2019-2020 BSC Catalog

38 ACADEMIC PROGRAMS
two of the three coming from any one option:
courses in a foreign language
courses whose primary concerns are the understanding of subject matter within a
global perspective, be that a cultural, political, social, economic, historical,
linguistic, or aesthetic framework (GP)
courses whose primary interests are in competing ethical, moral, or community
interests (CI)
a study abroad experience for at least one fall or one spring term (no more than one
may be counted toward the three) in a program approved by the Sklenar Center
GP – Global Perspectives. Students will be able to
• examine an element of global complexity in relation to aesthetic, cultural,
geographic, historical, political, economic, societal, religious, or philosophical
perspectives appropriate to the discipline
• identify cultural differences among peoples within a world community
• demonstrate how world views are shaped by fundamental differences in cultural
values
CI – Community Interests. Students will be able to
• examine how community is shaped by multiple contexts
• assess competing interests in community decision making
• analyze a societal problem from multiple angles or methodologies
(4) Connectivity. Creative insight and generative problem solving frequently occur by
connecting previously disconnected areas of thought. In this vein, we expect students to
be able to identify and employ connections within one academic area, among academic
areas, and between the academy and the wider world. Two courses, one at the beginning
and one at the conclusion of the Explorations curriculum, assist in developing this ability:
one designated first-year explorations in scholarship seminar (ES)
one connection in scholarship senior experience, which serves as the capstone within
the major and includes a required public presentation
ES – Explorations in Scholarship First-Year Seminar. Students will be able to
• contribute to ongoing class discussions
• make effective oral presentations
• identify strengths and weaknesses of different points of view and approaches to
problems
• position oneself in an ongoing conversation/argument
• engage in library and/or other research appropriate to the content of the seminar
(5) Self-Directed Teaching and Learning. In any exploration, unplanned, unscripted, or
non-routine events frequently provide the most memorable experience. Recognizing the
difficulty in scripting the unscripted, we hope to foster such unplanned insights by
providing a space for students to engage in independent study, seek out new opportunities
and experiences, and actively pursue those experiences based on their own interests and
Birmingham-Southern College Catalog 2019-2020