The Introductory Arts and Humanities Seminar introduces students to questions about the place of the arts, humanities, and communication in a life well lived, in the university, and in the broader society. How do we make sense of the world through art and literature? How does familiarity with history help us place current events in a meaningful context? What concepts and terms do we use to arrive at our moral, ethical, aesthetic, and religious values? How might we communicate that meaning and those concerns to others in oral, written, and visual ways? Students participate in small group work, regular reading and writing, engaging discussions, and campus events. Over the term, they develop an academic ePortfolio, where they collect, select, and reflect on their learning. Throughout the class, students work closely with faculty and peers to critically examine the place of the liberal arts in higher education, relate their own goals to the curriculum, and become active participants in the School of Arts and Humanities.
This class is an introduction to Liberal Learning as a topic and aids new students with acclimation into the School of Arts & Humanities. LIL 120 encourages and teaches different styles of thinking, and offers a broad skillset that helps students navigate their majors, college careers, and experiences.