Program Planning Fall 2025

Hello First-Years!

Please find below the list of all of the Program Planning meetings for Fall 2025! Some have already taken place while others are about to take place very soon!

Best,

The First-Year Team

Department Name	Meeting Date and Time	Meeting Location
Education	Oct. 21, 7:00 - 8:00 PM	Milstein 614
Film Studies	Nov. 12, 5:30 - 6:30 PM	Barnard Hall 405
Cognitive Science	Oct. 22, 7:00 - 8:00 PM	Event Oval
Computer Science	Nov. 11, 5:30 - 6:30 PM	Milstein 514
Theatre	Nov. 5, 5:00 - 6:00 PM	Milbank 229
Biology	Nov. 7, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM	Sulzberger Parlor
Economics	Nov. 10, 1:00 - 2:00 PM	Diana 203
Sociology	Oct. 29, 5:30 - 6:30 PM	Sulzberger South Tower
Human Rights	Oct. 21, 6:00 - 7:00 PM	Sulzberger Parlor
Neuroscience & Behavior	Nov. 6, 1:10 - 2:00 PM	Milstein LL001
Philosophy	Nov. 12, 12:00 - 1:00 PM	326 Milbank
Political Science	Nov. 5, 5:30 - 6:30 PM	203 Diana Center
Classics & Ancient Studies	Oct 31, 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM	406 Barnard Hall
Architecture	Oct. 29, 5:30 - 6:00 PM	The McCagg Gallery, Diana Center
Urban Studies	Oct. 28, 6:00 PM	Diana Center 203
Dance	Oct. 30, 5:30 - 6:10 PM	306 Barnard Hall
Art History	Nov. 5, 11:30 AM	McCagg Gallery
Women's, Gender & Sexuality	Nov. 18, 4:15 PM	205 Barnard Hall
Chemistry	Nov. 13, 12:00 PM	Sulzberger Parlor

Education Program - Program Planning for Spring 2026!

Hello First-Years,

Please take a look at the following flyer below for the Barnard Education Program - Program Planning schedule for the next couple of weeks if you are interested and looking to plan courses with Education faculty!

Best,

The First-Year Team

Update: Additional Writing Fellow appointments added for BWC!

Hello First-Years!

We hope you are well! We wanted to share a quick update from the Barnard Writing Center in that, due to increased demand, they have added 30 more Writing Fellow appointments to their weekly schedule!

You can refer to this previous blog post for further information on the Barnard Writing Center and can make an appointment here!

Appointments are released a week in advance, so please make sure to sign up early if you need help with your writing.

Best,

The First-Year Team

Film Studies Program Planning Meeting!

 

Political Science Major Program Planning Meeting on November 5th!

Hello First-Years!

The Barnard Political Science Department will be holding a Major Program Planning meeting next Wednesday, November 5th from 5:30-6:30PM in 203 Diana Center for prospective majors if you are interested!

Please take a look at the flyer down below! You can RSVP here or use the QR code! Refreshments will be served!

Best,

The First-Year Team

NSBV Meeting for New and Prospective Majors on November 6th!

Hello First-Years!

The Barnard Neuroscience & Behavior (NSBV) Department will be hosting a meeting for new and prospective majors on Thursday, November 6th from 1:10-2:00PM in Milstein LL0001, which will be their version of a "program planning" meeting.

If you are not able to make it in-person, you can attend the meeting virtually over Zoom by using the Zoom ID 752 261 8457 to join remotely!

After the meeting, students will be able to meet with NSBV faculty, learning about major requirements, discuss recommended sequences of courses, and more!

First-Year Seminar Workshop Spring 2026

Hello First-Years! 

If you are taking First-Year Seminar (FYS) in Spring 2026 for your FYE, please take a look at the information down below regarding two sections of FYS "Workshop" being offered next semester if you are interested!

Best,

The First-Year Team

------

To students taking First-Year Seminar in Spring, 2026:

This spring, the First-Year Seminar (FYS) Program is offering two sections of FYS "Workshop," a four-credit version of FYS designed for students who feel they would benefit from extra support with critical reading and academic writing skills. FYS Workshop fulfills the FYS requirement and is equally as rigorous as FYS. There are three main differences:

· In addition to regular seminar meetings twice per week, FYS Workshop students meet one-on-one with a Writing Fellow for one hour every other week, giving you an opportunity to get feedback from and discuss your ideas with a trained peer throughout the semester.

· Each section of FYS Workshop is worth 4 credits (instead of 3.)

· Each section of FYS Workshop is slightly smaller (capped at 14 students.)

If you think you would benefit from the extra writing support FYS Workshop offers, please fill out this short application by Wednesday, November 5th at 5PM. You will be notified (via email) about whether we can offer you a spot before the registration period begins in November. You will receive special sign-up information at that time.

 

See course descriptions below.

 

If you have any questions about the FYS Workshop Program, feel free to email Professor Condillac at vcondill@barnard.edu.

 

FYS BC1001.001: BORDER STORIES (WKSHOP)

Francesca E. Austin Ochoa

The topic of this Seminar course takes an interdisciplinary approach to thinking about, and traversing, the constructs of the border. The U.S.- Mexico border delimits more than nations; it is both a political and a social geography, marked by bodies of water, mountains, walls, ideologies, repression, and resistance. The crisis currently taking place at the border is an unfolding story with many narrators. We will study literary texts: fiction, poetry, and memoir written by those who know the border, and borderlands, intimately. We will also engage histories, social movement doctrine, and media coverage to mine the stories they tell.

 

 

FYS BC1001.002: DEAD AND UNDEAD (WKSHOP)

Penelope Usher

What does it mean to be dead? Why the fascination—across time and culture—with conceiving of ways in which the dead can become un-dead? And how is being undead different from being alive? To investigate and trouble the boundaries between life and death (and un-death), we will analyze works from various genres and media, discussing near-death experiences, beating-heart cadavers, and a range of figures including zombies, ghosts, and other revenants. Objects of study include texts by Zora Neale Hurston, Ovid, Montaigne, Shakespeare, Edgar Allen Poe, Nalo Hopkinson, and Mary Shelley; music by Camille Saint-Saëns; artwork by Hans Holbein and Breughel; television and film (Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Tim Burton’s Frankenweenie); and more.

How do you find your unofficial transcript?

Hey First-Years,

Looking to access your college transcript, but don't know how to find it? Here are the steps to find your unofficial transcript:

1) Go to Student Planning, and click on 'Unofficial Transcript'

2) Once you click on 'Unofficial Transcript', you will see the following image. All you have to do it click on the 'Student COPY Transcript' document and your transcript will download! Then you can access it. Mission accomplished! :)

If you have any questions feel free to reach out to first-year@barnard.edu or registrar@barnard.edu.

Best,

The First Year Team

Languages Fair on 10/27!

Hello First-Years!

Please take a look at the flyer down below for the upcoming Languages Fair taking place on Monday, October 27th from 12-2PM in the Diana Center Event Oval if you are interested!

Come discover the languages taught at Barnard, including new offerings in Chinese, Korean, Italian and American Sign Language!

Learn about the language requirement at Barnard!

Explore the possibilities for study abroad!

 

Enjoy international candy as well!! 

Best,

The First-Year Team

Education Program Open House on 10/21!

Hello First-Years!

Are interested in pursuing education studies or urban teaching? The Barnard Education Program will be hosting an open house for students on Tuesday, October 21st from 7-8PM in Milstein 614, so if you are interested, take this wonderful opportunity to attend their session!

Please see the flyer down below:

Best,

The First-Year Team

Midterm Season is Upon Us...

Hi First-Years,

It's about that time of the semester... Caffeine consumption is increasing, while hours of sleep are decreasing. More meals are starting to look like you, your kettle, and a pack of instant noodles. We've all been there and we're all in this together! In the stress of it all it's easy to forget about all the resources that could make your life a little better right now, so I'm here to remind you today :)

Before we get into it, just a quick reminder: YOU GOT THIS! You are doing your best and you will make it through! <3

If you're looking for academic support you can visit these links: help rooms, peer tutoring, peer academic coaching, writing fellows, speaking fellows, the Center for Engaged Pedagogy, and the Empirical Reasoning Center. If you need help with an essay or a presentation, you can reach out to the writing and speaking fellows. If you're having trouble understanding course concepts for Biology, Computer Science, Economics, etc, you can reach out to peer tutors. These, and other, academic resources are all at your disposable for various different needs that may come up.

On the other hand, if you're feeling down or stressed overall, no matter the cause, you can also reach out to Furman Counseling for individual or group therapy sessions. 

Please remember that you are never alone. These resources are here for you and as always The First-Year Team is here for you. Don't hesitate to contacts us at first-year@barnard.edu with any questions or concerns. 

How to drop a class by the Oct 7 deadline!

Friday, 9/12/2025 was the deadline to add a class, but you can still drop up to the October 7 deadline (after the drop deadline, you can withdraw with a W on or before November 13)

Follow the easy online steps below to drop a class on or before the deadline. 

1. Contact your adviser to discuss and obtain their approval

Best practice is to have an advising conversation where you discuss options and any possible implications of this drop on your full-time status or your graduation progress, but depending on how much you and your adviser have already discussed things, they may agree to review and approve your form without such a meeting

2. Submit the online Drop Request Form

You will only be able to drop online if your adviser has granted this permission. Be sure that you are not attempting to drop below 12 credits unless approved via CARDS or as a final-semester senior  -- the system will not allow drop below 12 credits without additional approval.

 

3. As soon as your adviser grants permission, you will receive an email informing you that you have permission to drop the class(es) discussed.

While this adviser permission is for the specific class you request, functionally it reopens your ability to drop in general, so be sure to drop the right class and nothing else.

 

4. Log into Vergil to drop the class within two days and on or before the October 7 deadline.*

If you don't drop within the 2-day window, you will need to request permission again. 

*Note that you must drop on or before the drop deadline if you want the class removed from your transcript.

 

FAQ: I filled out the form and it was approved. Why is the class still on my record?

A: The form/permission does NOT drop you from the class; it just temporarily reopens your ability to drop a class yourself -- don't forget to do step 4 above!

 

FAQ: I dropped the class and it was removed from my transcript, and I just noticed that it is mysteriously back there now?!?! 

A: This is rare, but there is a known technical glitch that sometimes causes this to happen. If you notice a previously dropped class has returned to your schedule, please email registrar@barnard.edu. 

Study Abroad Workshops!

Hello First-Years!

Are you interested/thinking about studying abroad during your time at Barnard? Please take a look at the flyer down below for more information!

First-Year students should attend a workshop prior to booking a study abroad advising appointment. Here is the link to the rest of the Study Abroad Workshops for the semester.

If you have any further questions, feel free to be in touch with Krista Rockholt, Director of Study Abroad, at krockhol@barnard.edu

Best,

The First-Year Team

Upcoming Annual Majors Fair!

Hey First-Years!

Exciting news... Our Annual Majors Fair is happening in about 1 week! Many of you may not know what you'd like to major in just yet, which is completely normal. Take this opportunity to learn more about the different departments to get closer to making that decision :) 

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to email us at first-year@barnard.edu!

Best,

The First-Year Team

Take Part in a Research Study!

Hey First-Years,

Come help out by taking part in a research study currently being conducted by a PhD student at Northeastern! Check out this flyer for more info... 👀

Also, feel free to fill out this form here!

Best,

The First Year Team

Empirical Reasoning Center (ERC) Workshops!

Hello First-Years!

The Empirical Reasoning Center is hosting several workshops on the upcoming Fridays. Please see what is being offered below:

SQL Workshop

Join us for a SQL workshop this Friday! Build your resume skills by learning to write SQL queries to retrieve and analyze data. Whether you’re strengthening career skills or just curious about new ways to work with data, there’s something here for you.

RSVP here
Date: Friday, September 26 at 12 PM
Location: Milstein 102

R Workshop

Join us for a series of R workshops! As we wrapped up our first intro to R last Friday, we are ready to dive into how to use dplyr to clean, analyze, and visualize your datasets! If you were not able to attend our first workshop, you can watch the recording here

Data Analysis in R: RSVP here
Date: Friday, October 3rd at 10:30 AM
Location: Milstein 102

Data Visualization in R: RSVP here
Date: Friday, October 10th at 10:30 AM
Location: Milstein 102

QGIS Workshop

Want to turn raw data into beautiful, interactive maps? Join us for a series of QGIS workshops! Learn QGIS to create maps and visualize your data spatially. No previous experience required. 

Intro to QGIS: RSVP here
Date: Friday, September 26 at 10:30 AM
Location: Milstein 102

Intermediate QGIS: RSVP here
Date: Friday, October 10th at 12 PM
Location: Milstein 102

Excel Workshop

Excel is more than a spreadsheet - join us for an Excel workshop in intermediate data analysis. Perfect for anyone working on research projects, internships, or student org budgets. If you were not able to attend our introductory workshop, you can watch the recording here

Intermediate Data Analysis in Excel: RSVP here
Date: Friday, October 3rd at 12 PM
Location: Milstein 102

2025 Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE) Conference!

Hello First-Years!

Columbia Engineering is happy to invite interested Barnard students to join the Engineering 2025 Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE) Conference taking place on Thursday, October 9th, 2025 from 8:30AM - 3:00PM in the Davis Auditorium at the Columbia University, Morningside Campus!

This annual event aims to educate and inspire women from all backgrounds to pursue graduate degrees and careers in science and engineering. It offers a unique opportunity for attendees to learn about the challenges, opportunities, and rewards of being a woman in these fields. Additionally, students will have the chance to expand their networks within the Columbia Engineering community and beyond, connecting with some of the brightest and most ambitious women in science and engineering. This experience will further empower you to make an impact as the next generation of leaders!

You can register for the event through this link and find the agenda!

If you have any further questions, feel free to reach out to Ying Xu, Assistant Director of Graduate Admissions at Columbia Engineering, at yx2783@columbia.edu

Student Worker Fall 2025 Walk-ins!

Hey First-Years!

Congratulations on nearly finishing your second week of classes. We are excited to announce that walk-in hours with student workers is back! Feel free to stop by and talk to your fellow classmate about classes, life at Barnard, and more. These walk-ins will take place on: Tuesdays 3-4pm on Zoom and Fridays 10-11am in Milbank 105. These hours will be held by Riya (me). I've already had the pleasure of meeting so many of you over the summer, but here is a quick introduction to get to know a little more about me. 

 

That's me! My name is Riya and I'm a junior at Barnard. I was born in India but grew up in Hong Kong (yes, I'm a fellow international student). Currently, I'm studying Neuroscience and Economics. You'll also find me doing neuroscience research at the Romeo Lab at Barnard and planning events like Holi and Diwali with the Hindu Student's Organization. In my free time I love painting and eating lots of good food with my friends. If you have any questions at all, don't hesitate to come by my walk-ins or approach me if you see me around. I would love to meet you all if I could :)

Best,

The First Year Team

Moving with the Voice (DNCE-BC2456) open for Fall 2025!

Hello First-Years!

We wanted to send out a message from the Dance department about an open Dance course available to First-Year students if you are interested in taking this course and fulfill your PE requirement (this course is worth 2 credits.) Please see the following information down below:

Moving with the Voice (DNCE-BC2456) is a voice-movement-theater improvisation and composition class  inspired by the work of MacArthur Genius grant recipient, Meredith Monk. Allison Easter is teaching the course and has worked with Meredith Monk since 1985.

The class is open to all interested students. No experience  necessary, just a willingness to sing and move! 

Broaden your horizons. Explore your creativity. Get PE credit. 

Days/Times: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:40-3:55PM 

Location: Streng Studio, Barnard Hall, first floor (opposite the fitness center) 

Instructor: Allison Easter

Link to the course listing on the CU Course Directory and on Vergil if you would like more information.

If you have any further questions, please reach out to Allison Easter at aeaster@barnard.edu

UPCOMING DEADLINE REMINDERS!

Hey First-Years,

We hope the first week of classes (aka, FWOC😍) went well for everyone! Although we're sure you're all caught up in the excitement of the semester starting, we wouldn't want you to forget about some very important reminders. Please make sure you've done the following things by the end of this week:

1. You must be registered in a minimum of 12 credits by Friday, September 12. If this is the case, your Fall 2025 Course Plan in Vergil must be green (i.e. fully registered), for all courses that you are taking this semester. This includes your First-Year Seminar/Writing and PE, or any Dance technique, Varsity sport, or rehearsal/performance course for which you will earn credit this semester. 
2. You must meet with your pre-major adviser. Your adviser must approve your course schedule in Vergil by Friday, September 12th. Make sure to reach out to them ASAP, if you haven't already. If you're unsure how to find your who your pre-major adviser is, check out this link. Need advice or approval and can't reach your adviser?  Visit us in the Deans' office!

If you've already done the action items mentioned above, congratulations! Although, there's more. Please also make sure you're aware of the following reminders and deadlines:

• Friday, Sept 12 is the last day you may officially add a course to your schedule. If you need to add a course to your schedule after that date, you may need to petition the Committee on Programs and Academic Standing for permission to do so (contact your class dean if you need info about this), and a late fee may be charged.
• You may still drop courses until the Drop Deadline, which is October 7.  However, to drop a course after this Friday you will need to meet with your adviser for approval. 
• It is a good practice to check Vergil in the third week of term to confirm that your enrollment is accurate.  You should be signed up for all the classes you intend to take, and you shouldn't see any on your schedule that you might have forgotten to drop or that you ended up in after you were enrolled off a waitlist you forgot you were on.  

If you are having any issues with adding or dropping courses and waitlists, please visit or contact the Registrar's Office at registrar@barnard.edu! The First Year Team's email is also always open to your queries and concerns at first-year@barnard.edu :) 

We hope you have an amazing second week of class!

Best,

The First Year Team

PE Last Call!

Hello First-Years!

We just wanted to send you a quick update and reminder from the PE Department! There are currently 41 spots available in OPEN PE classes. Students will be allowed to join Monday and Tuesday ONLY (potentially with one or two absences.) Students with more than two absences will NOT be added even in an open class. Switches into OPEN classes can be accommodated if students attended another PE class last week

Students should sign up for the waitlist for an OPEN class and show up for the class Monday/Tuesday

Students should NOT be getting on a waitlist for a closed class.

As a reminder, students can also take a studio dance class for PE credit.

If you have any further questions or concerns, please reach out to the PE Department Chair, Lisa Northrop at lnorthro@barnard.edu.

Best,

The First-Year Team

American Studies courses open for First-Year Students!

Hello First-Years!

We hope your first week of classes is going well! We wanted to share two American Studies courses that still currently have available seats for students who are interested: AMST BC2001: Third World Studies and AMST BC1030: Everything for Everyone: Social Movement. You can find more information on these courses down below!

AMST BC2001: Third World Studies 

Meets: MW 2:40PM- 3:55PM

Location: 302 Barnard Hall

Instructor: Manu Karuka

Link to course on CU Course Directory

Course description: Between 1967 and 1969, groups of American Indian, Black, Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Mexican, and Puerto Rican college students began to articulate demands for a transformed university, touching everything from admissions, relations to community, and curriculum. Their proposals contributed to the Third World Liberation Front strike at San Francisco State University, the longest student strike in US history. Drawing inspiration from Gary Okihiro, founding director of Columbia’s Center for the Study of Ethnicity and Race, this course takes student activists’ proposals for Third World Studies seriously. Our readings will draw on the traditions of anti-racist and anti-colonial struggle in North America, alongside perspectives from Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

AMST BC1030: Everything for Everyone: Social Movement

Meets: MW 8:40AM - 9:55AM

Location: 302 Barnard Hall

Instructor: Dani Joslyn

Link to course on CU Course Directory

Course description: Over the past months, social movements have captured the nation’s attention: from protests against immigration enforcement to Zohran Mamdani’s campaign for mayor of New York City. From the Haitian and American Revolutions to the campaign for an eight-hour day, the Civil Rights movement, indigenous demands for land back, and Black Lives Matter, this course will explore the long history of movements for economic and social justice across North America. Questions that we will explore together include: how have different groups demanded economic justice over the past two hundred years? What lineages and breaks can we trace in these efforts? What divisions emerged among and within various movements over time? How did groups debate and disagree over the concept of “socialism” and what their ideal visions of liberated society would be? What role have race and gender played as dividing lines and as sites of new liberatory forms of struggle?

Hey First-Years,

Interested in taking an English course or becoming an English Major? We have the perfect opportunity for you! Get a chance to talk directly with the English Department Faculty on Tuesday September 9th, 5-6pm. Bonus: they have free cookies and hot chocolate!! Check out the details in the poster below.                           

Best,

The First Year Team

Barnard's Lab Science Requirement

 Hey First-Years!

One of the many experiences, or rites of passage even, that all Barnard students must go through includes the Lab + Lecture Foundational Science requirement. Maybe you're wondering: "but what combination of classes fulfill this requirement?"... Well, lucky for you we have an excellent resource that lists all the possible options for this specific requirement! Check out this link, located on Slate. 

As always, if you have any questions don't hesitate to reach out to us at first-year@barnard.edu!

Best,

The First Year Team

New sections of COMS BC1016 and COMS BC1017!

Hello First-Years!

Computer Science has recently added an additional section of COMS BC1016 (Introduction to Computational Thinking and Data Science), along with two new sections of its co-requisite lab COMS BC1017. 

This course and lab introduces students to the methods and tools used in data science to obtain insights from data. Students learn how to analyze data arising from real-world phenomena while mastering critical concepts and skills in computer programming and statistical inference. The course involves hands-on analysis of real-world datasets, including economic data, document collections, geographical data, and social networks. The course is ideal for students looking to increase their digital literacy and expand their use and understanding of computation and data analysis across disciplines. No prior programming or college-level math background is required.

The new COMS BC1016 section is MW 1:10PM - 2:25PM, and there are four lab sections that still have space. Students in any lecture section can sign up for any lab section.

The class counts as a science (lecture, not lab), for the Thinking Digitally and Technologically requirement, and for the Thinking Quantitatively and Empirically.  It does not count for the Computer Science major, but prospective Computer Science majors can take the course as a pre-intro class before they take COMS W1004 Introduction to Computer Programming if they wish.

If you have any further questions, please be in touch with Professor Rebecca Wright at rwright@barnard.edu

Milbank 105 Update! -- In-person visits begin September 10th!

Hello First-Years!

We are writing a brief update regarding our official opening day for students to come by our office in Milbank 105 for in-person visits. Throughout this summer, our office has been undergoing construction, which had us spread out into different temporary working spaces across Milbank Hall.

Originally, this date for in-person visits was intended to start on Monday, September 8th as mentioned at the end of Volume 7 of the First-Year Guide. However, due to construction delays, our move-in date has been pushed back by a couple days, thus the new date for students to visit our office in Milbank 105 has now been pushed to Wednesday, September 10th! 

(This date has also been updated in the guide and signs will be posted on our door informing of this date!)

For now, you may continue to email us at first-year@barnard.edu (or be in touch with your class dean, Erica Siegel, at esiegel@barnard.edu) if you have any questions and/or can speak to an admin staff member located in Milbank 115 if you have any quick questions as you are beginning to navigate across campus during your first couple weeks into the semester!

Best,

The First-Year Team

Open Psychology Course for Fall 2025! ~~ PSYC BC1088: The Science of Living Well

Hello First-Years!

The Psychology Department is offering a popular course that has not been offered recently and wanted to let you know there are still seats available! Please see the following course information down below:

PSYC BC1088: The Science of Living Well (4 points), taught by Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman, and includes a lecture (TR 11:40AM-12:55PM) and discussion section each week (F 11:40AM-12:55PM).

The course is part science, part self-discovery, and part "revolution" against emotional numbness. You'll walk away with practical tools for personal development, as well as a deeper understanding of yourself and others. You do not have to be a psych major to take this course. This is an interdisciplinary class and is often best experienced when attended by a mix of all majors.  ome topics and questions explored in the course are:

• Why so many of us feel stuck, and how to break through
• The science behind purpose, meaning, and joy
• How to face hard emotions without totally shutting down
• What it means to actually live well in a messy world

If interested, enroll in PSYC BC1088, Call Number: 00102

If you have any questions, you can reach out to Professor Kaufman at skaufman@barnard.edu

Best,

The First-Year Team