Q&A: What is a Proseminar?
March 15, 2022
Hannah Lougheed, MA SID/MS GHPM '22
This weekend, I had the opportunity to take part in a Heller proseminar with a focus on finance and budgeting, and it was excellent. So I figured, if you decide to become a Heller Graduate student (or maybe you already are one), you may also have the opportunity to take part in proseminars and may have some questions about what they are and how they work. Let’s take a moment to discuss what exactly they are:
Q: What makes proseminars different from regular courses?
A: Proseminars are 9 hour “crash courses” (my words, not Heller’s) that typically meet Friday – Sunday that feature a wide variety of topics.
Q: Are proseminars required?
A: No, they are totally optional! If it is a topic you are interested in, then you can opt in to the course – but they are never required.
Q: Do proseminars count for credits?
A: Yes! Proseminars count for 1 academic credit.
Q: Why would I want to take a proseminar?
A: As was mentioned above, proseminars can cover a variety of topics – such as finance and budgeting for nonprofits; technology for development; diversity, equity and inclusion; and many other changing topics! You. may chose to take them out of interest, or because they count towards your overall credit requirements (or both)!
Q: How many proseminars are offered each semester?
A: It depends. I have found that there are usually 2-3 each semester, but I believe that can change .
Q: Do I have to pay to attend a proseminar?
A: No, these are free for students to join at no additional cost. It is akin to attending a free weekend learning conference.
Q: Are proseminars graded or on a pass/fail basis?
A: They are graded and count towards you GPA the same as a regular module or semester long course.
Q: How do I enroll in a proseminar?
A: You will get an email from your program advisor a month or so ahead of time with all needed information – including an online sign-up form.
Still have questions about a proseminar? Feel free to reach out to your program advisor for the most accurate information on when they are, what topics they may feature, how to enroll, and any additional questions!