All Discovery Seminars follow the same structure listed here:

• Each 1.0 unit seminar meets for a total of ten hours during the quarter, and each 2.0 unit seminar meets for a total of twenty hours.
• All grading is passed/not passed (P/NP).
• Students complete enrollment using GOLD.
• Detailed course descriptions can be found by visiting the Discovery Seminars main page.
• Discovery Seminars do not have finals assigned during Finals Week. Any final exam should be administered during the final class meeting for these seminars. In addition, regular class meetings may not take place during Finals Week. 

The $300 provided for course support may be used for field trips for the class. Outings to museums, field research sites, plays, and lectures provide wonderful material for class discussions.

If you choose to plan a field trip, please note that your seminar will have an enrollment cap of 11 students. Course instructors are responsible for coordinating the use of campus vehicles for off-site excursions through UCSB Transportation Services.

As Discovery Seminars are one- or two-unit classes, formal research papers are rarely assigned. Grades might be based largely on attendance, class participation, or in-class work/presentations. In regards to course reading, asking students to read one to two books or a compiled reader is reasonable.

Many seminars are based on a professor’s current research project/topic, professional interest, or personal interest. Having each professor choose their topic allows students to learn about current faculty interests and provides academic exposure to the research process. Since these seminars are designed for first-year or transfer students, coursework and discussion level should be appropriate for this level.

Senate faculty and Unit 18 faculty (Pre-sixth, Continuing, and Senior Continuing Lecturers) are eligible to teach Discovery Seminars. These seminars are taught in addition to the faculty member's regular workload and are compensated with research funds, as outlined below.