Liberal Arts Core Overview

As an arts and sciences with professions institution with a strong focus on the liberal arts, Olivet College has a unique curriculum that makes use of unique delivery methods. Core components of the Olivet Plan are noted in detail in the Academic Catalog. The Liberal Arts Core component of the Olivet Plan will shape your education from the moment you begin your studies at Olivet College. The following bullet points accentuate the important curricular components of the Liberal Arts Core. You may be enrolling in several of the following courses during your first semester at Olivet.

Liberal arts concentration requirements infuse the concept of Education for Individual and Social Responsibility throughout the curriculum to maximize student achievement of college-wide learning outcomes. The Liberal Arts Core consists of a sequence of required courses providing common learning and shared experiences for all undergraduates.

The Liberal Arts Concentration plan consists of ten core courses that link skills, viewpoints, learning outcomes, and competencies with Olivet's academic vision of Education for Individual and Social Responsibility.

Thematically linked courses are delivered through a variety of formats and teaching/learning styles including integrated, cross-disciplinary teams, and collaborative teaching. Active and integrative learning are key features throughout the LAC.

Liberal Arts Core courses include:

• Self and Community: A one-semester course in which students are engaged in self-evaluation, the process of socialization, and the study of acculturation. Through pedagogies and topics derived from the Olivet College Compact, Self and Community focuses on individuals and the ways in which individuals fit within larger societies.
• Writing and Rhetoric I and II: Developing effective writing skills is the main focus of these courses. Reading, speaking and listening are approached as skills necessary in the communication process and in the process of critical thinking from which writing is developed.
• Arts Exploration: Offerings in literature, music, theatre, and visual art satisfy the Arts Exploration requirement. Those students majoring in one of the represented disciplines must satisfy the requirement by completing a course in one of the remaining areas, even if an Arts Exploration course is required in the major. Current offerings include: ART 101 – Image and Culture, ENG 201 – Text and Culture, MUS 120 – Music and Culture, THR 106 – Theatre and Culture, and IDS EXP – Creative Art: The Mirror of Culture.
• Creative Experience: Literature, music, theatre, and visual art contribute to the Creative Experience requirement. Creative Experience courses require students to immerse themselves in creative activities in disciplines derived from the core curricula of medieval universities. Current Creative Experience offerings include: ART 105 – Drawing Skills Lab, ART 107 – Visual Foundations, ENG 145 – Intro to Creative Writing, ENG 245 – Fiction Writing, ENG 247 – Poetry Writing, MUS 150 – College Choir, MUS 160 – Wind Ensemble, MUS 162 – Jazz Band, THR EXP – Musical, and THR 111 – Acting.
• Nature, Technology and Humanity: A thematic look at the relationships among nature, technology, society, and our everyday lives. Historical, philosophical and ethical aspects of humans as part of the natural world will be explored.
• Science Experience: Hands-on immersion in the natural and physical sciences. The following laboratory science courses satisfy Science Experience: Principles of Biology I or II, Environmental Science, Biological Science, Astronomy, Geology, General Chemistry I, and Physics I. Additional courses satisfying Science Experience are noted in the Academic Catalog.
• Civilization Studies I and II: A broad examination of issues of individual and social responsibility in world civilizations.
• Exploration of the Liberal Arts: Living in a Diverse World: A capstone general education course offered in the junior year. A number of courses satisfy this requirement. As a capstone course, students will be able at this point in their education to choose the specific perspective in which they are most interested. This course is frequently applicable toward major/minor requirements. Offerings vary by semester.

LAC courses explore the relationship between individual and social responsibility in the context of one's personal and social identities and the bonds of human similarity as well as the wealth of human diversity.

In addition, students must demonstrate proficiency in mathematics, either by passing the college's math proficiency exam or by taking an approved mathematics (MTH) course or pre-approved math-intensive course. Proficiency may be met by completing one of the following: (1) achieving a passing score (70% or higher) on the mathematics proficiency exam, (2) achieving a grade of C- or higher in a mathematics (MTH) course numbered 120 or above or a computer science (CS) course numbered 200 or above, or (3) achieving a grade of C- or higher in a course in another department which has a substantial quantitative component and has been pre-approved by Department of Mathematics and Computer Science faculty. Students seeking the final option must ensure that DMCS faculty has approved the quantitative course. If a course is not approved, the student must receive prior approval from the DMCS chair to ensure the course satisfies the proficiency requirement.

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