Serial Horror (ENGL BC3413) course available for Spring 2027!

Hello First-Years!

Please see the flyer down below and the syllabus with further information about an upcoming English course, Serial Horror (ENGL BC3413), that will be available for First-Years in Spring 2027!

Best,

The First-Year Team

Spring 2027 Registration Recommended Classes & CU Exceptions for Spring 2027 and Other Important Information

Hello First-Years,

We hope you are all having a good week! Here are some final reminders we wanted to send you along with helpful resources for registration coming up next week:

Registration will take place the week of November 16th, with the first-year class registering on Thursday, November 19th. We are happy to share two lists with you that may be helpful as you are working towards building your schedule for the Spring 2027 term. Please find the following lists below:

• Recommended Spring 2027 Barnard Courses for First-Year students

• Pre-approved CU Courses for Barnard First-Year students

We have also included both lists in this blog post. Please note that you must be logged in to your Barnard credentials to access these lists!

  

Please make sure you meet with your Pre-Major Adviser by Friday, November 20th to discuss your Spring 2027 schedule. It is required that you meet with them. 

 

Please sign up for a section of First-Year Seminar (FYS) or First-Year Writing (FYW), depending on what you took this fall. Please note that First-Year Writing Workshop is not offered during the spring semester, but there is an option for First-Year Seminar "Workshop." Please see this blog post for more information about the two sections being offered and fill out the application by the new extended deadline on Sunday, November 15th at 11:59PM if you think you would benefit from the extra writing support FYS Workshop offers.  

Thursday, November 19th is also the last day to withdraw from a class and receive the mark of W. Please note that you must remain enrolled in a minimum of 12 credits.

Dean Siegel and the Deans in the Deans’ Office for Advising and Support are holding extended walk-in hours leading up to and through registration and the November 19th W deadline from Monday, November 9th through Friday, November 20th. They will be available from 3:00-4:30PM, in 105 Milbank Hall and over Zoom.    

Sophia will be available to consult any First-Year who needs a student’s perspective! Please email her if you need to chat. 

Lastly, here are some upcoming dates to keep in mind: 

• Thursday, November 19th - Friday, November 20th: Registration days 

• Thursday, November 19th: Deadline to Withdraw 

• Wednesday, November 25th: Academic Holiday - No classes 

• Thursday, November 26th - Friday, November 27th: Thanksgiving Holiday - College Closed

• Monday, December 14th: Last day of classes & Deadline to change the grading option in one class to Pass/D/Fail 

• Tuesday, December 15th - Wednesday, December 16th: Reading Days 

• Thursday, December 17th - Wednesday, December 23th: Final Exams 

Questions, concerns, comments? Please feel free to reach out to us!

Best,

The First-Year Team

(Dean Siegel, Lauren Quach, & Sophia Brown)

Creative Writing Faculty Reading on November 19th!

Creative Writing Faculty Reading: Gina Apostol, Zaina Arafat, Farnoosh Fathi, and Monica Sok

Thursday, November 19, 2026

6PM in Milstein LL001

Join us for a special end of the year reading featuring novelists Gina Apostol and Zaina Arafat and poets Farnoosh Fathi and Monica Sok, all of whom teach in the Barnard Creative Writing Program. Did we mention there’ll be pizza? If you do not have an active Barnard or Columbia ID, please be sure to RSVP on Eventbrite! No RSVPs are required for Barnard and Columbia students and affiliates.

First-Year Seminar Workshop for Spring 2027 ~ Application deadline extended to November 15th!

Hello First Years,

Please see the information down below about First-Year Seminar Workshop for the Spring 2027 term and are looking for extra writing support!

Best,

The First Year Team

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To students taking First-Year Seminar in Spring 2027:

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 would like 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 Sunday, November 15th at 11:59PM (EXTENDED DEADLINE). You will be notified (via email) about whether we can offer you a spot before the early 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 Lie-Spahn at clie@barnard.edu.

First-Year Seminar Workshop Courses for Spring 2027:

Dead and Undead

TR 2:40-3:55pm

Professor 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.

Identity on the Move

TR 4:10-5:25pm

Professor Francesca Ochoa

In this Seminar, we will read literary texts where characters undergo profound change. For some, the change is surreal: bodies morph; a life is lived on simultaneous timelines hundreds of years apart. Others experience equally unsettling realist transformations, such as exile, migration, or shifting social power. These changes expose a chasm between self- perception and the perception of others, between belonging and non belonging. We will explore this chasm for truth, fiction, and possibility.

Recommended Spring 2027 Barnard courses for First-Years & Pre-approved CU courses!

Hello First-Years!

As you are gearing up for registration next week, we are happy to share two lists with you that may be helpful as you are working towards building your schedule for the Spring 2027 term. Please find below the following lists:

Recommended Spring 2027 Barnard Courses for First-Year students (These are courses that are saving seats for FY students) 

Pre-approved CU Courses for Barnard First-Year students (FY students will be able to register for these beginning at the November registration period)

Note: You must be logged into your Barnard credentials to access these lists!

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us at first-year@barnard.edu

Best,

The First-Year Team

Creative Writing Workshops at Barnard for Spring 2027!

 Spring 2027's Creative Writing Workshops at Barnard

Spring 2027’s creative writing faculty, L-R: Gina Apostol, Liana Finck, Maria Hinojosa, Angel Nafis, Cleyvis Natera, Monica Sok, Kathleen Tolan, Sarah Wang, Alexandra Watson

Announcing Spring 2027’s creative writing workshops at Barnard! Featuring introductory and advanced workshops in prose, poetry, and playwriting, taught by acclaimed instructors including Alexandra Watson, Angel Nafis, Gina Apostol, Monica Sok, Kathleen Tolan, and more.

Our introductory workshops in prose and poetry are open enrollment and ideal for beginners or any experience level. Our advanced workshops in prose, poetry, and playwriting require an application and are designed for writers with some experience and/ those interested in the Creative Writing Area of Focus at Barnard–applications are due via this Application Form  by Monday, November 23rd.

Please see our Course Offerings packet for full course descriptions and more information, and reach out to Department Assistant Miriam Kumaradoss-Hohauser at mkumarad@barnard.edu with any questions.

Education Program Planning Schedule

Hello, First-Years!

Please see below for the Education Program faculty's drop-in appointment schedule for program planning next week!

Best,

The First-Year Team

Interested in studying abroad? Upcoming study abroad workshops and Oxford/Cambridge info session!

Interested in studying abroad? Check out upcoming events below!

Oxford/Cambridge Info Session:

Date: Thursday, November 19th at 12PM in 308 Diana

This is a session for Barnard students considering studying abroad at Oxford or Cambridge in the future. We will present information about the application process, the supervision/tutorial system, and you will be able to hear directly from Barnard students who previously attended these programs. 

Study Abroad Workshops:

Interested in making study abroad part of your Barnard experience? Come learn about how to choose a study abroad program and get an overview of the Barnard process. The Study Abroad Workshop will cover Barnard requirements, approved programs, finances, transfer credit, and more! This workshop will focus primarily on semester study abroad and is suited for first and second year students. First year students should attend a workshop before booking a study abroad advising appointment. 

Workshops will take place via Zoom; Register for the link below:

Monday, November 30th at 1pm

Friday, December 4th at 12pm

Wednesday, December 9th at 4pm

Friday, December 11th at 1pm

Upcoming Beyond Barnard Information sessions! ~ SIPA, IEOR, SEAS Computer Science, and Engineering 4+1 Pathways

Hello First-Years!

Please see the information down below for four upcoming Beyond Barnard information sessions. These sessions offer great guidance for students interested in the SIPA, IEOR, SEAS Computer Science, and Engineering 4+1 Pathways!

Best,

The First-Year Team

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SIPA 4+1 Info Session

Tuesday, 11/10 | 12pm | Register on Handshake

In this session, attendees will learn about the Accelerated 4+1 Pathway with Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA). We'll discuss the overall application process, and what you need to know to plan your Barnard program to be able to fit in SIPA coursework beginning your senior year at Barnard and finishing the degree in year 5 at Columbia.

IEOR 4+1 Info Session

Friday, 11/20 | 1pm | Register on Handshake

Join us for an overview of the 4+1 pathway open to Barnard students considering a BA/MS through Barnard and Columbia Engineering. This info session will focus specifically on the IEOR pathway within the Engineering school.

SEAS Computer Science 4+1 Info Session

Tuesday, 11/17 | 1pm | Register on Handshake

Join us for an overview of the 4+1 pathway open to Barnard students considering a BA/MS through Barnard and Columbia Engineering. This info session will focus specifically on the Computer Science pathway within the Engineering school. 

Engineering 4+1: Chemical, Biomedical, Mechanical, Civil & Electrical Engineering

Thursday, 11/19 | 4pm | Register on Handshake

Join us for an overview of the 4+1 pathway open to Barnard students considering a BA/MS through Barnard and Columbia's Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS). This info session will focus specifically on the Chemical, Biomedical, Mechanical, Civil and Electrical Engineering concentrations within the SEAS 4+1 pathway.

Important reminders for Spring 2027 registration!

Hello First-Years,

We hope you had a good break! Here are some reminders for the coming weeks: 

Registration will take place the week of November 16th, with the first-year class registering on Thursday, November 19th.

  

Please make sure you meet with your Pre-Major Adviser by Friday, November 20th to discuss your Spring 2027 schedule. It is required that you meet with them. 

 

Please sign up for a section of First-Year Seminar (FYS) or First-Year Writing (FYW), depending on what you took this fall—you will switch into the other section for the spring. Please note that First-Year Writing Workshop is not offered during the spring semester, but there is an option for First-Year Seminar "Workshop." Please see this blog post for more information about the two sections being offered and fill out the application by Monday, November 9th at 5PM if you think you would benefit from the extra writing support FYS Workshop offers.

Thursday, November 19th is also the last day to withdraw from a class and receive the mark of W. Please note that you must remain enrolled in a minimum of 12 credits.

Dean Siegel and the Deans in the Deans’ Office for Advising and Support will hold extended walk-in hours leading up to and through registration and the November 19th W deadline from Monday, November 9th through Friday, November 20th. They will be available from 3:00-4:30PM, in 105 Milbank Hall and over Zoom.  

Finally, next Monday, November 9th, at noon, the Creative Writing Program is hosting this event for anyone contemplating a career in writing. Lunch will be provided! 

 

Questions, concerns, comments? Please feel free to reach out!

Best,

The First-Year Team

(Dean Siegel, Lauren Quach, & Sophia Brown)

2026-2027 Class Dean Daily Walk-In Hours! -- Extended hours running from 3:00-4:30PM (11/9-11/20 ONLY)

Got a quick question?

Need to talk to someone ASAP? You can meet with any available dean on call and speak with them either in-person or virtually over Zoom!

If you want to be sure you can talk at length, please make an appointment via our Slate online scheduler or contact us at doas@barnard.edu or 212-854-2024

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Every weekday (Monday-Friday) from 3:00-4:00PM Eastern Time -- Extended hours running from 3:00-4:30PM (11/9-11/20 ONLY)

• Enter waiting room via this Walk-In Hours Zoom Link or visit 105 Milbank Hall
  
• We will see students on a first-come, first-served basis. 
• If we run out of time and can't see you, we apologize for the inconvenience and encourage you to schedule an appointment, to try walk-ins on a different day, or for time-sensitive matters, call the office at 212-854-2024 during business hours.

So You Want to Be a Writer?

Monday, November 9th at noon in Milstein LL001

Do you enjoy writing poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction or just in your diary? Come meet other student writers, do a free-write, and eat some pizza and snacks. Associate Director Ken Chen will discuss spring workshops and the Creative Writing Program and answer all your writing questions! 

 

Meet with your adviser by November 20th for Spring 2027 registration!

Hello First Years,

Here is a flyer to remind you that all students are to meet with their advisers by Friday, November 20th to discuss registration for the Spring 2027 term! Please note that this meeting is required!

Best,

The First Year Team

Have a good November break & available resources!

 

 Dear First Years,

We most likely don’t need to remind you that there are no classes on Monday, November 2nd and Tuesday, November 3rd. We hope you all have a wonderful long weekend ahead of you! If you are staying on campus over the break, please refer to this website to find out operating hours for dining halls, the gym, and other campus offices. Note that the Deans’ Office for Advising and Support and other administrative offices will be open on Monday, November 2nd; On Tuesday, November 3rd, they will be closed for a University Holiday.

Here are a few important dates to be aware of later in November: 

Thursday, November 19th 

• Registration for Spring 2027 courses. Please plan to meet with your Pre-Major Adviser in advance of registration! 

• Last day to withdraw from a class and receive the mark of W

 

Wednesday, November 25th - Friday, November 27th

• Thanksgiving Holiday – No classes

We will write again next week with more reminders about registration. Have a wonderful break!

Best,

The First-Year Team 

(Dean Siegel, Lauren Quach, & Sophia Brown)