Core Competencies
• Daemen College’s Liberal
Arts Education is based on
seven core competencies
–
–
–
–
Critical Thinking
Communication Skills
Affective Judgment
Multimedia Technology
Literacy
– Moral and Ethical
Discernment
– Contextual Competency
– Civic Responsibility
Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking is a skill that is necessary
for anyone that wants to make it in the
working world. Critical Thinking consists of
analyzing a problem and coming up with
different ways to approach the problem.
Identifying and coming up with alternatives is
only half of the battle. For each of the
alternatives it is important that the student be
able to decide whether or not the
consequences that correlate with each
alternative are positive or negative. In
addition, the skill of being able to make a
decisions about subjects that are both familiar
and unfamiliar. Making decisions when the
subject is not familiar is an event that will
happen more often than not in the real world.
It is important to have refined critical thinking
skills.
Communication Skills
Communication is one of the most
important competency taught at
Daemen College. Communication
deals with the ability to convey a
point and opinion to others despite
the language they speak. In order to
fully meet the requirements of the
communication competency the
student must be able to
communicate using the proper tone,
grammar, words, and distinguish
between what appropriate and
inappropriate depending on the
situation.
Affective Judgment
Affective Judgment is the
bridge that allows us to
communicate how certain
things such as music make us
feel. It is important to be able to
communicate your feelings
affectively so that they can be
acted upon. Refining affective
judgment allows us to
experience the world differently
and also our experiences can
become more meaningful.
Multimedia and Technology
Literacy
We Live in the technological age and no
matter what field that you may entering
being computer literate is critical.This
competency does not only deal with
teaching students to use the technology
available effectively but it also teaches
how to filter the information. Many times
the information that is posted on the
Internet is not completely true and a large
part of being literate in technology and
multimedia is being careful of what you
believe. In addition, as the different parts
of technology are studied the students
will be able to see the impacts of the
media and technology on society.
Moral and Ethical Discernment
Not only should students
understand and be able to establish
their morals but the students should
also be able to understand and be
nonjudgmental of the morals of
others. Moral and Ethical
Discernment is important because
the way that we lives our lives and
many times society is based on the
morals and ethics. Understanding
ethics and morals leads to a more
interactive relationship between
you and your environment and also
others.
Contextual Competency
There is a saying that if you do not
study the past and learn from it you are
bound to repeat it. Not only does the
contextual competency deal with the
past it also deals with the present.
Having a strong grasp and
understanding of the contextual
competency allows you to be prepared
for dealing with issues on a
international, and multicultural scale.
Being more comfortable with diversity
will allow many door to be opened to
you that may lead to success.
Civic Responsibility
Everyone has a responsibility to
their community. Teaching
people to be active in their
community and their world
leads to the betterment of life.
Instilling students with the
sense of civic responsibility at
the time that they are
impressionable will teach them
how important it is to stay
active in their community.
Addressing problems at a
community level will keep
many problems from escalating
into disasters.