About the Seminars

Your First Semester at SMCM: LEAD Seminars

The Lead Seminar topics cover numerous disciplines and fields of study, ensuring that all students will find a seminar that fits their unique interests.

The LEAD Seminars (LEAD 101 and LEAD 301) are an integral part of the LEAD Curriculum at St. Mary’s College of Maryland. As small, discussion-focused classes, they create a shared academic experience for all new SMCM students.

LEAD Seminars also provide a foundation for getting to know the College community. Each seminar has a Peer Mentor, who helps new students acclimate to SMCM inside and outside of the classroom.

Who is required to take Lead 101 and 301?

First-year students (i.e., those who have not attended another college or university as well as students who have attended another institution but are transferring in 24 or fewer credits) are required to take LEAD 101 during their first semester at SMCM.

Transfer students (defined as students with more than 24 credits) are required to take LEAD 301 during their first semester at SMCM.

In their Lead Seminars, students will focus on the four key liberal arts skills through the unique lens of their Seminar topic. The Seminars teach students how to think and communicate powerfully in the classroom and beyond. These skills will empower students to make the most of their St. Mary’s academic experience, regardless of their major.

These skills include:

• Critical Thinking: Critical thinking occurs when we ask questions about what we know. Seminar students practice their critical thinking skills by considering texts and contexts, and by evaluating the consistency, coherence, importance, and originality of ideas.
• Information Literacy: Information literacy skills support students’ critical thinking. In their LEAD Seminar, students get to know the library and learn to use electronic resources effectively. Students identify when information is needed, and practice how to locate, analyze, evaluate, and use various forms of information.
• Written Expression: All seminar students develop their ability to articulate a coherent, creative, and compelling line of thought in writing, with attention to language and rhetorical context. Writing in each seminar puts critical thinking and information literacy skills to work to communicate complex ideas effectively.
• Oral Expression: Students in LEAD Seminars are also expected to practice their oral expression skills. Through both informal discussions and formal presentations, students work on delivering a coherent, creative, and compelling line of thought that’s tailored to their audience.