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 Hinderksfor

General Education Committee

•Outcomes of A “Signature” Education

Table of Contents•Summary of The Vision

•Revised General Education and Our University

•Sample of “Planned” General Education Program

Summary of The VisionThrough Revised General Education St. Ambrose Graduates Will…

Develop and possess fundamental skills and knowledge rooted in the Liberal Arts and Catholic Intellectual Tradition needed to flourish in a rapidly changing world.

Communicate effectively both in writing and orally and will have been introduced to a second language.

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…

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

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Have cultivated the personal dispositions, or ‘habits’ (Latin habitus, meaning ‘virtue’) necessary for a rich intellectual life and overall physical wellness.

Summary of The Vision continued

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.

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All St. Ambrose Graduates Will…

“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.

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.

Revised General Education and Our University

MISSION OF ST. AMBROSE UNIVERSITY

• 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 #1: Fundamental Skills and Knowledge

• 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 #2: Liberal Arts Perspectives

• 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 #3: Catholic Intellectual Tradition

• 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

Outcome #4: Integrative Learning

Fundamental Skills & Knowledge

Liberal Arts Perspectives

Catholic Intellectual Tradition

Signature Integration Concentration(12 credits)

Honors Program Level 1 (13 credits)

Interdisciplinary MinorEstablished or Individualized (min. 15 credits)Second MajorIn Economics or College of Arts & Sciences

Integrated Learning

The knowledge and skills from the Liberal Arts and the Catholic Intellectual Tradition culminate into

Integrated Learning.

KEY:

FUNDAMENTAL SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE:ORAL COMM.WRITTEN COMM.RESEARCH (IL)QUANT. REASONING/INFO. TECH.HEALTH2ND LANGUAGE

CRITICAL THINKING

TEAMWORK,GLOBALIZATION,DIVERSITY

LIBERAL ARTS:HUMANITIESSOCIAL SCIENCESNATURAL SCIENCES

CATHOLICINTELLECTUALTRADITION:PHILOSOPHYTHEOLOGY

FUNDAMENTAL SKILLS

& KNOWLEDGE

CATHOLIC INTELLECTUAL

TRADITION

100-200 level theology100-200 level philosophy Two additional courses in theology & philosophy

LIBERAL ARTS

2 humanities

Social science

Natural science

INTEGRATED LEARNING

SIC or IM or IIM

with no additional credits

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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.

Community Creativity Cultural DiversityEcological Economic Excellence Globalization

Health Historical Justice Literary

Peace Political Problem Solving Race

Service Social Spiritual Sustainability

Teamwork Tomorrow’s World Truth Worldview

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:

• 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.

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• 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

Catholic Intellectual

Tradition

Liberal ArtsIntegrated Learning

SIC or IM or IIM

Fundamental Skills and Knowledge• 12-18 credits

Liberal Arts Perspectives• 14-16 credits

Catholic Intellectual Tradition• 12 credits

Integrative Learning• 0-21 additional credits

Template For Signature General Education Requirements

Oral Comm.

Written

Comm.

Quant. Reasonin

g

Health and Fitnes

s

Research

Foreign

Lang.

Fundamental Skills and Knowledge

TeamworkGlobalizatio

nCritical

Thinking

Fundamental Skills & Knowledge

HumanitiesTheology,

Philosophy, Justice & Peace or Catholic Studies (at least one 300

level

THEO

PHIL

Liberal Arts Perspectives

Catholic Intellectual Tradition

Social Science

Natural Science

Arts

Justice, Peace, Diversity, & Service

Teamwork

Globalization

Leadership

Critical Thinking Is Built Upon Again In All

Courses!