Page 62 - 2019-2020 Academic Catalog - Providence Christian College

ACADEMIC PROGRAMS AND REQUIREMENTS Liberal Studies Major
A liberal studies major seeks to capitalize on the integral nature of learning that characterizes a liberal arts education. The danger of specialization, an obsession in the modern academy, is that it takes away from seeing the world in a holistic manner. This is particularly detrimental for Christians, who understand that all of life is created, sustained, and given meaning by the divine logos, Jesus Christ. A liberal studies major allows students to see that all of life is ordered by the divine creator-sustainer.
The goal of a liberal arts education is to produce critical creative citizens—young men and women
who confidently engage the world in order to work toward a society in harmony with God’s good creational order. A critical student humbly seeks to interpret God’s world aright, understanding its basic nature to live accordingly. God commissioned humanity to watch over, protect, and name the creation. Such a duty requires patient and responsible examination. Second, as image bearers of God, humans are fundamentally creative agents, cultivating their humanity by creating. It’s not that we create out of nothing, but, rather, create (i.e., develop) from what God has graciously given to us. Finally, a person trained in the liberal arts will be a highly valued and value-minded citizen. Someone equipped with a biblical liberal arts education is well positioned to face a variety of experiences and thus have a more positive impact locally and globally.
Cultivating the critical and creative is to live in accordance with who we are as image-bearers of God; in this way, we come closer to understanding who God is, which, in turn, moves us in the direction of gaining a better understanding of what it means to be human, for a true knowledge of God, the Creator, results in a true knowledge of the self, the creature.
Mission Statement:
The major in liberal studies provides students with a unique opportunity to view the world in a holistic and unified manner. Rather than examining reality through the lens of only one discipline, students are able to view life and the world from a number of perspectives. The multifaceted and integral nature of creation, which was formed and is held together by the Incarnate Word, Jesus Christ (John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:16-17; Hebrews 1:1-3), is explored and appreciated, both for its unity and its cohesion. A student with a major in liberal studies will have gained a broad understanding and appreciation of God, his creation, and life within it and will be equipped with the tools to research problems, evaluate evidence, and communicate conclusions.
Program Learning Outcomes:
Core competencies to be assessed for all Providence students. (Bullet points indicate elaboration of meaning and point to the kind of evidence appropriate for assessment.)
1) Interdisciplinary Competence: Students will be able to produce evidence of the ability to make connections across the disciplines of the Liberal Arts (humanities and sciences) curriculum.
 Articulate a Reformed biblical perspective that is integrated in all areas of study
 Integrate a broad liberal arts perspective through self-reflection and participation in
experiential education
 Exhibit awareness of diversity in both historical and contemporary cultures (* see number 5)
60