Criteria for Selection of Arts and Humanities Exploration Courses

 

INTRODUCTION

 

To engage in a complex world, responsible citizens explore the Arts and Humanities in order to understand themselves and others. The Arts and Humanities encompass the study of the contexts, processes, practices, and products of human expression and culture. Courses in the Arts explore creative performances, methods, or products by studying the value, style, meaning, and effect of artistic expression, with an emphasis on critical and theoretical perspectives. Courses in the Humanities explore ethical, cultural, historical, and descriptive dimensions of human experience, with an emphasis on methods of reaching a conclusion, formulating an interpretation, or making a judgment in the discipline.

 

LIBERAL LEARNING GOALS AND CRITERIA

 

In order to be classified as an Arts and Humanities exploration course, a class will: 

 

  1. Emphasize historical, philosophical, or artistic ways of thinking and knowing [Liberal Learning Goals 1 & 3]

 

  1. Imbue students with an understanding of the importance of multiple perspectives and contexts [Liberal Learning Goals 3 & 5]

 

  1. Incorporate interpretive or aesthetic theories and practices used in the arts and humanities [Liberal Learning Goals 2 & 3]

 

  1. Use primary sources to engage students in methods of critical thinking that are characteristic of the arts and humanities [Liberal Learning Goals 2, 3 & 4]

 

In order to be classified as an Arts exploration course, a class must meet the above criteria for all Arts and Humanities exploration courses and also focus specifically and primarily on

 

  1. Exploring artistic methods and/or products

 

  1. Studying the value, style, meaning, and effect of artistic expression

 

  1. Emphasizing critical, theoretical, and practical perspectives

 

In order to be classified as a Humanities exploration course, a class must meet the above criteria for all Arts and Humanities exploration courses and also focus specifically and primarily on

 

  1. Exploring ethical, cultural, historical, or descriptive dimensions of human experience

 

  1. Study the context and meaning of events, texts, and cultural objects

 

  1. Emphasizing methods of making judgments, formulating interpretations, defending assertions, and reaching conclusions

 

LEARNING OUTCOMES

 

Note: It is expected that Humanities courses and some Arts courses will qualify for classification as “Writing Intensive” for the “Writing Across the Core” requirement.

 

Arts Outcomes

 

  1. Students will demonstrate an awareness of the role and value of artistic expression.
  2. Students will demonstrate an understanding of modes of expression in the visual, literary, or performing arts.
  3. Students will demonstrate the ability to analyze, interpret, critique, or create works of art.

 

Humanities Outcomes

 

  1. Student will demonstrate an awareness of multiple perspectives on human experience.
  2. Students will demonstrate an understanding of historical or philosophical modes of inquiry.
  3. Students will demonstrate the ability to use critical interpretation as a method of understanding texts, practices, or artifacts within social, religious, political, or historical contexts.

 

ASSESSMENT

 

  1. We recommend that each Arts and Humanities exploration course be assessed with an instrument based on the attached model. Instructors should link outcomes to assessment artifacts in the space indicated and include this form when submitting the course for core approval.

 

  1. We recommend that core course assessment be separate from departmental assessment and coordinated by the Core Committee chair, the Director of Assessment, and the division chair for Core and Integrative Studies.

 

TIMELINE

 

The submission deadline for proposed Arts and Humanities exploration courses to be taught in the 2007-08 academic year is October 13, 2006. Proposals should include the attached assessment model with assessment artifacts listed. The committee expects that departments will review course proposals before they are submitted to the committee for approval.

 

Arts and Humanities Working Group

Nathaniel Dickey                      Heidi Goldberg                         Stephen Grollman                    

Joy Lintelman                           Gregg Muilenburg                     Barbara McCauley                  

Mary Rice                                David Wintersteen                    David Sprunger