by Tom Hoffman, Ph.D., Professor of Political Science

"It is critical that the core curriculum design reflect the values of the Catholic liberal arts tradition as taught in a Marianist university while being innovative and responsive to the educational needs of today's students and society."

Such was the challenge by President Charles L. Cotrell, Ph.D., to the Core Curriculum Revision Committee at its first meeting in April 2008. The 14-member committee, appointed by Cotrell and chaired by me, was comprised of faculty from the schools of Humanities and Social Sciences; Science, Engineering and Technology; and the Bill Greehey School of Business. At that meeting, Cotrell called for a collaborative and transparent process and, if possible, a formulated and approved core curriculum within a year.

On April 3, 2009 – after widespread consultation and votes by faculty, deans and University administrators – the St. Mary's Board of Trustees adopted the new core curriculum for all undergraduate students, fulfilling President Cotrell's directive.

Core has three-prong approach
Most of us likely remember the core we followed while at St. Mary's. But what is unique about today's core? Designed to aid in students' development of an "authentic human life," the new core educates them to engage with nature and with others, develop self-identity, and be in relationship with God. The committee developed objectives aimed at fulfilling these goals as well as common objectives. All of the new core curriculum courses are required to fulfill certain of these objectives. In short, the new core is well thought-out and purposeful.

The three major parts of the new core curriculum are the St. Mary's Core, special features including a seminar and portfolio that support the St. Mary's Core and a School Specific Core.

Graduates of St. Mary's who complete the new core will share common characteristics. They will be independent thinkers, capable of critical inquiry. They will understand and apply information from many sources. They will be citizens of the world, comfortable discussing local, national and global issues in a thoughtful and open-minded way. They will be skillful communicators with sound problem-solving abilities. And they will have developed their spiritual lives in a community context. They will be prepared to improve humanity for the common good, through their careers, their personal pursuits and habits, and their faith-filled lives.

Integrating the core
The culmination of the St. Mary's Core takes place during the senior year with the Capstone Seminar: Prospects for Community and Civilization, designed to integrate all core courses before it. Leading up to the seminar, students complete a series of courses beginning with Foundations of Civilization, followed by Foundations of Reflection courses focusing on nature, others, self and God. Later, students take Foundations of Practice courses in ethics, civic engagement and social action, fine arts and the creative process, and literature.

From the start, students maintain a Core Portfolio of the work they do in their core courses to help them understand the integration of the coursework. Another unique requirement is completion of 30 hours of service or service learning, including a reflection component that is included in the students' portfolios. All undergraduates complete the St. Mary's Core, the capstone seminar, and keep a core portfolio.

While all students take introductory writing, speech, foreign language and theology, the School Specific Core recognizes the three undergraduate schools have different emphases; therefore, the courses in this part of the core will vary. Thus, the coursework students take in social science/history, science, math/quantitative reasoning, fine arts, literature and advanced writing will clearly complement the student's major course of study.

An "authentic human life"
The paths students follow to fulfill their degree requirements at St. Mary's are many; however, the core helps each of them to develop an "authentic human life."

Students should graduate from St. Mary's with the knowledge and skills they need to pursue their chosen careers. Hence, the new core is innovative and responsive to the educational needs of today's students and society. The freshman class of 2010 will be the first to experience the new core.

While being able to make a living is one outcome of a St. Mary's education, we want our graduates to be agents of positive change in society. That the design of the new core reflects the values of the Catholic liberal arts tradition as taught in our Marianist University is perhaps more important for our students – and for humanity – in that they are prepared to lead lives that are meaningful beyond their professions to the betterment of the common good.

Tom Hoffman, Ph.D., was handpicked by President Charles L. Cotrell, Ph.D., early in 2008 to lead the Core Curriculum Revision Committee. Hoffman has taught in the Department of Political Science since 1982. After earning his bachelor's degree in political science from St. Mary's University, he went on to earn master's and doctorate degrees in political science from the University of Arizona. At St. Mary's, Hoffman teaches Texas Politics, Religion and Politics, Classical Political Thought and Political Research Methodology, among other courses.