Liberal Arts Core Curriculum

The liberal arts and sciences permeate the whole Elms College curriculum, adding a valuable dimension to traditional and professional disciplines.

The liberal arts core is the foundation of an Elms College education and is crucial to the fulfillment of the mission of the college.

The core curriculum emphasizes the knowledge that educated persons need to enrich their lives with the lifelong pursuit of learning. It provides students with an
education that is integrated and interdisciplinary and one that recognizes the value of service, diversity, and multiculturalism as essential components of a liberal arts
education for the twenty-first century.

Student Outcomes of the Liberal Arts Core

Spiritual and Physical Well-Being

• Realize the holistic nature and the interrelation of spiritual and physical well-being.
• Develop an understanding of God in life through exposure to tradition and values, which inform the Catholic identity of the college.
• Nurture the development of a spiritual journey in service.
• Make decisions derived from moral reasoning and a serious consideration of Judeo-Christian values.
• Assess and improve health fitness.

Intellectual Development in the Liberal Arts

• Acquire an understanding of the different modes of inquiry within the arts and sciences.
• Develop an appreciation for the achievements of human creativity, past and present, through the experience of literature, art, philosophy, and history.
• Comprehend the technological basis of modern society through quantitative and scientific study.
• Expand awareness of human nature and society through study of the social sciences.

Critical Thinking and Communication

• Think critically and creatively.
• Read critically, use different modes of inquiry, integrate knowledge, evaluate intelligently, and learn independently.
• Communicate effectively. Listen, speak, read, and write clearly and coherently in English.

Global Awareness and Cultural Understanding

• Develop respect for gender, global, and multicultural perspectives by acquiring an understanding of global issues and different cultures, including at least an introductory knowledge of a second language.