A Liberal Arts Curriculum The liberal arts education offered by Lyon College consists of three essential elements: a general education curriculum, a major, and elective courses. These three elements together create a balanced liberal education. The general education curriculum is designed to develop the knowledge and abilities essential to a liberal arts education and more advanced studies at the College. To foster breadth, the general education curriculum introduces students to many of the liberal arts and science disciplines available to the students as a major. The major adds depth by acquainting students with the body of knowledge, theories, and methodologies of a discipline, and by cultivating the ability to apply these to solve problems and to arrive at new understanding and insight. Elective courses, whether taken for personal enrichment or to complete a minor or a concentration, serve an important function in rounding out a student’s education. They offer the opportunity to pursue special interests, add depth in disciplines other than the student’s major, and facilitate the combination of liberal learning and professional study.
Mission of General Education Curriculum In keeping with the College’s liberal arts mission, the general education curriculum provides a framework within which to choose and build one’s major course of study and to broaden one’s education. Thus, the general education curriculum will engage students in critical thinking, writing, oral communication, physical development, and service learning. It will enrich them by giving them an appreciation of the historical, scientific, cultural, artistic, and spiritual heritages that have shaped modern society. It will enlighten them by encouraging them to question their presuppositions, to thoughtfully interact with diverse perspectives, and to synthesize their experiences into a coherent worldview. Inherent in this mission is the development of skills, attributes, values, and knowledge that will foster a lifetime of learning.
Learning Objectives and Outcomes The College’s general education curriculum provides a foundation essential to advanced study and life-long learning. Accordingly, courses included in the general education curriculum are designed to develop the following skills, attributes, values, and knowledge necessary for addressing complex issues: • The ability to communicate clearly, precisely, and persuasively • The ability to think critically • The ability to analyze written texts and to critique works of art • The ability to evaluate information, both quantitatively and qualitatively
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