Category: Core Matters

The Once and Future Core Course: Imagining (and Designing) the Exploration Level

Compass on a beach

One major impetus for revitalizing the University Core was to provide more opportunities for creative interdisciplinary courses that could include a wide variety of perspectives, including points where the liberal arts meet professional disciplines. This was of interest to students, faculty, and administration alike, and it resulted in a proposed new “Exploration Level” of courses…Continue Reading The Once and Future Core Course: Imagining (and Designing) the Exploration Level

What Should Our Students Read? An Invitation and Introduction

An old book

At its best, a liberal arts core curriculum engages students and faculty in thinking about big ideas — how is knowledge constructed; how can we make our communities more just and inclusive; how can we balance faith and reason; what can inspire wonder and curiosity. In UP’s revitalized Core, we are hoping to start introducing…Continue Reading What Should Our Students Read? An Invitation and Introduction

Teaching the Truth

Small sign saying truth on pavement

In recent weeks, months, and years, amidst a series of difficult political moments, I’ve found myself thinking regularly about the University of Portland motto: Veritas vos liberabit, or “the truth will set us free.” I assume it was originally selected for its overlapping meanings – referring both to religious truth, as in John 8:32 “Ye…Continue Reading Teaching the Truth

Difficult Conversations and Liberal Arts Ideals

Conversation art - metal megaphones

A good college education, even in the best of times, requires having difficult conversations. We can only learn and grow when confronted with new ways of thinking; engaging diverse and challenging ideas in an inclusive educational community is central to a liberal arts education and essential to the University of Portland Core curriculum. These particular…Continue Reading Difficult Conversations and Liberal Arts Ideals

What’s in a title (and course description)?

typewriter with the word goals

In much of higher education, as at UP, most course titles and descriptions have served a utilitarian function: they identify the disciplinary perspective on offer, and the basic content to be covered. Such titles and descriptions serve their purpose. They allow us to describe basic curricular components, to evaluate transfer credits, to meet accreditation requirements,…Continue Reading What’s in a title (and course description)?