Liberal Arts Learning

Transcription

1 Liberal Arts Learning Liberal Arts Studies helps students understand their relationship to the world and provides them with a foundation for life-long learning. Students encounter the ideals, values, knowledge, skills and capabilities that will enable them to be moral and intellectual leaders in a pluralistic world. Addressing liberal arts is not the purview of any particular program; rather, it is a challenge to the entire academic community. Siena Heights University cherishes its Catholic and Dominican heritage and expects that its graduates will embody values of these traditions as they are encountered throughout their academic experience. In an atmosphere that fosters excellence, the liberal arts curriculum strives to engage all students in the foundational wisdom of cultures, past and present, to develop the kind of intellectual curiosity, discipline and judgment needed to fulfill their aspirations and to meet their obligations. I. LEARNING OUTCOMES Liberal Arts Learning Students will be conversant with the ideas, content and methods of various disciplines. Students will be able to identify and explain a variety of academic disciplines, identify some of the key individuals who have contributed to these disciplines, and describe the nature of their contributions. Students can explain the similarities and differences in methodologies among various disciplines. Students can bring insights from various disciplines to the discussion of larger intellectual, social, economic, political and moral issues. Religious Traditions Students will reflect on the wisdom of religious traditions in understanding the meaning of life. Students will be able to identify sacred narratives and texts, beliefs, practices and moral values associated with some of the world s major religious traditions. Students will be able to identify developments in religious doctrines and traditions in various historical-cultural contexts. Students will be able to distinguish the different types of questions, methods, norms and sources underpinning religious studies and theology. Students will recognize a variety of religious responses to modernity and the scientific revolution including various fundamentalisms as well as more integrative responses. Creativity Students will engage in the creative process. Students will make studio art or participate in a theatrical or musical performance or write creatively. Students will describe, analyze, and demonstrate the creative process. Students will take creative risks with self expression. Students will generate a variety of potential solutions to problems. Critical Thinking Students will think critically as evidenced by: Providing relevant facts to support ideas. Assessing the relative importance of ideas. Finding similarities and making distinctions. Embracing complexities and presenting multiple points of view. Evaluating and synthesizing information. Exploring big ideas and asking nuanced questions. Understanding and explaining cause and effect. Communication Students will communicate effectively. Students will be able to express ideas, facts and research in comprehensible and grammatically correct written and oral formats. Students will be aware of the multiple levels of communication and various media that exist in today s world and anticipate possible emergent media. Students will demonstrate an ability to listen to and understand the communication of others. Students will demonstrate the ability to write and speak in creative, persuasive and informative modes of expression. Technology Students will demonstrate effective use of technology. Students will demonstrate skills for effectively using the internet as a research tool. Students will be able to manipulate and implement various modern technologies in ways appropriate to respective academic disciplines. Students will demonstrate the ability to raise questions and formulate informed answers regarding the ethical use of technology. Ethical Integration Students will examine personal and professional decisions in light of ethical principles. Given a situation, students will be able to identify any ethical issues involved. Students will be able to suggest an ethical response to an issue and explain the basis for deciding on this response. Students will be conversant with various ethical systems and evaluate decisions in relation to those systems. 10 Siena Heights University

2 Diversity in Community Students will understand the diversity and interdependence of cultures. Students will be able to recognize important points of convergence and difference among various cultures. Students will cultivate an understanding of globalization that recognizes its promising and problematic features. Students will explain how an environment of inclusion and respect across social and cultural differences contribute to peacemaking. Social Responsibility Students will realize the importance and demands of social responsibility. Students will identify social implications of a belief in inalienable human rights. Students will promote peace by working for justice and the common good. Students will learn and apply responsible stewardship of the environment. Undergraduate Catalog

3 II. Requirements BA, BS, BAS, BA, BS, BAS, BFA AA, AS, BBA, BSN, BSW BBA, BSN, BSW AAS Fewer than or more Transfer Credits Transfer Credits English Composition Mathematics Lab Science Social Science Fine/Performing Arts *0 *2-3 Literature History Philosophy** Religious Studies** Integrated Learning LAS 100/140*** LAS LAS Total * BFA students may not count ART courses toward this requirement. ** Students who have 60 or more transfer credits at the time they first enroll at Siena Heights University must take their Philosophy or Religious Studies courses at Siena, as well as LAS 301 and LAS 401. ***LAS100/140 is required for first-time Freshman or students entering SHU with less than 15 semester hours. 12 Siena Heights University

4 III. Explanation of Liberal Arts Courses (See course descriptions.) English Composition: Six hours from ENG 101, 102, 211, 212, or 341. Fine and Performing Arts: Fine or performing arts courses must be courses that directly engage students in the creative experience. The courses must be from two of the three possible disciplines. Courses in art history, criticism or appreciation do not count. The following Art courses are recommended for the Liberal Arts Requirement: ART 101 ART 113 ART 115 ART 116 ART 117 ART 119 ART 147 Introduction to Ceramics Jewelry Making I Introduction to Painting Introduction to Digital Photography Introduction to Film Based Photography Introduction to Prints and Books Introduction to Graphic Design The following Music courses are recommended for the Liberal Arts Requirement: * MSC 102 Introduction to Music * Any level class instruction instrument course such as class piano and class voice. * Any music performance ensemble. * Any level applied music instruction. History: Only courses from the history department apply. See course descriptions for eligible courses. Literature: Literature courses can be from the English or foreign language departments. Mathematics: Any Mathematics courses above MAT 110 except MAT 150, MAT 151 and MAT 372. Philosophy: All philosophy courses except PHI 110 and PHI 210. The following Theatre courses are recommended for the Liberal Arts Requirement: TSC 102 TSC 103 TSC 117 TSC 156 TSC 211 TSC 212 TSC 213 TSC 269 TSC 343 Introduction to Theatre Play Production Modern Dance I Acting I Oral Interpretation of Literature Oral Interpretation of Children s Literature Touring Children s Theatre Stage Make-up Teaching Creative Dramatics Religious Studies: Only courses from the religious studies department apply. See course descriptions for eligible courses. Social Science: The Siena Heights University social science courses that count in the Liberal Arts Program are sociology, psychology, economics, political science, cultural anthropology, and cultural geography. See course descriptions for eligible courses. Science: Only (4-hour) lab science courses may be counted if they apply the scientific method. See course descriptions for eligible courses. Undergraduate Catalog

5 IV. Focus Options for Liberal Arts Studies Students may choose to complete the Liberal Arts Studies requirement described above or to focus their courses within Liberal Arts Studies in one of several areas: International Perspectives, Community Service, Catholic Discipleship, Language/Cultural Diversity. The successful completion of a focus option within the Liberal Arts Studies will be noted on a student s transcript. Choosing a focus provides advantages in two areas. It sets a central theme from which a student can consider liberal arts learning. It indicates, to future employers or graduate and professional schools, an area of focused thought with which a student has enhanced his or her major area of study. The possibility for focus should be discussed with the advisor early in the academic program since the careful scheduling of classes will be important in accomplishing such a focus. A request to participate in a focus option should be submitted to the Liberal Arts Studies coordinator (the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences) by a student s third registration at Siena. The Coordinator will match the student with a mentor. Students are responsible for maintaining a sense of integration among the focus courses and will demonstrate that sense of integration in the liberal arts Senior Seminar: Integrated Experience (LAS 401). Specific requirements for the Liberal Arts Studies focus options are described below. Most focus options do require six to eight semester hours more than the common Liberal Arts Studies core. These courses may be thought of as replacing courses in general electives. Specific Requirements for Liberal Arts Focus Options International Community Catholic Language/ Perspectives Service Discipleship Cultural Diversity Composition 6 s.h. 6 s.h. 6 s.h. 6 s.h. Mathematics 3-4 s.h. 3-4 s.h. 3-4 s.h. 3-4 s.h. Science 4 s.h. 4 s.h. 4 s.h. 4 s.h. Fine & Performing Arts 4-6 s.h. 4-6 s.h. 4-6 s.h. 4-6 s.h. Social Science 3 s.h. 3 s.h. 3 s.h. 3 s.h. Cultural Geography Microeconomics Cultural Anthropology Cultural Geography Cultural Anthropology Macroeconomics Microeconomics Cultural Anthropology US Foreign Policy Issues in Social Justice Macroeconomics Sociological Perspectives on Race & Microeconomics Intro to Sociology Introduction to Sociology Ethnicity Macroeconomics Cross-Cultural Counseling Literature 3 s.h. 3 s.h. 3 s.h. 3 s.h. World Literature Ethnic Literature Ethnic Literature African-American Literature Masterpieces of Hispanic Lit Golden Age of Spanish Lit History 3 s.h. 3 s.h. 3 s.h. 3 s.h. History of Russia History of the Middle East Native American History African History Hispanic History Philosophy 3 s.h. 3 s.h. 3 s.h. 3 s.h. Religious Studies 3 s.h. 3 s.h. 9 s.h. 3 s.h. World Religions Intro to Theology Theological Inquiry World Religions Intro to Hebrew Scriptures Theological Ethics Intro to Hebrew Scriptures Values and Video Peacemaking Readings in Contemporary Theology Second Language 8 s.h. 8 s.h. 8 s.h. Second Language Second Language Second Language Integrated Learning LAS 100/140 2 s.h. 2 s.h. 2 s.h. 2 s.h. LAS s.h. 3 s.h. 3 s.h. 3 s.h. Total*** s.h s.h s.h s.h. *** Total for the common Liberal Arts core is s.h. 14 Siena Heights University

6 V. Explanation of LAS 100/140 Freshman Year Experience, LAS 301 The Adult Learner, and LAS 401 Senior Seminar: Integrative Experience. In the view of the faculty at Siena Heights University, the purpose of a liberal arts education is to help students develop a deeper understanding of themselves and their relationship to the world in which they live. The historical and theoretical foundations for liberal arts education at Siena Heights University are: 1) the Dominican motto To contemplate and to give to others the fruits of your contemplation, 2) our philosophy of undergraduate education which exhorts students to develop their own philosophies of life, and 3) the mission statement which commits us to assist people to become more competent, purposeful and ethical through a teaching and learning environment which respects the dignity of all. The curriculum at Siena Heights University facilitates development of students understanding of themselves and their world through skill enhancement, breadth of education, and the in-depth knowledge that is learned in the academic major. Students are called upon in many settings to demonstrate their skills and mastery in their major discipline. Less often are students asked to integrate the broader dimensions of their undergraduate education. Students starting at Siena will begin their liberal arts and integrative experience by participating in the First Year Experience (FYE). FYE is a comprehensive program of events, programs and activities that will assist students in becoming familiar with Siena Heights University and develop the necessary college success skills to thrive in Siena s liberal arts environment. The sequenced schedule of events and activities persists over an academic year from the student s initial interest through the completion of their first year of study at Siena. Students will participate in a one semester hour course in the fall semester (LAS 100) followed by a one semester hour course in the winter semester (LAS 140). FYE not only links incoming students with the institution, but also with faculty, staff, and incoming and current students. FYE will introduce students to the school s mission, Dominican traditions (prayer, study, community, preaching/service), the liberal arts program and the expectations of the learning community at Siena. LAS100 and LAS140 must each be completed with a 2.0 g.p.a. or better. For students transferring 60 or more credits into Siena Heights University, two courses are considered the bookends of liberal arts studies: LAS 301 The Adult Learner and LAS 401 Senior Seminar: Integrative Experience. In these courses students will view the world through the lens of liberal arts learning in the traditions of Siena s Catholic and Dominican heritage. In LAS 301 students transition into their residency asserting and further enhancing critical thinking and communication skills in compliance with the university mission and standards. LAS 301 provides students an opportunity to begin academic studies at Siena from a position of strength. LAS 401 Senior Seminar: Integrative Experience provides all students, together with peers from other majors, the structured reflective and integrative seminar that deepens and broadens their educational experience as they continue to pursue their goals for lifelong learning. In LAS 401 students prepare to transition out of Siena Heights after having reflected on their philosophy of life, their formal program of study and the contribution both can make to a life of purpose and service. Students must receive a C grade or better in LAS 301 and LAS 401 for Liberal Arts credit. Course descriptions for LAS 100, 140, 301 and 401 in the Liberal Arts Studies section of course descriptions. VI. CLEP Equivalencies for Liberal Arts Requirements English Composition: The CLEP College Composition Modular (no essay) is equivalent to ENG 102. This exam fulfills three semester hours of the Liberal Arts requirement. Mathematics: The CLEP exam in Calculus with Elementary Functions will satisfy the Liberal Arts Requirement. Social Science: If a student passes the CLEP Social Science/History exam (for which Siena Heights University awards six credits) he/she will have satisfied both the history and social science Liberal Arts Requirements. If a student passes only the social science portion of the general exam, he/she will have satisfied the social science Liberal Arts Requirement. In addition, the CLEP subject exams in sociology, psychology (including Educational Psychology), and economics also satisfy the Liberal Arts Requirements. Literature: The CLEP exams in American Literature and English Literature both satisfy the Liberal Arts Requirement. History: If a student passes the CLEP Social Science/History exam (for which Siena Heights University awards six credits) he/she will have satisfied both the history and social science Liberal Arts Requirements. If a student passes only the history portion of the general exam, he/she will have satisfied the history Liberal Arts Requirement. In addition, the CLEP subject exams in Western Civilization and American History also satisfy the history Liberal Arts Requirement. VII. Liberal Arts Equivalencies for Selected Community Colleges. Courses from selected community colleges that fulfill Siena Heights University Liberal Arts requirements can be found on the web at TransferEquivalencyGuide.aspx. Program coordinators will determine whether or not these courses will satisfy major/minor requirements. These course equivalencies are subject to change based on modifications at the selected community colleges or at Siena Heights University. Undergraduate Catalog