Designing and implementing a one credit first-year physics seminar to increase retention of physics majors.

In this poster I will describe the one credit first-year physics seminar that I have developed. This course was developed in response to a decrease in the number of physics and engineering dual degree majors persisting in the program particularly post covid. As a department we identified difficulties students were encountering in the school and program and tried to provide additional support through this course that meets once per week. The course includes lessons on career options, problem solving, physics specific study skills, diversity in physics and group projects in electronics and mechanics. All students interested in physics and engineering were encouraged to enroll in the course even if they were not able to start in Physics I while they completed math prerequisites. In general student feedback on the course first version of the course (Fall 2023) was very positive and there was a 100% rate of students in the major for those who were enrolled in the course. I will also discuss changes planned for the course based on the first trial run and the literature review being completing as part of an Evidence Based Teaching Fellow program.