ASSUMPTION COLLEGE
From: Academics at Assumption: A Base for Lifelong Learning, 1993

Assumption College is a Catholic institution of higher education founded by and conducted under the auspices of the Augustinian of the Assumption. We seek to educate our students in the traditions of Christianity and liberal arts and to promote Christian living. We are an ecumenically Christian community concerned with the truth wherever it is found.... It is out of our strong sense of mission at Assumption that, in the mid-1980's, we studied and revised our general education requirements, our core curriculum. The results are explained [below].

In order to assist both professors and students in carrying out its mission, Assumption College has instituted a ... common basis for the education of all Assumption students. This curriculum ... is a measure of how seriously the College takes its responsibility to introduce its students to their intellectual, cultural and spiritual heritage. That heritage includes the great works of the past, ... but it also includes the most recent breakthroughs in the social and natural sciences.... Indeed, it includes the best in every field.

The General Education Curriculum seeks to introduce students not only to a wide variety of subjects but also to new modes of thinking and learning.... The general education curriculum not only gives a broad introduction to the whole range of human learning, but it also provides the opportunity to explore some areas in depth outside the major and minor programs.

Philosophy and Religious Studies: The pursuit of truth, by means of both natural reason and divine revelation, is at the center of liberal education in the Catholic tradition. [So,] we require all of our students to study Philosophy and Theology from several perspectives.... All students are required to pass Introduction to Philosophy and ... one course [named] The Bible.

Humanities: The Western ideal of "Know Thyself" sometimes is reached more easily if we can forget ourselves. The traditional disciplines of the Humanities allow us to step outside ... the boundaries that time, geography, and genes place upon us. By transcending these limitations, we increase our interest in the world and our sympathy towards all ... [Thus,] all students are required to pass a course in Introduction to Literature... All students are required to pass one course selected from the following two-course combination in History: ... History of Western Civilization or History of Modern Europe and the U.S. All students are required to pass one course in Fine Arts/Music/Theatre Arts from a designated list.

Social Sciences: By allowing us to study human behavior from a variety of social contexts, from the intimacy of family to the impersonality of security markets, the social sciences provide us with critical perspectives on our own lives... All students are required to pass one course in three separate social science fields: in Anthropology, Economics, Geography, Linguistics, Politics, Psychology, Sociology and/or Social and Rehabilitation Services.

Mathematics/Natural Sciences/ Foreign Languages: When we are trained, we learn one way of doing something; when we are educated, we learn several ways of defining, pursuing, and achieving goals. To instruct students fully, liberal education has traditionally encouraged us to study different ways of knowing: by quantitative analysis, by the scientific method, by studying a foreign language. In order to achieve this goal, we require all students to pass [courses in these areas].

Writing: Writing effectively is a necessity in academic life and in a career. Our success in any endeavor ... requires the ability to communicate ideas simply, clearly, and forcefully.... Because writing is such a fundamental skill, we require all students to pass English Composition during their first year.

[In addition Assumption offers the] Foundations Program: This is a program of interdisciplinary studies for freshmen and sophomores who are looking for an integrated introduction to liberal education .... Four professors from four different disciplines have developed this series of courses in the Foundations of Politics, Fine Arts, Religious Studies and Philosophy. The program's goal is to help students think about the heritage of the Western World.