Core Handbook and Liberal Arts Questions
A connection–possibly an obvious one to some–I could make between the practices and values I learned in this Handbook, would be the the Core Goals stated in the Environmental Awareness subsection and the assignment we were given on the first day of class: read, annotate, and bring points of discussion on “The Tragedy of the Commons” combined with “Comparative Philosophies on the Conservation of Nature” and U.S. Astronaut Ron Garan’s speech at “Unrig the System” convention in 2018. Both articles and video covered every single item listed in the Core Handbook’s statement on page 5, under Environmental Awareness, “This course emphasizes that humans are part of the ecosystem within interdependent cycles…Students will examine the relationship of humans to their environment from historical, economic, scientific, aesthetic, and ethical perspectives”. I share this relationship because it is the only class–yet–I have had that has given out an assignment that literally covers every single Core Goal listed in this Handbook, and it took me by surprise. On the other hand, a more in-depth consideration of the Core Handbook and my Fall classes involves a comparative analysis of my Effective Public Speaking, Intro to Communications, and Elements of Acting courses. All three which correspond with the statement in section II of the Handbook: “Completing Core requirement provides a common learning experience through which students demonstrate application, synthesis, and integration of knowledge and skills central to a liberal arts education”. All three of the courses I listed above share the same communication skills that are essential to an individual’s success. Whether the communication is between you and another individual, or between you and a broader group of people, each course seems to center their core values around your relationship or connection with/to others. Based on my goal of improving my interpersonal communication skills, these three courses, along with the Core Values stated in the Handbook, seem to provide me with the knowledge and skills necessary to, as Professor Siegel likes to say, “increase the value of my basket.” (In this context, the term “basket” refers to the space where you gather all the knowledge and skills learned throughout your life, enabling you to create the best outcomes).
Questions that arose as I read this Handbook:
I didn’t have many, as I am one that likes to research as I read in order to fully comprehend what is being said. Therefore, the two that I saved, I feel are kind of simplistic, but couldn’t be answered via a google search.
1. The Handbook continuously refers to 100, 200, 300, and 400-level courses. What do these numbers mean? Are they representative of the year you are completing?
2. In Advanced Studies, they say you are required to complete a course that has a different prefix than that of your major, and it is found in Appendix C. Communications, my major, has the prefix CMM. This prefix is not found on Appendix C. Why is that? What does that mean for me when I get to the stage of having to complete an advanced study?
