Courses
The UW McNair Scholars program offers quarterly preparatory seminars to provide structured support as students move through the graduate school exploration, preparation, and application process. Barring scheduling conflicts, McNair Scholars are expected to take all courses.
Below is information on each of the courses that we offer. Scholars beginning the McNair Scholars program as juniors will start Fall 1 and have 2 years in the program. Scholars beginning the program as rising seniors will start Spring 1 and have 1.5 years in the program.
To see how these courses fit in with the overall McNair Scholar experience, please refer to the Program Experience Timeline below.
General Studies 410: Graduate School Exploration
This seminar provides a structured way to explore academic, research, and career interests so that students gain clarity about their graduate school and career goals. By conducting informational interviews, attending community and campus events, and applying for experiential learning and funding opportunities, students will create their unique pathway towards graduate school and develop the skills and experience they need to become more competitive graduate school applicants.
General Studies 399: Presenting your Research Story
This seminar offers students the opportunity to develop public speaking, research presentation, and interviewing skills. By developing and fine-tuning elevator pitches, participating in mock interviews, creating a research poster, and doing a short oral presentation, students will be able to successfully present, network, and interview during the graduate school preparation and application process.
General Studies 411: Graduate School Planning
This seminar aims to support students’ preparation for graduate school admission. Through a structured process and interactive environment, students will be guided through the initial stages of their graduate applications. By the end of the quarter, students will have identified potential graduate programs, prepared to contact graduate mentors, and created drafts of materials required in graduate applications.
General Studies 299: Different Ways of Knowing
This seminar is an introduction to research methods and is recommended for McNair Scholars who are new to research and looking for additional support in developing their undergraduate research project. Students will learn how to develop research questions, find faculty research mentors, and determine appropriate methods for investigating their research interests. Students will explore different research methodologies and develop a research proposal by the end of the course.
- Writing Workshops
- GRE Preparation as needed
- Experiential Learning
General Studies 412: Applying to Graduate School
This seminar prepares students for their graduate school applications. Each week focuses on a key element of the graduate application process. The course is structured to tackle components of the application logically and chronologically. By the end of the quarter, students will have the necessary tools to complete a graduate school application for admission.
General Studies 399: Presenting your Research Story
See the course description under Winter Quarter 1.
Scholars who took this course as juniors can retake it or attend specific class sessions to refresh their public speaking skills.
Program Experience Timeline
Scholars beginning the McNair Scholars program as juniors will start Fall 1 and have 2 years in the program. Scholars beginning the program as rising seniors will start Spring 1 and have 1.5 years in the program.
*This schedule is representative of a typical McNair Scholar experience and will shift if students enter the program as sophomores or add on additional quarters as a fifth-year senior.