The academic identity of a college is grounded in its curriculum. At Dana College, The Liberal Arts Experience is an innovative, integrated general education program that combines:

1. Skills for Living in a Global and Technological Community;
2. The Shared Experience; and
3. The Challenge to Expand.

   Additional Choices

The Liberal Arts Experience challenges students to view the world from a broad perspective by acquiring intellectual habits of questioning rigid categories and investigating ideas across disciplines and from many disciplinary viewpoints.

Skills for Living in a Global and Technological Community
To assure that students are prepared to live in a pluralistic, technological society here and abroad, basic competencies in mathematics, languages, and oral and written communication are required.

All students will fulfill each of the following baseline competencies:

1. Mathematics Skills
   This requirement may be fulfilled by one of the following:
   • ACT Enhanced Math score of 23 or above.
   • Coursework equivalent to MAT 105 Intermediate Algebra or higher.
2. Written Communication Skills
   This requirement may be fulfilled by one of the following:
   • ACT Enhanced English score of 26 or above.
   • Successful completion of:
   ENG 105 Strategies of Composition (English ACT score 20-25) (3 credits) or
   ENG 103 and ENG 104 Writing Workshop I, II (6 credits)
   • A formal evaluation of the student’s writing (See English Department Chair for more information).
3. Oral Communication Skills
   This requirement may be fulfilled by one of the following:
   • Successful completion of one of the following courses:
   COM 103 Small Group Communication
   COM 116 Public Speaking
   COM 212 Interpersonal Communication
   • A formal evaluation of the student’s oral communication performance abilities. (See Communication Department Chair for more information.)
4. Languages
   This requirement may be fulfilled by one of the following:
   • Successful completion of a second semester college language course such as:
   Danish DAN 102
   French FRE 102
   German GER 111
   Spanish SPA 102
   • Three years of one language in high school with a grade of "B" or above in the third year.
   • Two years of one language in high school with a grade of "B" or above in the second year AND successful completion of Spanish/German/Danish 201.
   • A score of 500/173 or above on the TOEFL for non-native speakers of English.
   
5. Wellness
   The Wellness Concepts course focuses on the theory, principles and practices of diet and nutrition, exercise and stress management as a total part of an individual's lifestyle.
   PED 104 Wellness Concepts 1 credit
   

Transfer students who have earned an A.A. or A.S. degree from a regionally accredited institution have fulfilled all baseline competencies.

The Shared Experience
Learning and working in community provides students with opportunities to develop a variety of skills and experiences that encourage students to question, seek and discover their own identity in relation to others.

1. The Liberal Arts Reading Program (LARP)
   The Liberal Arts Reading Program encourages development of oral and written communication skills through critical reading and thinking. All students and faculty read and discuss important texts representing a wide range of disciplines and literary genres. The readings and class discussions enhance students' and faculty's understanding and appreciation of the liberal arts and promote a sense of community.
   LAR 101-402 Liberal Arts Reading Program (one per year at Dana) Total 4 credits
2. Religion
   These courses introduce the student to a range of topics related to Christian faith as well as non-Christian religions, including: the historical development of religious ideas; similarities and differences among religious groups; ways of finding meaning and purpose in life; conceptions of the divine, salvation and our responsibilities toward the larger world. Students will gain an appreciation of the importance of religion as a way of structuring and understanding the world and humans’ place in it.
   Select one from:
   REL 100 Introduction to the Bible 3 credits
   REL 111 Introduction to Religion 3 credits
   REL 121 Introduction to Christianity 3 credits
3. The Liberal Arts Senior Seminar
   This seminar focuses on development of student life goals and values as preparation for becoming active participants in society and the workforce. Through discussion and writing, students express their own views on societal issues while appreciating the views of others. In the final project, students present an integrated life philosophy paper to the seminar.
   LAR 450 Liberal Arts Senior Seminar (senior year) 3 credits

The Challenge to Expand

Learning through individual exploration in selected disciplines outside a student’s major provides the student with the opportunity to understand the world by investigating multiple disciplinary perspectives and ways of knowing.

For the purpose of selecting The Challenge to Expand courses, the following four areas have been designated. Each major is associated with a particular area.

Courses used to fulfill The Shared Experience and Skills for Living in a Global and Technological Community may not be used to fulfill Challenge to Expand requirements.

No courses that have the same departmental prefix as the student’s principle major may be used to satisfy Challenge to Expand.

• Select your major and consult the listing below to determine the area in which your major is included.
• Select 6 hours in each of three areas outside of the area in which your major occurs. Please consult the current General Education pamphlet (available in the Registrar’s Office) for a complete listing of recommended courses.

Students should select carefully from the recommended list of courses to achieve the best combination for their individual needs and interests.

Although it is a rather comprehensive list, a student may, upon rare occasion, wish to select a course not currently listed to fulfill a part of this requirement.

Additional Choices
To receive approval for a “Challenge to Expand” substitution of a course which is a) not listed below, and b) from an academic major within a given distribution area, follow these steps prior to enrollment.

1. Consult with your advisor.
2. Complete “Challenge to Expand” course substitution request (form available in Registrar/Academic Services Office).
3. Obtain signature from advisor and Associate Dean for Student Success.

The Registrar’s Office will forward approval/denial of request to the student and academic advisor.

1. Human Aesthetic Expression
   Through creatively exploring our feelings and ideas, these courses provide students with opportunities to engage in active self-expression and to appreciate the expression of others. Majors include:
   • Art
   • English
   • German
   • iMedia
   • Intercultural Communication
   • Music
   • Spanish
2. Human Culture
   Through exploration of history and culture, these courses encourage students to gain insight into the meaning and values of human existence. Majors include:
   • History
   • Religion
   • Social Science
3. Human Development and Organization
   Through the study of humans in relationship with one another, these courses provide students with opportunities to identify and discover how people function in society. Majors include:
   • Accounting
   • Business Administration
   • Criminal Justice
   • Communication
   • Elementary Education
   • Management Information Systems
   • Physical Education
   • Psychology
   • Public Accounting
   • Social Work
   • Sociology
   • Special Education
4. Human Scientific Inquiry
   Through scientific and quantitative methods, these courses encourage students to discover ways in which the natural world functions. Majors include:
   • Biology
   • Chemistry
   • Computer Science
   • Mathematics
   • Medical Arts

Last Updated January 26, 2007