Description:
The Valente Center Undergraduate Seminar is a three-credit course in which a small group of dedicated students meets every week with five members of the faculty, representing different disciplines, to read and discuss challenging books of recognized importance and value. The books are ones that the faculty members do not already know and that do not come from their field of expertise. This way the seminar has no “teacher” in the usual sense. Students and faculty members read and learn together, and it is the student participants who lead the discussion.
The faculty coordinator determines the topic and reading materials each semester.
Grades for the seminar are based on participation, a short reflection paper, and a final research paper. The seminar meets weekly during a three hour doubleblock. The Valente Center provides lunch and covers the cost of all books as well as the cost of trips to local cultural events and/or dinners as selected by students and faculty.
FAQs
How does the seminar work?
All seminar participants – about 15 students and 5 faculty members – meet once a week for a double block to discuss challenging and important books. Everyone will be reading and learning the material together, and all participants take equal responsibility for the discussion. Small groups of students will initiate the discussion a couple of times during the semester by identifying several opening questions on the reading, but—by design—no one will be teaching the course. The goal of the seminar is for all participants, students and faculty alike, to learn from the readings and from each other. There are no exams, but each participant will be expected to write a short paper during the term and a major paper on some aspect of the course subject at its conclusion.
What qualifications are required to participate?
Any Bentley student with a GPA of 3.0 or above can apply.
What requirements does the course satisfy?
Though it is not an Honors course, it can count for Honors credit; it cannot count as an Honors capstone course.
In some cases, the seminar may count toward an LSM concentration with the approval of the LSM Program Director.
With the permission of the appropriate advisor(s), the final seminar paper can serve as a “first draft” of LSM culminating experience.
The seminar satisfies no major requirements.
What are course requirements?
This counts as a three-credit course. To receive credit for the seminar students must:
Attend and participate in all seminar meetings.
Participate twice during the semester as part of a team to lead the day’s discussion
Complete a short midterm and final research essay
Are there any extra benefits?
The seminar meets weekly during a double block, and the Valente Center provides lunch for all seminar participants. There also may be occasional off-campus events, including dinners and a variety of cultural events. In previous years, Valente fellows have gone to museums, theatrical performances, and the Boston Ballet.
How do I apply and when will I be notified?
To apply, send a brief statement—between 400 to 500 words—explaining why you want to participate, as well as a copy of your Degree Works Summary, to the Valente Center. Your application will be shared with the seminar faculty coordinator. The application deadline is typically the second to last week of each semester. Notifications of acceptance made ASAP.