Geneva seeks to create well-rounded students with worldviews founded on a variety of subjects. Students of all majors must complete the Geneva core curriculum which includes courses in Bible, Humanities, Science, English, etc. The core consists of a minimum of 43 credits in 6 categories: Community of Learners, Reason and Rhetoric, God, Humanity, Cosmos, Society, and Cultural Engagement. These core courses allow students to engage with subject matter outside of their specific field and gain skills and knowledge that will be useful throughout their academic journey and their engagement in communities for their lifetime.
Community of Learners: The Community of Learners Core consists of one class that every student takes their first semester. This course varies slightly depending on the student’s major, but it is designed to orient students to the learning structure they will experience in college and prepare them for college-level education.
Reason and Rhetoric: The Reason and Rhetoric courses are designed to encourage students to engage with course content thoughtfully. To fulfill this core requirement students must take ENG 101 (this requirement can be waived if proficiency is indicated by SAT or ACT scores), and either COM 101: Principles of Communication or PHI 100: Critical Thinking. These courses prepare students to effectively communicate in both written and oral settings.
God: Students are required to take 9 credits of Biblical courses. They must take BIB 112 and 113 (Introduction to the Old Testament and New Testament), and either BIB 300: Foundations of Christian Thought or PHI 310: Christian Understanding of Life. Students are not expected to be Christians when they begin these classes or when they finish these classes, however, Geneva does expect their students to learn the basic framework of Biblical principles. Courses in the Bible Core are designed to provide students with a foundation for faithful service in the Kingdom of God.
Humanity: The Humanity Core consists of 6 credits which seek to teach students to explore the purpose of human life. The humanities courses dive into the intellectual tradition of the past. The Humanity Core explores the essence of humanity, and the aspects of life that are deeply and truly human.
Cosmos: The Cosmos courses explore the qualities of the physical universe. The Cosmos Core requires 8-13 credits (depending on your major). These credits include a PED 103: Physical Fitness and SCS 110: Introduction to the Natural Sciences. These courses provide an introduction to the qualities of physical biology and scientific study. To fulfill the credit requirement for this category students may choose another science course in the field of their choice.
Society: Society courses are designed to take a deeper look at the qualities of human societies and to enable students to become constructive members of their communities. Society courses are categorized as Group A, B, or C courses and students must take at least 2 courses from different disciplines. There is a variety of course options available to fulfill this requirement. Some courses in the Group A category are Introduction to Psychology (PSY 201), American Government (POL 151), or Fundamentals of Economics (ECO 100). The Society core requirement allows for significant variety depending on the interests of the student.
Cultural Engagement: The Cultural Engagement courses are designed to build on the subject matter of other core courses to prepare students for responsible participation in culture and civic life. The Cultural Engagement core consists of POL 352: Great Issues in Politics; HUM 303: Perspectives: Modernity, Post-Modernity, & Virtual Culture; and a Major Capstone Experience (which is determined by the department for each program). Through these courses students are taught to be responsible members of their community and culture.
The Geneva College Core Curriculum might appear to be overwhelming, however, many students find the core curriculum to be useful in broadening their understanding of the world and preparing them for their engagement with others. Ryan Eisenhuth, a senior Communication major, says, “Indeed, the core curriculum at Geneva is beneficial to people in all walks of life because it teaches them how to understand not just their work, but their whole world, through the lens of God’s sovereignty.” The core curriculum is foundational to a Geneva College education, and year after year, students graduate with a fuller understanding of the world and their role in it.
Mattigan Burleigh ‘24
Opinions expressed in the Geneva Blog are those of its contributors and do not necessarily represent the opinions or official position of the College. The Geneva Blog is a place for faculty and contributing writers to express points of view, academic insights, and contribute to national conversations to spark thought, conversation, and the pursuit of truth, in line with our philosophy as a Christian, liberal arts institution.
Jan 12, 2024
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