Philosophy of the Foundational Liberal Arts and Foundational Sciences

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Platt College’s Liberal Arts and Sciences Philosophy (General Education)

The Liberal Arts Curriculum at Platt College strives to introduce all students to the fundamental knowledge, skills, and values that are essential to further study in the major, to the pursuit of life-long learning, to the development of educated members of the community and the world, and to provide the foundation for becoming informed, independent thinkers who can comprehend, evaluate, and address the issues that human beings face in their personal lives, in their careers, and in community and public affairs.

The Effective Citizen Model 

Platt College has adopted a general education model similar to one of the three models described in Robert Newton’s (2000) Tensions and Models in General Education Planning, the Effective Citizen model in which the needs of society and the student are emphasized in the liberal arts curriculum. Coherence is achieved through liberal arts and sciences goals that focus on the skills, knowledge, and values that can be applied in a broad range of situations, from community action to entrepreneurship. 

“Real-world” skills important to any profession are intended to help students prepare for their careers:  writing, speaking, listening, teamwork, critical thinking and reading, computer skills, and mathematical problem-solving.  Broad cultural and scientific knowledge provide a context in which to frame future issues and problems. To address values, Platt College includes instruction of ethics as part of instruction in human influences, offering a highly practical curriculum where students explore cultural and societal development and ethic principles where students gain valuable tools to analyze and solve problems in an increasingly global society’s well as providing the opportunity for students to study and apply virtues and universal ethical principles such as justice, autonomy, veracity, fidelity, nonmalificience, and beneficence.  

Through Newton’s model, Platt College concentrates on competencies needed to enhance the civic and professional lives of students. The guiding principle behind the college’s foundational liberal arts and sciences curriculum is “what kind of general education is required to live well and participate fully in the world of the 21st century” (Newton 174). Thus, the curriculum is structured “[. . .] around the issues and problems graduates will be expected to confront in order to lead productive lives” and become engaged citizens (174-5). Within that thought, Platt College seeks to achieve one goal through liberal arts and sciences: “educating informed citizens” (175).

As Newton describes in the Effective Citizen model, “relevancy is emphasized” throughout the curriculum. The end result of Platt College’s Liberal Arts and Sciences Program is an understanding of the value of life-long learning, as students grow to recognize the changing nature of their world over the course of the program.

Foundational Liberal Arts and Foundational Sciences at Platt College:

To support the mission of Platt College, the Foundational Liberal Arts and Foundational Sciences program has the following competencies:

Effective Communication in Speaking and Writing

• Students will communicate effectively by demonstrating the ability to speak, listen, read and write with clarity, coherence, and persuasiveness.

Humanities

• Students will have a richer understanding and appreciation of the humanities and fine arts, and an appreciation, and evaluation of the aesthetic, historical, philosophical and literary dimensions of human experience.

Human Influence

• Students will demonstrate awareness of the interdependent nature of individuals and societies and thus better equips them for thoughtful participation in a democratic society. Study here also encourages greater sensitivity to differences among people and thus exposes students to significant issues of cultural diversity, ethics and dilemmas in the personal, business and social areas of their lives.

Informed Citizen

• Students will be able to participate as informed and responsible citizens in solving social, economic and political problems in a multicultural and global society.
• Students will examine their preconceptions about the world and to interpret and analyze logically and apply ethical principles and logical problem solving skills when making ethical decisions.
• Students will be able to think logically, critically and creatively to solve prob­lems and make decisions while recognizing the importance of lifelong learning process in the pursuit of personal, intellectual and career development.

Mathematical Skills and Technology

• Students will be able to comprehend and to use quantitative concepts and methods to interpret and to critically evaluate data and to effectively problem-solve in a variety of contexts demanding quantitative literacy.
• Students will be able to implement appropriate forms of existing and evolving technology for personal, educational, and professional purposes, including fundamental concepts of computing and fluency in the use of contemporary computing and information technology.

Scientific Method

• Students will be able to comprehend and to apply the basic principles of science and methods of scientific inquiry.

To learn more about the educational services offered at Platt College, please contact us to schedule your free information session.