A Liberal Education Does Not Make You a Liberal or a Conservative, But It
Can Help You Decide…..
Prof. Jennifer KinneyDepartment of Sociology and Gerontology
The Meaning of a Liberal Education
The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those
who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn.
(AMR research, inc.)
Agenda
Define “liberal education”
Provide a brief history and philosophy of
liberal education at Miami University
Discuss how you can promote liberal
education at Miami University
What is a Liberal Education?
“A truly liberal education is one that prepares us to live responsible, productive, and creative lives in a dramatically changing world.”
“It is an education that fosters a well-grounded intellectual resilience, a disposition toward lifelong learning, and an acceptance of responsibility for the ethical consequences of our ideas and actions.”
(The Association of American Colleges and Universities)
The Risks of Getting a Narrow Education
Prepares students for jobs that might not exist when they graduate
Doesn’t prepare students for new jobs that will emerge
Does not prepare students for the challenges of citizenship or professional life
(Higdon, 2005)
Why is Liberal Education Important?
Society is changing rapidly Students are no longer “guaranteed” a job just
because they have a college degree World politics have made a global society a
fact of life A liberal education is a practical solution to
the changing needs and concerns of society
What Do Employers Look For?
Communication skills
Quantitative reasoning
Orientation to innovation
Sophistication regarding diversity
Grounding in cross-cultural and global
learning (Schneider, 2005)
“Liberal education may be more relevant today than at any previous
time due to the current social, cultural, and economic challenges facing
college graduates.”
(Kuh & Umbach, 2005)
Liberal Education at Miami University
Liberal education is not unique to MU
The Miami Plan for liberal education was
implemented in 1992; it took 4 years to implement
The Miami Plan is not a distribution requirement
The Miami Plan includes a pedagogy for liberal
learning
The Miami Plan continues to evolve
The Miami Plan
All divisions of the University offer liberal education courses
Students are required to take courses in English composition; fine arts; humanities & social sciences; U.S. & world cultures; natural science; and mathematics, formal reasoning & technology
The Miami Plan (continued)
Students are required to take at least one course that is taught from a “non-dominant perspective”
There are three levels of courses in the Miami Plan--Foundation, Thematic, and Capstone
The Goals of The Miami Plan
Thinking critically
Understanding contexts
Engaging with other learners
Reflecting and acting
What The Miami Plan Provides Students
Exposure to areas of knowledge/endeavors from a variety of disciplines, with an emphasis on critical thinking
Preparation to be literate in the 21st century; to be lifelong learners who are prepared to meet the challenges of personal, professional, and community life
Your Role in The Miami Plan
“Don’t look at me--I just got here!”
Social breakdown syndrome (sort of)
Empower the student to take ownership for her/his educational choices
Our responsibility is to provide students with opportunities
It is each student’s responsibility to take advantage of these opportunities
The Miami Plan can be used to help students develop and integrate their
unique sets of interests
Responsibility for the Miami Plan is a Two-Way Street
Focus vs. exploration
Faculty attitude regarding the Miami Plan
Rigor of courses
The Miami Plan: Conceptual Challenges
Too few Miami Plan courses
All units offer Miami Plan courses, but some units offer more than others
Some Miami Plan courses have restrictions
Students like to “double dip”
The Miami Plan: Logistic Challenges
Understand the goals and objectives of the Miami Plan, and be sufficiently familiar with it that you can advise students about the “nuts and bolts”
Encourage students to make their own decisions about the plan
Helping Students to Successfully Navigating The Miami Plan
“Students need to become intentional architects of their own learning, actively setting goals, exploring, reflecting, and integrating acquired knowledge and experiences into existing world views.”
(AAC&U, 2002)
Living The Miami Plan