Liberal Arts and Sciences - University College Freiburg - Universität ...

5The LAS program is mostly organized ina block schedule. This gives studentsand teachers the opportunity to engagevery closely with each other and the topicat hand. It also provides space for innovativeforms of instruction that characterizethe entire program.The LAS program is selective. Selectionplaces a strong emphasis on personalinterviews in order to assess the motivationof applicants and the matching betweenthe program and interested students.Its target group is students withhigh levels of intellectual curiosity, selfrelianceand responsibility, who arelooking for problem-oriented work acrossdisciplines and are flexible and open tochallenges.The Core (66 ECTS points) constitutesthe intellectual identity of LAS at the Universityof Freiburg: All students are intensivelytrained in general academic skills(researching and presenting study material,effective writing, numerical literacyetc.). In order to put these skills into contextand to exemplify the necessity andcomplexity of interdisciplinary thoughtand action, the first year of the programfocusses on contemporary societal challenges(such as Global Inequality, PublicHealth, Environmental Issues). In thehigher semesters of the Core Program,the students’ coursework is continuouslycomplemented by instruction in the theoryof science, knowledge and research.Finally, students follow a curriculum inresponsibility and leadership and havethe opportunity to engage in extracurricularactivities.The Language part of the program (36ECTS) ensures that all LAS students cancommunicate on academic topics in excellentEnglish and good German, andideally acquire a good grounding in athird language.The Major (90 ECTS) constitutes thestudents’ thorough training in a specificacademic field of Sciences and/or theHumanities that is, in itself, interdisciplinary.It aims to provide sufficient depth tomake admission into disciplinary M.A. orM.Sc. programs possible.An Electives area of the curriculum (48ECTS) enables students to either pursueinterdisciplinary studies of their choice,engage in more practically oriented projectsor undertake specific additionaltraining necessary for admission intotheir chosen M.A. or M.Sc. programs.