Student Directed Seminars
The Student Directed Seminars program provides upper-year undergraduate students the opportunity to propose, coordinate, and lead their own 3-credit seminar class with a small group of peers on a topic not currently offered at UBC Okanagan.
Each seminar brings together a group of highly-motivated students to explore and investigate a topic through learning activities including group discussions, research papers, presentations, guest lectures, applied problem-solving, and community service learning.
The application deadline for the 2025/2026 Winter Session Seminars is May 30, 2025.
Please note: Successful applicants may be eligible for an excellence award.
TERMS OF REFERENCE
Students and faculty interested in the program should review the Student Directed Seminars Guidelines and Terms of Reference.
The Student Directed Seminars Program will be undergoing an internal evaluation in the coming months. Program updates are planned for Summer 2025.
Student Directed Seminars are an expansion of the directed studies option offered by most departments and are a great way to enhance your own learning experience while gaining facilitation and leadership skills. You will also have the unique opportunity to work closely with a faculty member to develop the course proposal and syllabus. If you are an upper-year undergraduate student, in third-year standing or higher, you are eligible to coordinate a Student Directed Seminar.
When considering your suitability as a Student Coordinator, the Advisory Committee will be looking for students that have a strong academic background and leadership experience that can translate to a classroom environment.
Student Coordinators must be able to demonstrate:
- Motivation and a capacity for self-learning;
- A clear understanding of the Student Coordinator’s role as a facilitator, not an instructor;
- An ability to work independently and think critically;
- Aspirations for a career in teaching, or pursuing graduate school;
- Experience working in teams and inspiring others.
STUDENT DIRECTED SEMINARS FAQ
Students interested in being a Student Coordinator should review the Student Directed Seminars FAQ.
Faculty Sponsors are tasked with ensuring the academic rigor of the student directed seminar they sponsor. As such, a Faculty Sponsor should only sponsor a student coordinator they believe has the capability and capacity to run a successful seminar. A Faculty Sponsor’s role encompasses many duties including, but not limited to:
- Ensuring academic rigor;
- Providing ‘approval’ on topics, grading schemes and syllabus;
- Assisting with the seminar course development;
- Resolving any grade or academic-related disputes during the seminar’s duration;
- Signing off on final grades.
To ensure Faculty Sponsors have the capacity to fully participate and commit to this innovative learning experience, it is preferred they be tenured or on tenure-track. Faculty Sponsors that are not tenured or tenure-track will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Faculty Sponsor FAQ
Faculty interested in being a Faculty Sponsor, should review the Faculty Sponsor FAQ.
Student participants are co-learners in a peer-guided environment, and are expected to facilitate some course discussion. Like coordinators, participants are upper-year undergraduate students with a high degree of motivation for self-learning. Furthermore, participants are expected to participate in peer-review grading and seminar processes. Students are allowed to participate in a maximum of two student directed seminars during their degree.
The Student Directed Seminars Advisory Committee is comprised of students, faculty, and staff. The Advisory Committee reviews all student directed seminar proposals thoroughly for academic rigor, quality of course plans, appropriate grading schemes and assignments, and the overall qualifications and suitability of the Student Coordinator.
The Advisory Committee will base their approvals on four core criteria:
- Quality and Development of the Proposal
- Suitability of the Student to Coordinate a Seminar
- Student’s Grades and Academic Qualifications
- Faculty Recommendation Form
May 30, 2025: Application deadline
Early June 2025: Applications are reviewed by the Advisory Committee
Late June 2025: Applicants are notified of the status of their application
August 2025: Orientation Session
Fall 2025: Synchronous and asynchronous training to design your seminar
January 2026: Seminar begins
Info Session 1: Thursday, January 16, 3-4 pm. Register here
Info Session 2: Wednesday, February 5, 9-10 am. Register here
Info Session 3: Monday March 3, 9-10 am. Register here
Info Session 4: Tuesday, March 25, 12-1 pm. Register here
Info Session 5: Friday, May 2, 2-3 pm. Register here
- Student Directed Seminar Proposal Form
To be submitted by Student Coordinator - Faculty Sponsor Form
To be submitted by Faculty Sponsor - Faculty Recommendation Form
To be submitted by Faculty Recommender
All three forms must be completed and emailed to fasscurriculum.ubco@ubc.ca.
PSYO 486: Brains, Bodies and Society: An Introduction to Eating Disorders
An in-depth inquiry into eating disorders from an interdisciplinary perspective. Introduces major concepts in the field of eating disorders including symptoms, diagnoses, etiology, and implications (individual and community). Participants will consider diverse perspectives to develop a nuanced understanding of societal, cultural and individual factors.
At least third-year standing is required.
Students interested in registering for this seminar must contact fasscurriculum.ubco@ubc.ca.
GWST 486: Growing up Queer
Explores the experiences of growing up queer. Considers queer scripts and timelines, and how these experiences are informed by hierarchies of power. Focus on popular media representations of queerness.
At least third-year standing is required.
Students interested in registering for this seminar must contact fasscurriculum.ubco@ubc.ca.
Student-led seminar fills a gap in the curriculum
Program enables students to lead their own course, with considerable support along the way.
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The Student Directed Seminars program provides upper-year undergraduate students the opportunity to propose, coordinate, and lead their own 3-credit seminar class with a small group of peers on a topic not currently offered at UBC Okanagan.
-
Each seminar brings together a group of highly-motivated students to explore and investigate a topic through learning activities including group discussions, research papers, presentations, guest lectures, applied problem-solving, and community service learning.
-
Student participants are co-learners in a peer-guided environment, and are expected to facilitate some course discussion.
-
Like coordinators, participants are upper-year undergraduate students with a high degree of motivation for self-learning.
Questions?
If you have any questions or need assistance with your proposal, please contact the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Curriculum Office by emailing fasscurriculum.ubco@ubc.ca.