Liberal Arts Framework

Through the centuries, “higher” education has attempted to lead the learner toward growth and fulfillment in ways consistent with the assumptions and demands of the times. Standard components of this process evolved and became known as the “liberal arts.” These areas of study were thought to be freeing and empowering, thus enabling maturity and responsibility in a person’s thoughts, values, and actions.

In modern times, such liberal arts studies continue to have fundamental importance, even though their content and design have continued to evolve as societal assumptions and demands have changed. Anderson University stands in this long tradition, designing for all its students a curricular pattern that includes fundamental skills and ways of perceiving the world considered essential for meaningful and effective living in the 21st century.

As a Church of God academic institution, Anderson University is committed to the goals and ideals of liberal education as understood through a Christian faith perspective. The requirements for undergraduate degrees have been established with these commitments in view. The university’s conception of liberally educated people involves the freeing and empowering of the total person — his or her spiritual, intellectual, aesthetic, emotional, and physical resources.

LIBERAL ARTS CORE CURRICULUM

Anderson University has structured its Liberal Arts Core Curriculum to develop students’ skills, insight, and appreciation in six Foundational Skills and six Ways of Knowing (40-43 hours).

Foundational Skills:

• The First-Year-Experience Requirement: 1 hr. Course designed to help students adjust to AU’s academic community. Students work both independently and with classmates to Reflect, Connect, and Grow intellectually, socially, and spiritually as whole people in AU’s community while also obtaining the necessary practical knowledge to meet their college goals.

LART 1050.

• Civil Discourse and Critical Reasoning in the Academy, Church, and Society: 2 hrs. Courses designed for students to develop their civil discourse and critical thinking skills.

One required course in this category.

• Written Communication Requirement: 6 hrs. Courses designed for students to develop their writing and research skills.

Two required composition courses in this category. Two writing-intensive courses required in this category (WI built into the major).

• Speaking and Listening Requirement: 3 hrs. Courses designed to develop oral communication skills.

COMM 1000. One speaking-intensive course (built into this major).

• Quantitative Reasoning Requirement: 3 hrs. Courses that pertain to the art of problem-solving by means of critical thinking, logic, and quantitative methods. Courses in this area require prior demonstration of basic mathematics proficiency as determined by a placement examination or the completion of MATH 1000.

One required course in this category.

• Biblical Literacy Requirement: 3 hrs. This course is designed to accomplish two goals: (1) to foster the student’s development of a critically based knowledge of the content of the Bible and (2) to assist students in becoming fluent in the interpretation of Scripture.

BIBL 2000.

• Personal Wellness Requirement: 2 hrs. These courses and experiences examine the relationships of physical activity, leisure, diet, and health and fitness to total personal development.

One required course in this category.

Ways of Knowing:

• Christian Ways of Knowing Requirement: 3 hrs. Included in the Anderson University community is a faith perspective that is prepared to raise questions of truth, value, meaning, and morality. Therefore, we foster an atmosphere of free inquiry, consistent with the sponsoring church’s tradition that prizes hospitality as a Christian virtue. These courses explore the role of religion in human experience.

One required course in this category.

• Scientific Ways of Knowing Requirement: 4 hrs. These courses present students with a way of understanding the natural laws that govern the behavior of the material world, focusing on knowledge that is quantifiable and accessible through human senses and human reason.

One laboratory science course required in this category.

• Civic Ways of Knowing Requirement: 3 hrs. Courses in this area present students with a way of understanding the world through the study of the philosophical and political developments that have led to modern notions of responsible citizenship.

One required course in this category.

• Aesthetic Ways of Knowing Requirement: 3 hrs. These courses present students with a way of understanding the deepest levels of human experience as expressed in communication arts, dance, literature, music, and theatre from diverse cultures and time periods.

One 3-credit course -OROne 2-credit appreciation course plus one 1-credit experiential course.

• Social and Behavioral Ways of Knowing Requirement: 3 hrs. These courses present students with ways of understanding human behavior in either individual or social contexts. Emphasis is placed on the application of a scientific perspective to explain human conduct, including related theoretical views and the development of empirical knowledge through research.

One required course in this category.

• Global and Intercultural Ways of Knowing Requirement: 7 hrs. The combination of these courses presents students with ways of understanding human diversity through the development of intercultural perspectives.

One language course (4 cr.) based on departmental placement; One global/intercultural or additional language course (3 cr.).

• Experiential Ways of Knowing Requirement: Built into the major Anderson University values experiential learning and requires every major to provide significant experiential learning opportunities for their students. These experiences must intentionally connect academic theory, hands-on practice, and student reflection with a significant academic component.

One experiential competency that can be fulfilled by a course, internship, practicum, capstone, clinical, or approved activity.

Because of the immediate usefulness of writing, oral communication, and mathematics, students should endeavor to complete the written communication (ENGL 1100 or 1110 and 1120), speaking and listening (COMM 1000), and quantitative reasoning requirements during the first college year. Students must enroll in the appropriate writing skills courses every consecutive semester until they have met the writing-skills requirement.

The first-year-experience seminar (LART 1050) must be taken within the first 24 hours at Anderson University. Students must continue to take LART 1050 as offered until the requirement is met.

In addition, students should endeavor to complete the world language component of the Global and Intercultural Ways of Knowing during the first college year. If necessary, however, the world language component may be completed after the first year, preferably no later than the second year.

The phrase “upper-division course” means a course numbered 3000 or above. These courses are designed primarily for upper-division students and may assume some prior introductory understanding.

For details on how Honors Program (HNRS) courses apply to the liberal arts core curriculum, see the Honors “Courses of Instruction” section of this catalog.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Faculty at Anderson University have approved learning outcomes that must be addressed in courses that are approved for inclusion in the liberal arts requirements. These learning outcomes are as follows:

• Critical reasoning/thinking: Opportunities will be provided to develop intellectual curiosity, independence of thought, and an ability to formulate and test positions on major questions. • Communication: Opportunities will be provided for students to speak and write both within their major fields of study and more general areas with clarity and precision. The experiences will develop an ability to listen and respond effectively to the expression of ideas by others, and they will have the technological and bibliographic skills needed for the development of defensible positions. • Cross-disciplinary view: Opportunities will be provided for students to develop a variety of perspectives on major issues, events, and questions. • Christian commitments and practices: Opportunities will be provided for students to explore the relationship between Christian commitments and practices and personal and global questions and issues. They will be encouraged to explore their obligation for service in personal and professional areas of life and have a sensitivity to their relationship to God, the church, and society. • Intercultural perspectives: Opportunities provided for students to develop an understanding of people from diverse cultural groups, races, genders, socio-economic backgrounds, political opinions, languages, and religious experiences. • Preparation for service: Opportunities will be provided for students to develop the knowledge, skills, and dispositions required in graduate or professional education or the job market. We consciously bring together the liberal arts, professional preparation, and biblical faith and understanding to assist students to serve in diverse local, national, and global societies.

As an institution committed to Christian service, Anderson University strives through its curricula and informal activities to achieve student development in these areas, providing the breadth and depth necessary for the fullest preparation for life.

The liberal arts program requirements are defined in terms of courses to be taken at Anderson University. The most current list of approved courses is available online at anderson.edu/registrar and may also be obtained in person in the registrar’s office.