The complexity of climate change invites us to address its causes and consequences through concerted methods of inquiry; its primacy as one of the major existential threats of our era calls us to respond to its dangers with urgency and purpose. Featuring a rich collection of multidisciplinary core curricular offerings from Environmental Sciences, History, Humanities and the Performing Arts, Philosophy, and Theology, this Core Curriculum Pathway will afford you the chance to rise to this challenge together with mentors and peers.
Enrolling in the pathway will allow you to fulfill up to two core curriculum requirements; or one core curriculum requirement and one elective requirement; or two elective requirements. Moreover, you will enjoy exclusive access to issue-based simulations and exercises, programming connecting you to opportunities in public policy and advocacy, resources and events focusing on social and cultural impacts and meanings, and a robust community of practice comprised of faculty, staff, and your fellow students.
1) Why the Core Pathways approach?
2) How will grading and assessment work?
Students will receive grades for each module independently, and assignments can take place solely within a given module, even as there will also be work that bridges across the modules. Grades for each module will be recorded independently at 1.5 credits.
3) How and when will students register for each of the semester’s modules?
Students may register for the first module of a semester during the usual add/drop period, and they may have the chance to list their preference for the second module at that time. However, a student may reprioritize their preferences for the second module during the first module at an indicated timeframe, likely to occur about halfway through the first module. This will allow for overall coordinating of the structure and also preserve flexibility for the students at the same
4) What will it mean for students that the Core Curriculum Pathways is opt-in?
There are currently two requirements of those who opt-in to the CCP:
Students who choose to enroll in the Core Curriculum Pathway must commit to a personal responsibility to coordinate their coursework and any degree requirements (core and elective courses) in consultation with faculty advisors and their respective Deans. Students will be required to take a minimum of one year of the pathway, and during that time will complete at least one core requirement, but may also end up with one or more 3-credit electives as well.
5) What will be the format for the integrative weeks and their activities?
The integrative weeks will be conducted during regularly scheduled class periods in the Core Curriculum Pathways time slot (there may be other events offered as well). These integrative weeks will be representative of the current modules so as to ensure cross-pollination through the integrative experiences. There may be additional mechanisms for facilitating these integrative weeks, including dialogue in the Virtual Commons (online resources and discussion boards).
6) How will students transition between modules?
As noted in #2 above, students will indicate a registration preference for the second module at the outset, with some flexibility to amend that decision during the semester. These registration moments will provide an opportunity for advising to help students connect the various modules in a meaningful way. Resources will be developed in the Virtual Commons that will help students get an introduction to each disciplinary lens through a set of shared core concepts.
