Category D: Understanding and Creating Ideas Course Guidelines

Courses in this category capture the process of imagination in the creation of aesthetic objects, environments, or experiences.

Learning Objectives

SLO 4: Engage critically with creative or artistic work.
SLO 6: Analyze the role of values, ethics, diversity, and multiple perspectives in local and global societies.

Guidelines

A significant part of the class should include the following criteria. The list is not in any particular order or priority.  

  1. Analyze ideas or elements of a society involved in the process of imagination leading to the creation of aesthetic objects, environments, or experiences that are typical of the discipline.

  2. Analyze the meaning of events by exploring issues or artifacts associated with them.

  3. Engage critically with creative works. Examples include literature, religious texts, sacred spaces/architecture, music, objects, artwork, or film/other visual media. The emphasis of the analysis must be on the ways these artifacts are created. For instance, analyzing a work of literature, film, music, or art may involve examining its form. Other types of creative works may be included at the discretion of the General Education Program and Assessment Committee.

  4. Consider the impact of ideas on society and link the ideas to solutions that address local or global issues.

  5. Investigate diversity (religious, socioeconomic, cultural, gender, etc.) in society through creative works.

  6. Analyze values and ethics in local or global societies through creative works. Courses should include one or more of the following:

  • Ethical issues related to the class material
  • Analysis of ethical thought or values
  • Strategies for resolving conflicts in ethics and in ethical judgments