UNIV 1784 Sections

All first-year Honors students will take a section of UNIV 1784 (Honors First Year Seminar) in the fall. One portion of the class will be led by a faculty member (full descriptions below), while the other portion will be led by peer facilitators. The facilitator portion of UNIV 1784 is a critical way in which incoming Honors students are supported. Expect an introduction to academic and social resources, cultivation of your relationships with other Honors students, advice on succeeding at UConn and in Honors, and a focus on “staying whelmed.”

Be sure to enroll in a UNIV 1784 for Fall 2026 or you will be eligible for removal from the Honors Program.

Branden Birmingham

Tu/Th 8:30-9:20AM

How do students turn college experiences into meaningful opportunities?

This course explores your local Stamford community as a center for your professional growth, leadership, communication, and innovation. 

Some topics students will explore include: networking, personal branding, campus involvement, and experiential learning . Through discussion, reflection, and engagement with the local community, students will develop strategies for making the most of their UConn experience — both inside and outside the classroom.

Mars Plater

Tu/Th 5:00PM-5:50PM

This course will investigate how major themes in U.S. history played out in our very own Stamford. We will learn how Indigenous land became a colonial settlement, how segregation shaped urban development, how transportation systems impacted this city, and more. This course will introduce you to historical research, as you spend the semester learning how to find and analyze old documents that can reveal parts of Stamford’s story.