Central Curriculum & Learning Goals - Susquehanna University

Central Curriculum

Far more than general education requirements, the courses in the Central Curriculum invite you to open your mind and think differently about yourself and the world around you.

Our curriculum, including our award-winning GO program, will help you be more aware of the creative, natural, societal and cultural forces that shape the world around you. And arm you with critical skills that will make you a valuable employee in today’s marketplace.

Courses

Courses in the Central Curriculum make up 40 percent of our graduation requirements, and they easily fit with all of our 100+ majors and minors.

The Central Curriculum contains five complementary sections:

Richness of Thought — analytical, literary, artistic
Natural World — scientific
Human Interactions — social, historical, ethics, foreign language
Intellectual Skills — first-year seminar, writing intensive courses
Connections — diversity, interdisciplinary, cross-cultural experience and reflective seminar

The range of courses is quite diverse, so you’ll have plenty of options to expand your knowledge and gain new perspectives.

Central Curriculum Structure

Students must successfully complete all of the Central Curriculum requirements in the five sections listed below.

Section 1. Richness of Thought

4 semester hours in Analytical Thought
4 semester hours in Literary Expression
4 semester hours in Artistic Expression

Among the goals of the Richness of Thought area are teaching students to debate the definitions of literary text, canon(s) and the relationship between them; to abstract a problem into a symbolic or mathematical model or framework; and to articulate an understanding of the ways in which art can serve as a medium for recognizing and understanding the diversities of human experiences.

Section 2. Natural World

4 semester hours in Scientific Explanations

On completing the Natural World requirement, students should be able to describe the philosophical underpinnings of science as it is used to explain the natural world and to evaluate the validity of information presented as science.

Section 3. Human Interactions

4 semester hours in Social Interactions
4 semester hours in Historical Perspectives
4 semester hours in Ethics
0-8 semester hours (depending on placement) in a language other than English*
4 semester hours in Ethics Intensive courses

The extensive objectives of this area of the Central Curriculum include leading students to demonstrate they can understand and evaluate how the methods of analysis from the social sciences are used to identify issues and explore conflict within a contemporary context; to describe the way past events and trends are relevant to the present; to articulate the implications of ethical questions for human life; and to compare and contrast another language and culture with their own.

* Policy related to accommodations for the World Languages requirement may be found under “Services for Students with Disabilities” in this catalog.

Section 4. Intellectual Skills

4 semester hours in First-Year Seminar
8 semester hours in Writing Intensive courses

Through this area of the Central Curriculum, students should learn core intellectual skills, such as working together in a team to analyze and solve problems and developing, strengthening, and marshaling an argument, both orally and in writing.

Section 5. Connections

4 semester hours in Diversity
4 semester hours in Interdisciplinary
4 semester hours in Diversity Intensive courses
An off-campus Cross-Cultural experience that may or may not bear credit, depending on the specific experience selected by the student
2 semester hours total in a Cross-Cultural preparation course and a Cross-Cultural reflection course, the latter to be taken after the student returns from the Cross-Cultural experience

Their study in this area of the Central Curriculum should lead students to a fundamental understanding of multiple theories and principles of diversity; to demonstrate a complex understanding of culture; to show an appreciation of how different academic disciplines can supplement and reinforce one another; and to reflect on their personal growth, social responsibility and the value of active participation in human society.

Courses satisfying Central Curriculum requirements also may be counted toward majors and minors. The Diversity course may cross-count with any one non-Intensive course and up to two Intensive courses within the Central Curriculum, merging the requirements for both into a single course offering (e.g., ANTH-413 Critical Race Theory satisfies the Diversity requirement, the Social Interactions requirement and the Writing Intensive requirement). Similarly, the Interdisciplinary course may cross-count with any one non- Intensive and up to two Intensive courses within the Central Curriculum. In addition to satisfying other requirements, an appropriately designated course in the Central Curriculum also may be counted toward one or two Intensive requirements.

Capstone Courses

In addition to the Central Curriculum requirements, students must complete at least two semester hours in a capstone course, with a grade of C- or higher, as a part of the major program.

The capstone is designed to enrich students’ academic experience by allowing them to demonstrate what has been learned through a concentrated course of study at Susquehanna. This course cannot be transferred from another institution.

Add an Interdisciplinary Minor

Pursue an interest or enhance your major studies with an interdisciplinary minor. These minors combine courses from multiple departments to help you gain a better understanding of important topics in today’s world.

It’s easy to fit these flexible minors in with your other studies and our Central Curriculum requirements:

Learning Goals

The learning goals of Susquehanna University articulate a vision of our students as confident, liberally educated, and committed to multidisciplinary education as global citizens, working within and across their academic disciplines. They productively gather and apply all facets of their educational experience to personally and professionally frame their vocations, areas of study, and lives, demonstrating achievement, leadership, and service in the world.

1 — Susquehanna students investigate the creative, natural, social, economic, and cultural forces that shape the world, and gain familiarity with:

the richness of human thought and expression across time and into the present;
the ongoing ways humans seek to explain the natural world; and
the breadth and depth of global human interactions, including belief systems, values, practices, and ways of organizing life.

2 — Susquehanna students develop an integrated set of intellectual skills that empower them to:

think creatively and critically to analyze issues, consider solutions, and make effective decisions;
incorporate methods of analysis from a broad range of academic disciplines to understand and explore conflict, and solve problems;
engage effectively with others through gathering, evaluating, synthesizing, and articulating information to generate informed opinions and arguments through multiple avenues; and
work effectively within a team, function with professional and digital competency, and understand and navigate problems that often elicit complex and ambiguous responses.

3 — Susquehanna students develop a mature, integrated sense of themselves through a holistic liberal arts experience, including:

appreciating the limits and contexts of their own experience, and the ability to value the experiences of others with diverse backgrounds;
critically examining their strengths and struggles, and realistically evaluating the potential positive or negative impact of inputs and activities; and
committing to ongoing development of one’s intellectual, physical, and spiritual life.

4 — Susquehanna graduates develop and internalize their own integrated vision of the common good, and how to pursue it in the context of their lives, including:

pursuing sustainable relationships with their natural and social environments;
continued growth to discern and pursue improvement in themselves, their communities, and the world;
understanding and valuing both the universality and diversity of human experience; and
willingness to strive for responsible personal and interpersonal actions that serve the greater good.