Intellect and Inquiry Series - Baccalaureate Program

INTELLECT AND INQUIRY SERIES—15 CREDITS

The Intellect and Inquiry Series builds on the skills developed in the Foundational Series. In this series, students will investigate the historical and contemporary social movements, cultural changes, and creative visions that have shaped our world through human hands. This awareness will allow the students to more effectively engage in local, national, and global communities with a focus on the common good (Core Values: Catholic Tradition, Learning Community, and Education of Distinction).

Students complete the Inquiry and Intellectual Judgment and Social Responsibility and Civic Engagement components in combination.

1. All students must take at least one course from the Inquiry and Intellectual Judgment component.
2. All students must take at least one lower-level (course number 100 to 299) course from the Social Responsibility and Civic Engagement component.
3. To complete this requirement, students may take either one more Inquiry and Intellectual Judgment course or one upper-level Social Responsibility and Civic Engagement course.

Art Language and Literature: 6 credits

• Various courses
• Goal: To develop student’s understanding of the human experience through works of literature, theology, languages, and creative arts.
• Outcomes:
  1. Students will critically analyze literature, theology, languages, and/or creative arts from a contextual perspective.
  2. Students will comprehend and evaluate how language or artistic expression contributes to individual or sociocultural growth and/or well- being.
  3. Students will appreciate literary, artistic, and/or theological works from a broad range of sources and cultures.

Social Responsibility & Civic Engagement: 3–6 credits

• Various courses
• Goal: Students will recognize the value of human dignity in each person and the obligation to promote the common good in diverse communities.
• Outcomes:
  • 200 level or below (3cr required)
    1. Students will identify the political, social, and/or cultural institutions that have shaped society, including the key individuals and/or movements and their motivations.
    2. Students will understand the concept of the common good and who defines it.
  • 300 level or above. Prerequisite: Student must complete one 3-credit Lower-Level Social Responsibility & Civic Engagement Course.
    3. Students will explain and apply various political, social, and/or economic theories and practices.
    4. Students will recognize their personal responsibility to the common good within their communities.

Inquiry & Intellectual Judgment: 3–6 credits

• Various courses. Prerequisite: Student must complete the Critical Inquiry and Information Literacy course and one 3-credit Lower-Level Social Responsibility & Civic Engagement Course.
• Goal: Students will apply analytical and evaluative skills to identify, compare, and evaluate different interpretations (hypothesis, explanations) of a given phenomenon.
• Outcomes:
  1. Students will investigate the social and/or ethical issues inherent in historical and/or contemporary topics.
  2. Students will appreciate the way in which relationships between one area of study and another provide perspectives on knowledge.
  3. Students will apply critical inquiry skills to validate their positions and/or judgments of a critical question.