 11:20 a.m.-12:45 p.m., Jennifer Cole and UNIV 101, sec. F1: University 101: First-Gen (1 s.h.) CRN 92455 W, 2:40-3:40 p m , Russ Smith
F2. Inventing My Future: Access and Allyship (Total = 4 s.h.)
This cluster is designed for students registered with Student Access Services and their peer allies, to create a space rooted in inclusion, opportunity, and empowerment. Students will explore themes of identity, voice, and belonging while building academic confidence and meaningful connections. Courses are led by faculty committed to accessibility and student success, and the experience is enriched through peer engagement and campus resource integration Students will have opportunities to explore personal identity development and build a supportive community grounded in shared experiences, advocacy, and pride They will be introduced to University resources that support academic and social success, including digital tools and technologies that enhance accessibility, organization, and productivity Students will reflect and write about their experiences and motivations for attending college Learning in this
environment helps students better understand “how to college” and develop a network of support throughout their time at Hofstra
Please note: UNIV 101 satisfies a University graduation requirement in the electives category; WSC 1 (or its equivalent) is required of all students. Students who receive transfer credit for WSC 1 can register for the cluster without the WSC 1 component The Access LLC at Stuyvesant living-learning community is a good option if you are interested in this cluster Visit hofstra.edu/livelearn for information.
WSC 1, sec. F2: Composition (3 s.h.) CRN 92416
T/TH, 11:20 a m -12:45 p m , Patricia Navarra and
UNIV 101, sec. F2: University 101: Access (1 s.h.) CRN 92015
T, 9:55 a m -11:05 a m , Ashley Andree and Liam Owens
EXPLORATIONS OF FILM, CULTURE, TELEVISION, AND PHILOSOPHY
F3: Media, Society, and Culture (Total = 9 s h )
Modern media and communication technologies continue to evolve at an exponential speed and function as an increasingly integral, if not indispensable, part of one’s everyday life as well as public life. This cluster introduces students to the fundamentals of analyzing media’s historical impact on society as well as its future trajectory In doing so, students learn about the cultural significance of modern media in the U S and around the world since its inception Students are invited to reflect on current trends and underlying societal norms that media productions and innovations reflect, disrupt, or reinforce We pay particular attention to how media developments contribute to the maintenance of existing power relations as well as create new power Please note: MASS 1 is required of all communication majors; RHET 1 satisfies a University graduation requirement in the Humanities Distribution category; WSC 1 (or its equivalent) is required of all students. Students who receive transfer credit for WSC 1 can register for the cluster without the WSC 1 component. The Communication living-learning community is a good option if you are interested in this cluster Visit hofstra edu/livelearn for information
RHET 1, sec F3: Oral Communication (CP), (3 s h ) CRN 91381
M/W, 11:20 a m -12:45 p m , Jamel Hudson and
MASS 1, sec F3: Mass Media: History and Development (3 s h ) CRN 92803
M/W, 2:40-4:05 p m , Brian McFadden and
WSC 1, sec F3: Composition (3 s h ) CRN 90776
M/W, 4:20-5:45 p.m., Robert Plath
F4: Film and Philosophy (Total = 10 s.h.)
This cluster integrates introductory courses in film and philosophy with first-year composition. The film course introduces the basic language of filmic expression and the methodologies of film study, including their influence on television and video There is an emphasis on the ways of
looking at films and television, the major concepts of theory, the various forms of film and television, and the techniques that determine visual styles. In the philosophy course, students consider whether film is a passive mirror of a preexisting reality, or whether we should think of it as possessing the power to actively construct a reality of its own. Can film be morally or socially dangerous? In the composition course, students write in a variety of genres about their work in the other two courses
Please note: RTVF 10 satisfies a University graduation requirement in the Humanities category; PHI 10 satisfies a University graduation requirement in the Social Sciences category; WSC 1 (or its equivalent) is required of all students. Students who receive transfer credit for WSC 1 can register for the cluster without the WSC 1 component The Studio living-learning community is a good option if you are interested in this cluster Visit hofstra edu/livelearn for information
RTVF 10, sec F4: Introduction to Cinema Studies (AA), (3 s h ) CRN 90334 M, 9:10 a.m.-12:45 p.m., Breixo Viejo and PHI 10, sec F4: Introduction to Philosophy (HP), (4 s h ) CRN 92881 T/TH, 9:10-11:05 a.m., John Farley and WSC 1, sec F4: Composition (3 s h ) CRN 90408 T/TH, 11:20 a.m.–12:45 p.m., Tejan Green Waszak
F5: Film Studies and Production (Total = 6 s.h.)
This cluster is intended primarily for film majors, or for other RTVF majors with an interest in film It combines the critical analysis of film aesthetics and narrative form (RTVF 10) with the practical application of those same principles in the students’ own short film projects (RTVF 27). By taking the first two film requirements together as a cluster, students begin to form connections as a community a “network” that will benefit them throughout their Studies.
Please note: RTVF 10 satisfies a University graduation requirement in the Humanities category; both RTVF 10 and RTVF 27 are required of all film majors or RTVF majors with an interest in film The Studio living-learning community is a good option if you are interested in this cluster Visit hofstra.edu/livelearn for information.
RTVF 10, sec F5: Introduction to Cinema Studies (AA), (3 s h ) CRN 90332 F, 9 a.m.-12:45 p.m., Rodney Hill and
RTVF 27, sec F5: Introductory Film Production (3 s h ) CRN 90342
T/TH, 1-2:25 p.m., George Nicholas or
RTVF 27, sec FE: Introductory Film Production (3 s h ) CRN 90341
T/TH, 9:40-11:05 a.m., William Jennings
F6: Film and Literature (Total = 9 s.h.)
This cluster integrates introductory courses in film studies (RTVF 010) and literature (ENGL 010). RTVF 010 (Introduction to Film Studies) provides an overview of the basic “language” of filmic expression and the methodologies of film study, emphasizing the critical analysis of film aesthetics and narrative form Screenings include films by a range of filmmakers from different periods of film history and various parts of the world. ENGL 010 (Introduction to Literary Study) provides an entry point into the college-level study of literature Readings include various genres and types of writing, considered in their historical, political, and aesthetic contexts The two courses in this cluster will explore the ways in which literature and film approach common stories and themes, by way of comparing and contrasting select novels, short stories, etc , to their film adaptations Other texts (both literary and cinematic) may be used to showcase the fundamental differences between the two modes of expression.
Please note: RTVF 10 satisfies a University graduation requirement in the Humanities category; ENGL 10 satisfies a University graduation requirement in the Humanities category; WSC 1 (or its equivalent) is required of all students Students who receive transfer credit for WSC 1 can register for the cluster without the WSC 1 component. The Studio living-learning community is a good option if you are interested in this cluster Visit hofstra edu/livelearn for information
RTVF 10, sec. F6: Introduction to Cinema Studies (AA), (3 s.h.) CRN 92584 TH, 4-8 p m , Sharron Greaves and
ENGL 10, sec. F6: Introduction to Literary Study (LT), (3 s.h.) CRN 92346 M/W, 4:20-5:45 p m Samantha McCalla and WSC 1, sec F6: Composition (3 s h ) CRN 90571 T/TH, 1 p m –2:25 p m , Tejan Green Waszak
PERFORMING ARTS
F7: Elements of Music (Total = 7-9 s.h.)
This cluster is designed for music majors, music education majors, or music minors, but is also suitable for non-majors with strong musical backgrounds. It includes a comprehensive survey of the fundamentals of music theory and notation, sight- reading for singing and rhythmic training, and the principles of voice leading and melodic structure that are most useful in the study of tonal harmony
Please note: MUS 61/61A and MUS 69/69A are required for all music majors. Students are placed in either MUS 61 or 61A, and either MUS 69 or 69A, based on their score on Hofstra’s music assessment test WSC 1 (or its equivalent) is required of all students Students who receive transfer credit for WSC 1 can register for the cluster without the WSC 1 component. The
S T A G E living- learning community is a good option if you are interested in this cluster Visit hofstra.edu/livelearn for information.
MUS 61, sec. F7: Elementary Ear Training (2 s.h.) CRN 90191
M/F, 10:10-11:05 a m , Neil Holcomb or
MUS 61A, sec. F7: Elementary Ear Training (3 s.h.) CRN 90298
M/W/F, 10:10-11:05 a m , Andres Maldonado and
MUS 69, sec F7: Music Fundamentals (2 s h ) CRN 90576
M/F, 9 -9:55 a.m., Neil Holcomb or
MUS 69A, sec. F7: Music Fundamentals (3 s.h.) CRN 90565
M/W/F, 9-9:55 a m , Philip Stoeker and
WSC 1, sec F7: Composition (3 s h ) CRN 92499
M/W, 2:40-4:05 p.m., Michael Heiss
F8: Modern Dance (Total = 8-10 s.h.)
This cluster is designed for incoming majors in dance or dance education. DNCE 11 focuses on technique in contemporary dance forms, and it is the first course in a four-year major sequence Students in the Bachelor of Arts track meet three times a week for DNCE 11; students in the Bachelor of Fine Arts track meet five times a week for DNCE 11 Students in both tracks will take MUS 151, which is a study of musical concepts as they apply to dance, and a composition course, in which writing assignments are connected to dance criticism. Students attend a variety of dance and music performances in New York City during the semester
Please note: DNCE 11 satisfies a University graduation requirement in the Humanities category; MUS 151 is required for dance majors on the BFA track and is strongly recommended for dance majors on the BA track; WSC 1 (or its equivalent) is required of all students. Students who receive transfer credit for WSC 1 can register for the cluster without the WSC 1 component. The S T A G E living-learning community is a good option if you are interested in this cluster Visit hofstra.edu/livelearn for information.
BA and BFA Tracks:
DNCE 11, sec. FC: Freshman Performance Lab CRN 90396 F, 11:20 a m – 12:45 p m , Robin Becker and
MUS 151, sec. A: Rhythmic Training and Accompaniment for Dance (3 s.h.) CRN 91704 T, 4:20-7:05 p m , Mark Katsaounis
and WSC 1, sec. F8: Composition (3 s.h.) CRN 90363
T/TH, 9:40-11:05 a m , Patricia Navarra and
BA Track:
DNCE 11, sec FA: Modern Dance I (CP), (2 s h ) CRN 92420
T/TH, 2:40-4:05 p.m., Robin Becker
BFA Track:
DNCE 11, sec. FAX: Modern Dance I (CP), (4 s.h.) CRN 91060
M/W, 11:20 a m -12:45 p m , Larry Keigwin
T/TH, 2:40-4:05 p m , Robin Becker
SPECIAL INTEREST
F9. Elections 2026 (Total = 7 s.h.)
This cluster examines U.S. politics, and policy making, focusing on the 2026 congressional midterm elections as well as current policy debates The cluster has three themes: foundations of American democracy; individuals, institutions, and organizations that influence politics and policy making; and institutional challenges in the 21st century We will begin by studying the values and principles that govern American politics, with particular attention to how they have evolved since the late eighteenth century. We then will study the values, institutions, and interests that inform policy-making debates We will conclude the cluster by considering how different political institutions might change governing approaches to American democracy For each topic, we will focus on case studies in the 2026 elections, particularly in New York and Long Island, and discuss their potential implications for U S politics and policy making
Please note: PSC 001 satisfies a University graduation requirement in the Social Sciences category; LIBR 001 satisfies a University graduation requirement in the electives category; WSC 1 (or its equivalent) is required of all students Students who receive transfer credit for WSC 1 can register for the cluster without the WSC 1 component.
PSC 001, sec F9: American Politics (BH), (3 s h ) CRN 93552
T/TH 1-2:25 p.m., Meena Bose and
LIBR 001, sec. DL: Introduction to Library and Information Technology, (1 s.h.) CRN 92643
Online asynchronous, Annmarie Boyle and
WSC 1, sec. F9: Composition, (3 s.h.) CRN 92456
T/TH, 2:40-4:05 p m , Daisy Miller
F10. Forensic Science
Forensic science is the application of science to investigations pertaining to the legal system
Forensic scientists apply principles and techniques of various sciences to the examination and comparison of biological evidence, trace evidence, impression evidence, drugs and firearms This cluster includes the foundational chemistry course students need to pursue forensic analysis, as well as the introductory course in forensic science to begin learning the basics of investigatory skills
CHEM 003A, sec F10: General Chemistry I (NS), (3 s h ) CRN 91406
M/W, 2:40-5:35 p m , Instructor TBA and
FOR 100, sec F10: Survey in Forensic Science (NS), (3 s h ) CRN 92012
M, 9:10-11:05 a m , Deborah Silva and
WSC 1, sec F10: Composition (3 s h ) CRN 91498
T/TH, 9:40-11:05 a.m., Laura LaVacca and
CHEM 003B, sec F10: General Chemistry Lab I, (1 s h ) CRN 93618
W, 9:55 a m -12:45 p m , Instructor TBA and
FOR 100, sec F3L: Survey in Forensic Science Lab, (0 s h ) CRN 93630
R, 1:30-3:20 p.m., Instructor TBA or
CHEM 003B, sec FB: General Chemistry Lab I, (1 s h ) CRN 90006
R, 2:40-5:30 p m , Ronald Strothkamp and
FOR 100, sec F2L: Survey in Forensic Science Lab, (0 s h ) CRN 93629 T, 1:30-3:20 p m , Instructor TBA
Please note: Cluster F10 carries an additional $150 laboratory fee CHEM 3 and FOR 100 both satisfy a University graduation requirement in the Natural Sciences category; CHEM 3 also satisfies the Quantitative Reasoning category; WSC 1 (or its equivalent) is required of all students Students who receive transfer credit for WSC 1 can register for the cluster without the WSC 1 component.
PRE-HEALTH / PRE-MEDICAL INTEREST
F11-12: Pre-Health Sciences
Students seeking to pursue a broad range of healthcare professions (such as medicine, dentistry, veterinary sciences, nursing, nutrition, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and physician assistant studies) will need to possess a solid foundation in science, particularly biology and chemistry. After all, organisms are massive collections of biological molecules executing complex combinations of chemical reactions in a highly controlled and regulated manner The Pre-Health Sciences Clusters explore general chemistry, biological processes from ecosystems to cells, and the interplay between these disciplines in the function of organisms, particularly humans Throughout the cluster, we consider how various chemical and biological processes are related and influence the human condition Students may select different combinations of courses within the pre-health sciences clusters, depending on their major interests and academic background The Health Sciences track in Cluster F12 introduces students to applied health research and epidemiology methods, the importance of teamwork in the health professions, and is ideal for students majoring in Health Science, Exercise Physiology (Pre-Medical Studies concentration), and School of Health Sciences undecided majors.
Please note for cluster F11 and cluster F12: Both carry an additional $135 laboratory fee BIOL 112 and CHEM 3A satisfy University graduation requirements in both the Natural Sciences and Quantitative Reasoning categories; WSC 1 (or its equivalent) is required of all students Students who receive transfer credit for WSC 1 can register for one of the clusters without the WSC 1 component. The Pre-Health Professions (PreP) living-learning community is a good option if you are interested in these clusters Visit hofstra edu/livelearn for information
F11 (Total = 11 s.h.) Pre-Health Sciences
BIOL 112, sec. F11: General Biology I (NS, QR), (4 s.h.) CRN 91601
M/W/F, 8:30-9:25 a m , Michael Shahandeh and
BIOL 112, sec. FBL: General Biology Lab I, (0 s.h.) CRN 91602
T, 2:40-5:35 p m , Instructor TBA and
CHEM 3A, sec. F11: General Chemistry (NS, QR), (3 s.h.) CRN 90245
M/W, 9:40-11:05 a m , and F, 10:10-11:05 a m , Instructor TBA and
CHEM 3B, sec. FA: General Chemistry Lab I, (1 s.h.) CRN 90163
W, 2:40-5:30 p m , William Nirode and
WSC 1, sec F11: Composition (3 s h ) CRN 92295
T/TH, 11:20 a m -12:45 p m , Neil Donahue or
BIOL 112, sec. F11: General Biology I (NS, QR), (4 s.h.) CRN 91601
M/W/F, 8:30-9:25 a m , Michael Shahandeh
and
BIOL 112 Lab, sec. FAL: General Biology Lab I, (0 s.h.) CRN 91603 TH, 9:40 a m -12:35 p m , Instructor TBA and
CHEM 3A, sec F11: General Chemistry (NS, QR), (3 s h ) CRN 90245
M/W, 9:40-11:05 a m , and F, 10:10-11:05 a m , Instructor TBA and
CHEM 3B, sec F11: General Chemistry Lab I, (1 s h ) CRN 91110 T, 2:40-5:30 p m , Instructor TBA
F12 (Total = 8-12 s h ) Pre-Health Sciences with Health Professions Track Option
BIOL 112, sec F12: General Biology I (NS, QR), (4 s h ) CRN 92157
T/TH, 11:20 a.m.-12:45 p.m., Russell Burke and
CHEM 3A, sec F12: General Chemistry (NS, QR), (3 s h ) CRN 92031
T/TH, 2:40-4:35 p.m., Mary Rooney and
HPR 73, sec F12: Framework and Design in Health Care (3 s h ) CRN 91163 T/TH, 11:20 a.m.-12:45 p.m., Hallie Decker and
HPR 179U, sec. F12: Introduction to Health Sciences (1 s.h.) CRN 91993 W, 11:20 a.m.-12:15 p.m., Katie Sell / Jamie Ghigiarelli and
BIOL 112 Lab, sec FCL: General Biology Lab I, (0 s h ) CRN 92155
F, 9:40 a.m.-12:35 p.m., Instructor TBA and
CHEM 3B, sec FC: General Chemistry Lab I, (1 s h ) CRN 90427 W, 2:40-5:30 p.m., Kevin Bisceglia or
BIOL 112 Lab, sec FDL: General Biology Lab I, (0 s h ) CRN 92156
F, 2:40-5:35 p.m., Instructor TBA and
CHEM 3B, sec FD: General Chemistry Lab I, (1 s h ) CRN 91771
F, 9:55 a.m.-12:45 p.m., Instructor TBA
F13: Health and Wellness (Total = 10 s h )
Understanding health and wellness and its impact on our communities in which we live and serve has never been more important. It is critical for the next generation of health care practitioners, clinicians, policymakers and advocates to possess a deep understanding of and appreciation for the importance of wellness, health promotion and disease prevention across the lifespan for all populations Through an interdisciplinary approach, this cluster will provide students with a better understanding of health safety, disease risk reduction and prevention, community health, the importance of health professions professionals working as a team, and health-focused expository writing at both the college and professional levels
Please note: This cluster is ideal for students majoring in Community Health, Exercise Physiology (Exercise Science and Allied Health concentration), and School of Health Sciences undecided majors WSC 1 (or its equivalent) is required of all students Students who receive transfer credit for WSC 1 can register for one of the clusters without the WSC 1 component. The Pre-Health Professions (PreP) living-learning community is a good option if you are interested in these clusters. Visit hofstra.edu/livelearn for information.
EXPH 010, sec F13: Contemporary and Historical Perspectives on Healthcare Reform (3 s h ) CRN 92563
M/W, 9:40-11:05 a m , Grace Valdez and HPR 62, sec. F13: Personal and Community Health (3 s.h.) CRN 90730
T/TH, 11:20 a m -12:45 p m , Sharon Phillips and HPR 179U, sec. F13: Introduction to Health Sciences (1 s.h.) CRN 91994 W, 11:20 a m -12:15 p m , Isma Chaudhry and WSC 1, sec F13: Composition (3 s h ) CRN 91779
M/W, 2:40-4:05 p m , Marilyn Buono
COMPUTER SCIENCE
F14:Computer Science: Thinking Machines – Math, Logic, and Programming (Total = 7 s.h.)
The field of artificial intelligence (AI) aims at developing “thinking machines” – intelligent computer systems that can learn, understand, reason, plan, solve problems, and even sense and act like humans Recently, advances in robotics and large- scale systems, machine learning, computational linguistics, computer vision, dynamic systems, neuroscience, and cognitive science have led to substantial advances in AI and brought us closer to reproducing human intelligence Researchers are now poised to address the main challenge of creating “general AI ” In this cluster we examine the foundations in mathematics and computer science on which all computer programs are built – including those that are capable of AI. Along the
way, through research and discussions, we highlight the people, ideas, and events that shaped AI, and explore its frontiers.
Please note: Priority is given to majors in the Computer Science Department, but non-majors are welcome CSC 14 satisfies a University graduation requirement in either the Computer Science or Mathematics category; CSC 15 satisfies a University graduation requirement in the Computer Science category. The Math/Science/Engineering living- learning community is a good option if you are interested in this cluster Visit hofstra edu/livelearn for information
CSC 14, sec. F9: Discrete Structures for Computer Science I (CS, MA), (3 s.h.) CRN 90893
Lecture, M/W, 11:20 a m -12:45 p m , Lab, F, 11:20 a m -12:15 p m ; Gretchen Ostenheimer and
CSC 15, sec. F9 and FBL: Fundamentals of Computer Science (CS), (4s.h.) CRNs 90277 & 90278
Lecture, M/W, 2:40-4:05 p.m..; Lab, T, 2:40-4:35 p.m.; Xiangmin Shen
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q. Can all first-year students take seminars and clusters?
A. Yes! All first-year students may take seminars or clusters in the fall semester and seminars in the spring semester of their first year. Students enrolled in Honors College may take seminars and clusters, but they should speak with their academic advisor to manage their schedule appropriately
Q. What will my fall course schedule look like if I take a first-year seminar or cluster?
A. If you take a seminar, it will be one course out of the set of four or five you will take between September and December 2026. If you take a cluster, you will have two or three cluster courses– for example, Drama, English, and Composition – in addition to two or three other courses, to total four or five courses for the fall term.
Q. I'm a psychology major. Will an economic seminar count toward graduation?
A. Yes. First-year seminars and clusters help you move closer to graduation. All students at Hofstra must take distribution courses — University graduation requirements - and almost all first-year options fulfill these requirements. In fact, we have designed these first-year options to help you explore your major and other paths you may choose to fulfill your career goals.
Q. I’m planning to major in business. Which cluster or seminar is right for me?
