Liberal Arts General Education Requirements  
(42 credit hours)

There are 10 three-credit course requirements in the Liberal Arts program and 4 three-credit course requirements in Art History.  The Liberal Arts Curriculum is divided into three categories:  Kernel Courses (5 courses), Innovative and Collaborative Courses (3 courses), and Liberal Arts Electives (2 courses).

Kernel Courses: 

Kernel courses are designed to combine general background knowledge with the development of essential competencies.  They meet the following criteria:

  • Kernel courses introduce students to important figures, events, works, and ideas, preferably from a wide variety of historical and cultural perspectives.
  • Kernel courses offer breadth of context, exhibit methodologies of study, and illustrate the multi-dimensional complexity of the topics or problems studied.
  • Kernel courses may serve to introduce a discipline’s perspective, but their chief purpose is to introduce background knowledge in an engaging, relevant, and problem-based manner.
  • Kernel course assignments address the principal competencies associated with the course and include adequate course time (or external support) to insure that students receive the competency-based instruction needed.
  • Where possible, courses indicate connections across disciplines and art forms.

Art History

4 courses required                                    12 credit hours

Arts and Humanities

1 course required                                      3 credit hours

Principle competencies served: Artistic Discernment, Thinking, Writing.

Cross-Cultural Perspectives

1 course required                                      3 credit hours

Principal competencies served:  Global perspectives, listening.

Literary Traditions

1 course required                                      3 credit hours

Principal competencies served:  Reading, critical thinking, writing.

Scientific Practices

1 course required                                      3 credit hours

Principal competencies served:  Scientific/quantitative reasoning, social responsibility.

Writing

1 course required                                      3 credit hours

Principal competencies served:  Writing, reading.

Innovative and Collaborative Studies (ICS) Courses:

3 courses required                                      9 credit hours

ICS-designated courses are designed to make connections to the studio programs and utilize innovative teaching methodologies.  Each one does one or more of the following:

  • Focuses on narrative structure and story-telling
  • Involves collaboration with other faculty, staff, or local professional practitioners
  • Crosses disciplines, art forms, or media
  • Uses a student learning community methodology
  • Teaches skills in collaboration and group project management

Liberal Arts Electives

2 courses required                                      6 credit hours

All Liberal Arts courses qualify.
TOTAL: 42 credit hours


To Further Pursue a Subject:

  1. Ask the instructor for an in-course project in an area of interest.
  2. Use a Liberal Arts elective to take an independent study on the subject.
  3. Use a studio elective to take an independent study class supervised by studio and Liberal Arts faculty.
  4. Ask a Liberal Arts faculty member to mentor a studio project

Link to STUDIO ELECTIVES