Background
The Central Curriculum is designed to ensure that all Susquehanna students are prepared to meet specific learning goals of the university.
The goals are the result of a university-wide assessment of student learning initiated by the Curriculum Committee in fall 2005. The process began with a single question posed to faculty, staff and trustees attending an interactive campus workshop: What attributes and knowledge do you think Susquehanna graduates should have upon graduation?
A yearlong process of refinement and brainstorming ended with campus endorsement of four major learning goals and several supporting subgoals.
Each of the required courses in the Central Curriculum is tied to one or more learning goals.
Many of the goals will also be met through students’ experiences outside of the classroom. For example, participation in athletics, student organizations and community service teaches students how to work in teams, make effective decisions and value the different experiences of others. Faculty and staff who employ student workers structure work experiences whenever possible to reinforce at least some of the learning goals.
