MISSION

  1. Offer high-quality academic programs rooted in the tradition of a liberal education in the arts, sciences and professions, responsive to the occupational, civic and cultural needs of the region, and actively seek their continual improvement.
  2. Foster a teaching and learning community that provides opportunities for collaborative faculty, student, and staff interaction in support of excellence.
  3. Prepare students to be successful in their professional, civic, and personal lives.
  4. Provide programs that meet the intellectual and cultural needs of people throughout their lives.

 

LIBERAL ARTS AND GENERAL EDUCATION

A liberal arts education has been the foundation of American higher education since the late 18th Century. It is the academic core of the University of Wisconsin-System, and all UW campuses view the teaching of liberal arts as central to their missions.

Traditionally grouped around the physical and natural sciences, the social sciences, and the humanities, the liberal arts are the basis of all our educational programs. In response to our changing needs, the liberal arts have changed, resulting in the creation of programs like women's studies, criminal justice, and environmental studies

A liberal arts education stimulates inquiry, critical thinking, and a desire for a deeper understanding of subject matter. This, in turn, allows you to transfer and apply your knowledge from one subject area to another. The American Association of Colleges and Universities defines a liberal arts education as: "one that prepares us to live responsible, productive, and creative lives in a dramatically changing world." It "fosters a well-grounded intellectual resilience," an interest in lifelong learning, and "an acceptance of responsibility for the ethical consequences of our ideas and actions."

One of our primary goals is to prepare students to be successful in their professional, civic and personal lives. A liberal arts education takes you beyond training for a specific career and establishes the knowledge and a fundamental set of skills that will serve you throughout your life. It gives you opportunities to develop your analytical and problem-solving abilities, as well as a better understanding of cultures and ethnicities.  Liberal arts education also develops the skills and awareness vital to the success of citizens of an advanced technological society, and habits of mind that promote lifelong learning, responsible actions, and independent thinking. Complementary to these skills are opportunities for you to become literate in civic, cultural, aesthetic, international, scientific, and technical subjects.

The purpose of a general education in the liberal arts at Parkside is twofold.

  1. Acquire a knowledge and skill set used across all academic disciplines
  2. Become aware that knowledge is diverse and composed of different principles and methodologies.

The general university requirements are not meant to be a hurdle for you to overcome, but an education in the fullest sense, establishing skills fundamental to personal and professional success. Employers consistently want to hire people who are well-rounded, who are critical thinkers and problem solvers, who have a high level of oral and written communication skills, and who can work successfully with others. These skills and capabilities are the core of the general education program.

CONTACT

Doug Singsen  |  General Education Director  |  generaleducation@uwp.edu

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