The First-Year Seminar Program provides incoming students with intimate, small discussion-based courses taught by some of Yale’s most distinguished faculty members. These seminars offer students the opportunity to engage deeply with the material, participate in vibrant discussions, and hone critical thinking and analytical skills. By fostering a close-knit learning community, the program introduces students to Yale’s rigorous academic environment from the outset of their undergraduate journey. Most of the seminars include field trips to various destinations such as the Gull Island Institute, American Museum of Natural History, Intrepid Museum, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Broadway Theater, New York Live Arts, and more.
 
Each year, approximately 100 first-year seminars are offered across a diverse range of departments and programs within Yale College. These seminars serve various purposes, from offering an introduction to specific fields to exploring interdisciplinary topics in depth.

The Residential College Seminar Program offers distinctive and inventive courses that diverge from traditional departmental frameworks, often instructed by professionals from diverse backgrounds. Sponsored by Yale’s fourteen residential colleges, these seminars are led by a diverse range of individuals, including Yale staff and professionals from outside academic, such as writers, artists, journalists, and politicians. Seminar topics may be proposed by potential instructors, as well as by students, fellows, and heads of residential colleges.

Directed Studies (DS), a selective program for first-year students, is an interdisciplinary introduction to influential texts of Western and some Near Eastern cultures from ancient Greece to the twentieth century.

The Education Studies Program offers a comprehensive framework for students interested in the research, policy, and practice of education. At Yale, the interdisciplinary study of education encompasses a broad spectrum of topics, including citizenship, governance, social reproduction, child development, and social inequality.

The Energy Studies Program prepares selected Yale College students for advanced studies and leadership roles in energy related fields. Through interdisciplinary study, students explore the intersection of energy science with technology, the natural environment, and societal implications. The program equips students with the knowledge and skills to effectively lead the transition towards cleaner and more sustainable energy systems.

The Global Health Studies Program prepares students to critically engage with global health and its multifaceted challenges in contemporary societies. As an interdisciplinary field, global health demands a nuanced understanding of the intersections between politics, history, and economics. Students engage with insights from disciplines such as anthropology, ethics, law, and sociology, public health and the biomedical sciences to develop a comprehensive perspective.

The Human Rights Studies Program offers an interdisciplinary exploration of human rights, providing students with the analytical, conceptual, and practical skills essential for in-depth study. The program facilitates connections between students to affiliate faculty and peers, supports student research projects and internships, and provides guidance for post-graduate pursuits in human rights related fields.

The Yale Sustainable Food Program serves as a central hub for innovation and critical exploration of food and agricultural systems, addressing global challenges. It manages a multi-functional teaching farm on Yale’s campus, tailored to support classes across disciplines, including biological and physical sciences, social sciences, and arts and humanities. Collaborating closely with faculty, the program enhances classroom learning by offering experiential opportunities at the farm, integrating course material with real-world experiences. Furthermore, it hots workshops, conferences, and colloquia, inviting speakers engaged in impactful food systems work. The program provides numerous opportunities for students, including internships, fellowships, awards, and both curricular and extra-curricular experiences, fostering engagement at all levels of study throughout the academic year and summer months.