ST. AMBROSE UNIVERSITY
SIGNATURE GENERAL EDUCATION
PROGRAM
“In all people there lies, in accordance with human nature, a
desire to search out the truth which leads us on to have a
longing for knowledge and learning and infuses into us a wish to
seek after it. To excel in this seems a noble thing.”
Ambrose of Milan, de Officiis I.26.125
Created by: James Hinderks
for
General Education Committee
Table of Contents
•Summary of
•Revised
The Vision
General Education and Our University
•Outcomes of
•Sample of
A “Signature” Education
“Planned” General Education Program
Summary of The Vision
Through Revised General Education St. Ambrose Graduates Will…
#1
Develop and possess fundamental skills and knowledge rooted in the
Liberal Arts and Catholic Intellectual Tradition needed to flourish in
a rapidly changing world.
#2
Communicate effectively both in writing and orally and will have
been introduced to a second language.
#3
Have cultivated the personal dispositions, or ‘habits’ (Latin habitus,
meaning ‘virtue’) necessary for a rich intellectual life and overall
physical wellness.
#4
Possess a general understanding of the disciplines of the Liberal
Arts, including Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, Creative Arts, and
Humanities. They will be heirs to culture…
#5
As members of a Diocesan university, be able to reflect critically on
core truth claims, as well as ethical and spiritual values derived from
Theology and Philosophy, especially those that emanate from the
Catholic Intellectual Tradition
Summary of The Vision
continued
All St. Ambrose Graduates Will…
#6
Be able to continue to develop learning skills and knowledge
both out of necessity and for pleasure. They will continue to
explore the breadth and depth of the Liberal Arts and Catholic
Intellectual Tradition as lifelong learners by reading, writing,
speaking, researching, traveling, listening, creating, and
engaging our world.
Revised General Education and Our University
“GOAL” OF REVISED GENERAL EDUCATION
The revised General Education
program—through the Liberal
Arts and Catholic Intellectual
Tradition—will enable graduates
to shape for themselves a coherent,
if always tentative, vision of the
world by means of which they will
enrich their own lives through
enriching the lives of others.
MISSION OF ST. AMBROSE UNIVERSITY
St. Ambrose University—
independent, diocesan, and
Catholic—enables its students to
develop intellectually,
spiritually, ethically, socially,
artistically, and physically to
enrich their own lives and the lives
of others.
Outcome #1:
Fundamental Skills and Knowledge
•
Develop fundamental skills and knowledge necessary to flourish in a rapidly
changing world
•
Students will begin to address this outcome by completing the following:
A.
Written Communication (ENGL 101 or English Comp through CLEP)
B.
Oral Communication (COMM 129, 132, 203, 228, 329)
C.
Quantitative Reasoning and Information Technology (MATH 171, STATS 213, QUANT
131, CSCI 281)
D.
Health and Physical Education (KIN 149 and 1 activity or Samaritan Skills course)
E.
Information Literacy Skills (IL 101)
F.
Foreign Language Skills (Beginning Lang. 101 & 102 OR 1 intensive (103) OR 3 years of
high school study OR 6 credit hours through CLEP OR earning ** on SAT OR earn
appropriate score on Modern Lang. placement exam)
G.
Completing Remainder of General Education curriculum
Outcome #2: Liberal Arts Perspectives
•
Develop competencies that produce Liberal Arts perspectives in order to
engage culture.
•
Students will begin to address this outcome by completing the following:
A.
Complete two Humanities courses
B.
from two different departments other than Philosophy and Theology.
C.
Complete one Creative Arts course of 2-3 credits.
D.
Complete one Social Science course
E.
Complete one Natural Science course
Outcome #3: Catholic Intellectual Tradition
•
Evaluate truth claims derived from Philosophy and Theology in order to
scrutinize the relationship between faith and reason.
•
Students will begin to address this outcome by completing the following:
A.
Complete one Philosophy course at the 100 or 200 level
B.
Complete one Theology course at the 100 or 200 level
C.
Complete two additional Philosophy, Theology, Justice & Peace, or Catholic
Studies, with at least one course at the 300 level
Outcome #4: Integrative Learning
•
Critically explore complex issues using knowledge and skills from the
Liberal Arts and the Catholic Intellectual Tradition.
•
Students will begin to address this outcome by completing ONE of the following:
A.
“Signature Integration Concentration” (12 credits)
B.
Honors Program Level I (13 credits)
C.
Interdisciplinary Minor (min. 15 credits)
D.
Second Major in Economics or and department in the College of Arts and Sciences
Fundamental Skills & Knowledge
Liberal Arts
Perspectives
The knowledge and skills
from the Liberal Arts and
the Catholic Intellectual
Tradition culminate into
Integrated Learning.
Integrated Learning
Signature Integration Concentration
(12 credits)
Honors Program Level 1
(13 credits)
Interdisciplinary Minor
Established or Individualized (min. 15
credits)
Second Major
In Economics or College of Arts & Sciences
Catholic
Intellectual
Tradition
FUNDAMENTAL SKILLS
& KNOWLEDGE
o
w
r
c
q
h
t
l
g
d
CATHOLIC
INTELLECTUAL
TRADITION
100-200 level theology
100-200 level philosophy
Two additional courses in
theology & philosophy
KEY:
FUNDAMENTAL
SKILLS &
KNOWLEDGE:
ORAL COMM.
WRITTEN COMM.
RESEARCH (IL)
QUANT. REASONING
/INFO. TECH.
HEALTH
2ND LANGUAGE
CRITICAL
THINKING
TEAMWORK,
GLOBALIZATION,
DIVERSITY
LIBERAL ARTS
INTEGRATED LEARNING
SIC or IM or IIM
2 humanities
with no additional credits
Social science
Natural science
LIBERAL ARTS:
HUMANITIES
SOCIAL SCIENCES
NATURAL SCIENCES
CATHOLIC
INTELLECTUAL
TRADITION:
PHILOSOPHY
THEOLOGY
DESIGNING A
SIGNATURE INTEGRATION
CONCENTRATION
•
Step 1: present a scenario to demonstrate how multiple
disciplines must be brought to bear in order to make
good critical judgments concerning the underlying issues.
•
Try this formula: “In order to evaluate “X” you must first
grasp the influence of “A,” “B,” and “C.”
E.G. to evaluate “Jihad” you must understand history,
culture, religion, & language.
•
Step 2:
Brainstorm meta-concepts, then each student will pick two that have appeal. Here
are some suggestions derived from our Mission, Vision, Values, Outcomes and A&S
Projects:
Community
Ecological
Health
Peace
Service
Teamwork
Creativity
Economic
Historical
Political
Social
Tomorrow’s World
Cultural
Excellence
Justice
Problem Solving
Spiritual
Truth
Diversity
Globalization
Literary
Race
Sustainability
Worldview
•
•
•
Step 3: discern how and which disciplines are represented
within that concept:
Art, Astronomy, Biology, Catholic Studies, Classical Studies,
Chemistry, Criminal Justice, Economics, English, Finance,
Geography, German Studies, Geography, History, International
Studies, Justice & Peace Studies, Kinesiology, Language,
Literature, Management, Music, Natural Sciences, Organizational
Leadership, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Physics,
Sociology, Spanish, Theater, Theology, or Women’s Studies.
Also, what kind of deliberate, organized experiences might they
engage in which would help their understanding? Activities,
Activism, Internship, Service, Travel, Volunteerism.
•
Step 4: using Beeline, the course catalogue (pp. 21-23 of
current ‘blue’ catalogue) and e-advising, which course titles
look most interesting and relevant?
•
Read the course descriptions: does the course still seem
applicable? Select your top choices and a couple of
reasonable alternates, including experiential learning, if
desired. Ascertain the availability and rotation of those
courses and then construct a course of studies.
•
•
•
Step 5: Craft a statement of purpose:
briefly explain how the courses/experiential learning
enhance one’s understanding of the topic. Indicate which
and how General Education outcomes will be addressed.
What is the outcome? i.e. by accomplishing what, I will
demonstrate that I have understood and critically evaluated
the integration among what?
QUESTIONS?
Fundamental skills
& knowledge
Liberal Arts
Catholic
Intellectual
Tradition
Integrated Learning
SIC or IM or IIM
Template For Signature General Education Requirements
Fundamental Skills and Knowledge
• 12-18 credits
Liberal Arts
Perspectives
Catholic
Intellectual
Tradition
• 14-16 credits
• 12 credits
Integrative Learning
• 0-21 additional credits
Fundamental Skills and Knowledge
Oral
Comm.
Written
Comm.
Critical
Thinking
Health
and
Fitness
Teamwork
Research
Quant.
Reasoning
Globalization
Foreign
Lang.
Fundamental Skills & Knowledge
Liberal Arts
Perspectives
Critical Thinking
Is Built Upon
Again In All
Courses!
Arts
Social
Science
Catholic
Intellectual
Tradition
THEO
Natural
Science
Leadership
Teamwork
PHIL
Theology,
Philosophy, Justice
& Peace or Catholic
Studies (at least
one 300 level
Humanities
Globalization
Justice, Peace,
Diversity, & Service