General Studies Interdisciplinary Capstone Seminar

General Studies Interdisciplinary Capstone Seminar Application Form

Faculty Member ______

Seminar Title ______

Proposed Semester ______

Department Chair Signature ______

Most general education programs concentrate on the first two years, preparing students for their major course of study. However, Elon’s GST program requires courses throughout the four years, complementing the disciplinary major, and providing the strong liberal arts education so important to the mission of our institution. The capstone course of our program has several distinguishing features:

 First, Elon’s interdisciplinary capstone is designed to serve as a culminating experience that engages the modes of inquiry, knowledge and communication skills acquired throughout a student’s academic career. It also challenges students to consider, to varying degrees, ethical reasoning, personal and social responsibility, and global citizenship.

 Second, these courses are all interdisciplinary. Interdisciplinary courses stress integrating and applying knowledge to problems larger in scope than a single discipline can handle.

 Third, these courses are writing-intensive seminars. The courses use a variety of writing styles to promote high-level critical thinking while providing upper-level writing experiences and instruction, enabling students to develop a mature writing and thinking process.

Faculty wishing to teach a General Studies interdisciplinary capstone seminar must submit this application and a tentative syllabus to the General Studies Council. The tentative syllabus should include course objectives, a preliminary reading list, and possible writing assignments.

The General Studies Council recommends that applicants study proposal examples available from the General Studies Director before finalizing and submitting a proposal.

Please submit an electronic copy of your application to [email protected]. Deadlines are

Summer term courses: 15 October of the preceding year Fall Semester courses: 15 October of the preceding year Winter term courses: 15 March of the preceding year Spring Semester courses: 15 April of the preceding year

A GST capstone seminar that is taught three times may be reviewed again by the General Studies Council. Required Information

The General Studies Council uses the following criteria to determine whether or not your proposal fulfills the requirements of our upper-level seminars. Included are some helpful hints that may assist you in composing your application. Please use the space provided (and expand it as needed) to explain how your proposed course would satisfy these criteria.

Proposed Catalog Course Description (maximum 150 words)

Interdisciplinary Approach  Integrates different modes of inquiry across disciplines, allowing insights not possible in any one discipline alone.  Requires sophisticated reading and writing assignments that encourage students to see things from multiple perspectives.  Serves to attract students from a range of majors from across the university.

Advanced Critical Thinking  Integrates and applies knowledge to address complex problems in local and global contexts  Sets clear, high-level course objectives that move beyond mere comprehension and analysis to synthesis and evaluation.  Creates cognitive dissonance for students. As Meyers points out, “Students cannot learn to think critically until they can, at least momentarily, set aside their own visions of the truth and reflect upon alternatives.”  Promotes a rational response to questions that cannot be answered definitively. Effective Teaching  Utilizes a variety of seminar pedagogies that encourage student participation and engagement.  Recognizes the complex nature of the learning process, challenging students to reach while offering a supportive learning environment.  Does not overuse any pedagogical approach (e.g., film, lecture, case study, role play).  Promotes inquiry, innovation, and creativity.

Writing-Intensive Methodology  Encourages students to practice a mature writing process.  Uses a variety of writing types.  Uses plentiful writing enabling students to make meaning within the course.  Practices both writing to learn and learning to write.

Capstone Experience  Requires a substantial interdisciplinary project that integrates and applies what students have experienced through their studies at Elon, from first-year core courses to this course (examples include reflective portfolios, integrative research, fellowship/grant proposals, research-based multimedia projects, etc.).  Refers to the project as a “GST capstone project” on the syllabus.  Provides opportunities for reflection on the components of the larger GST mission: personal and social responsibility, ethical reasoning, and global citizenship.

Please attach a tentative syllabus that will help illuminate your course proposal. The syllabus should include course objectives, a preliminary reading list, and possible writing assignments. GENERAL STUDIES MISSION STATEMENT AND GOALS

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the General Studies Program is to help students cultivate the intellectual curiosity, abilities, and knowledge required for lifelong learning as global citizens. To fulfill this fundamental mission of a liberal arts education, the General Studies Program is organized around three broad domains—inquiry, knowledge and communication—with specific goals for each. Further, this educational mission is deepened through intellectual reflection and practical engagement and is guided by two fundamental principles. First, ethical reasoning must guide the pursuit and use of knowledge. Second, personal and social responsibility must be fostered to encourage students to commit themselves to an intellectual life in the service of their community, country and the world beyond them.

DOMAIN & GOALS

INQUIRY: The creative and critical processes used to acquire and develop knowledge 1. The identification of significant issues, the framing of questions, and the selection of appropriate modes of inquiry to address those questions 2. The knowledge and application of modes of inquiry within the arts and sciences 3. The integration of different modes of inquiry across disciplines

KNOWLEDGE: Theoretical and applied knowledge as constructed according to diverse epistemologies within contemporary and historical contexts 4. The understanding of theoretical knowledge spanning the social, material and natural worlds 5. The understanding of the multiple dimensions of human experience within and across cultures and environments 6. The integration and application of knowledge to address complex problems in local and global contexts

COMMUNICATION: Expressive and receptive communication in multiple contexts 7. The preparation and presentation of ideas and information orally, visually and in writing 8. The analysis, interpretation, evaluation and synthesis of information from multiple sources: oral, visual and written