Core Course

Kresge 1: Academic Literacy and Ethos (“Core”)

In Kresge 1 (also called “Core”), first-year students learn foundational practices for intellectual and personal development in an academic community: analysis, critical thinking, meta-cognition, engagement with others across difference, and self-efficacy. Kresge 1, taught seminar-style in a class of 25-30 students, empowers you to practice academic styles of reading, analysis, and discussion that will contribute to your success as a student no matter which major you choose. The course also helps you to ground yourself and feel a sense of belonging to the college community you’ve just joined.

Kresge Core is framed by three overarching questions: How do I learn? Why do I learn? and From whom do I learn? We begin the quarter with close reading, reflection, and discussion of some key texts that take up what it means to learn and to be part of a learning community (i.e. college). Midway through the quarter, each student undertakes an “oral history” project, for which they interview an Elder – a parent, grandparent, teacher, mentor, etc. – about a transformational experience in that person’s life. Then, for the final Capstone Creative project, students retell that person’s story in a creative genre, for instance, a graphic novella,  poem,  song,  short story,  painting, or mini-documentary. At the end of the quarter, students have an opportunity to share their creative projects with one another in class, and also to exhibit their projects at Core Night, a mini arts-and-culture festival on the last Thursday evening of Fall instruction. 

In addition to their Core seminar, students will attend “plenaries” on certain Thursday evenings. Plenaries are large gatherings of multiple sections and will feature Kresge alums and UCSC faculty talking about their scholarly and creative work.