| Academic
Program and Regulations Introduction
The curriculum of CSB/SJU consists of the core curriculum,
a common sequence of courses for all students and major fields of study in specific
academic disciplines. The core curriculum reflects the tradition of Benedictine education
with its focus on the intrinsic value of understanding the wisdom of the humanities,
natural and social sciences and the fine arts. The academic major offers the student the
opportunity to develop analytical thinking, intellectual creativity and the discipline of
specialization in the context of a particular discipline or subject matter. The following
pages detail the academic programs and regulations of the College of Saint Benedict and
Saint John's University.
Academic Programs
Degrees Offered
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Saint Benedict's and Saint John's offer four-year programs
in the liberal arts and sciences leading to the baccalaureate degree. The bachelor of
science degree is awarded in nursing and medical technology. All other four-year programs
lead to the bachelor of arts degree.
The School of Theology at Saint John's offers the master
of arts degree in theology, the master of arts in liturgical studies, the master of arts
in liturgical music, the master of arts in pastoral ministry; and the master of divinity
degree.
Core Curriculum:
Exploring the Human Condition [Top]
It is the purpose of the core curriculum to provide all
students with a solid academic foundation and the fundamental tools necessary to continue
developing their intellectual ability and inquiry. This goal extends beyond providing
answers. It must include raising questions important to the human condition: questions
that have been asked in the past; questions that examine our cultural heritage; questions
that are asked as a part of the exploration of thoughtful, responsible choices; questions
that grow in complexity as the students mature. Typically, these questions might be
phrased in the following ways:
- How did we, and others, get to this place
in the world?
- How can we think about our lives in this world and
discover our roles in it?
- How ought we, both personally and communally, respond to
the world and its demands? |
These questions, and others like them, have helped men and
women focus their spiritual and intellectual lives throughout history. Each generation
searches for its own answers, using the intellectual tools available to it. For today's
students that search must begin with an examination of their cultural heritage. The search
needs to include an active investigation of the complex choices demanded by the present,
and also a willingness to raise the questions necessary to stimulate continued inquiry.
To this end, the core curriculum provides students with
the opportunity to develop the following:
- ability to communicate effectively through speaking,
listening, writing, reading critically and thinking clearly;
- understanding of ways of inquiring and organizing
knowledge that characterize the different academic disciplines;
- awareness of connections among the different academic
disciplines that integrate knowledge;
- personal responsibility for their own learning and the
necessity of raising questions and searching for answers;
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- ability to make good moral and ethical judgments --
judgments that are consciously made and defensibly maintained.
These questions and capabilities do not exist in isolation
from one another. Together they form the intellectual, civic, moral and spiritual
framework from which responsible citizens respond to personal and communal questions; and
they form the goals of the liberal arts core curriculum at Saint Benedict's and Saint
John's.
The core curriculum is completed by fulfilling specific cross-disciplinary course
requirements, disciplinary course requirements and flagged course requirements. The
demonstration of foreign language and mathematics proficiencies is also a key component of
the core curriculum. |
