Apply Now
University of St.Thomas
Apply Now

Freshman Symposium

Explore your Catholic, Liberal Arts education

Apply Today
Symposium Course Descriptions

Freshman Symposium Overview

Discerning Aristotle and Aquinas

Rooted in the virtue ethics tradition of Aristotle and St. Thomas Aquinas, Freshman Symposium is a one-credit hour seminar that prepares first-year students in their transition to the University of St. Thomas. The course explores a Catholic, liberal arts education and helps students develop essential academic habits, build meaningful relationships, and discern their strengths while understanding how that fits within their educational purpose in pursuing truth.

While all courses are rooted in College Readiness, some sections are tailored to best serve specific UST populations, such as first-generation, STEM-bound, faith-based, and other groups. 

Students will register for all classes, including Freshman Symposium, through their mystthom portal. Click the link below to look at the Freshman Symposium courses offered this fall! 

Course Descriptions

Purpose of Freshman Symposium

Grounding Students in Faith and Reason

In an effort to help our first-year students’ transition from high school to college, Freshman Symposium is a way to help students see the importance of a Catholic, liberal arts education, promote a deep sense of belonging and connection to UST, and build habits of character grounded in virtue ethics that prepare students for lifelong flourishing and academic success.  

 

After completing Freshman Symposium, students will be able to:  

  • Demonstrate college-ready academic habits and self-directed learning strategies; 
  • Articulate the University’s identity and mission 
  • Exercise the Cardinal Virtues (prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance) as habits in their personal and professional lives 
  • Develop a sense of belonging at UST that supports persistence and resilience  

Student Experience

Freshman Symposium FAQ

Freshman Symposium is a one-hour credit course that all incoming freshmen take! It is designed to give you a strong foundation as a first-year student and help you in your acclimation to life as a student at the University of St. Thomas. 

Yes. This class is one of the required courses that you will complete as an undergraduate. 

No! In Freshman Symposium, you’ll experience a variety of topic areas, but all with some core pieces. This is a college readiness course that includes specialized class sections that reflect specific UST student needs such as courses that are tailed for first-generation students, STEM students, pre-nursing, faith-based student groups and more. 

You will complete one credit hour, which goes toward your required degree completion. 

Convocation Day is the first official day of your Freshman Symposium Class. This will begin your academic career and celebrate the start of your journey as a Celt! On this special day, freshman and faculty and staff mentors come together for Mass and a reception. Then, you will meet your specific course mentors, learn about your Freshman Symposium course, attend a large group session discussing college readiness, and get to know more about the mission of the University. For 2026-27, Convocation Day will be on Friday, August 14, 2026. 

If you need help understanding Freshman Symposium or have questions about the courses, contact Caroline Wendt, in Campus Life and Student Activities, at wendt.caroline@stthom.edu!

Follow us on Instagram to stay up to date, @ustfreshmansymposium. 

Follow us on Social Media!

Join Our Community

Engaging Faith Within Culture

Whether you seek deeper formation, advanced study, or new insight into the relationship between faith and culture, the Nesti Center welcomes you into a school of dialogue, discernment, and transformation rooted in the Gospel message and its relationship to the American way of life.  

Apply Today