http://www.whitworth.edu/core
The Shared Curriculum
Whitworth’s Shared Curriculum is delivered through four inquiry groups: the Belief Inquiry Group, the Culture Inquiry Group, the Expression Inquiry Group and the Science Inquiry Group. A fifth area of study, Praxis, encourages habits of human flourishing and wellness. The courses of the Shared Curriculum are available across departments and programs and promote a liberal arts and sciences education with interdisciplinary perspectives. A description of the learning outcomes for the Shared Curriculum can be found in the Whitworth’s course catalog. In addition to Shared Curriculum courses housed in various departments, several courses at Whitworth University carry an SC prefix and live outside of any one department due to their interdisciplinary focus.
Core/Worldview Studies
Whitworth Online's Core 300 course is part of the Belief Inquiry Group (BIG) and focuses on the concept of worldview. Simply put, a worldview is a set of beliefs that we hold about the basic makeup of our world. A worldview serves as a lens through which we perceive and relate to reality; it is a set of core beliefs and basic understandings about the bigger and deeper questions of life.
The Ultimate Questions
To get at these core worldview beliefs and their related issues, Core 300 focuses on four foundational questions:
Metaphysics: What is the nature of reality (God, the world)? What is the nature of human beings?
Epistemology: What are our sources of knowledge?
Ethics and Policy: How should we act in response to reality (God, the world and humanity) as individuals and as a community?
Core 300 aims to provide students with basic categories of worldview thinking, to introduce ideas that have been influential, and to explore challenges to these ideas.
CO Courses
| CO 150 Ancient and Modern Worldviews in Christian Perspective | 3 |
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This course engages students in the examination of their beliefs regarding the nature of God, humanity, and the world. Acknowledging both unity and diversity within the Christian tradition, the course focuses on aspects of a Christian worldview, including key theological concepts. |
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| CO 150H Ancient and Modern Worldviews in Christian Perspective | 3 |
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This course engages students in the examination of their beliefs regarding the nature of God, humanity and the world. It covers these topics by helping students understand the nature and formation of worldviews, providing an overview of non-Christian religious traditions, articulating the Christian tradition through the biblical story and the three primary branches of Christianity, and critically examining a number of contemporary worldview-shaping factors. |
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| CO 250 Worldview & Role of Reason Rationalist Worldview | 3 |
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This course examines, contextualizes, and critiques views of the role of reason in human thought from classical Greece to the contemporary period. It models and encourages the articulation of a coherent and supported worldview. |
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| CO 250H Worldview and the Role of Reason | 3 |
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This course engages students in study of sources of knowledge (epistemology), with emphasis on the role of reason, through analysis of intellectual themes in films. Beginning with foundations in ancient Greece, and extending through the growing ascendancy of the Christian Church, the Enlightenment, and periods of challenge, contributions of rationalists and challenges to rationalism are explored. Students are encouraged to reflect on their own intellectual assumptions, including the role that reason plays in knowing what is true and discerning what is good. |
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| CO 300 Discovering Worldview | 3 |
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This worldview course for Continuing Studies students focuses on how questions regarding the sources of knowledge, reality, ethics, and human nature have been explored within Christian, rationalist, and related traditions. Beginning with the ancient Hebrews and Greeks, and continuing through contemporary challenges to their worldview assumptions, students are encouraged to reflect on their own intellectual assumptions regarding what is true and good, by engaging with a range of perspectives from across history. |
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| CO 300H Worldview in Policy | 3 |
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This course asks students to consider public, social, and institutional policy against the backdrop of worldview and ethics. It emphasizes the application of worldview claims to the private and public spheres of life, with special consideration of practical and ethical questions. |
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| CO 350 Worldviews in Policy | 3 |
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This course asks students to consider public, social, and institutional policy against the backdrop of worldview and ethics. It emphasizes the application of worldview claims to the private and public spheres of life, with special consideration of practical and ethical questions. |
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| CO 350H Worldviews in Policy | 3 |
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This course asks students to consider public, social, and institutional policy against the backdrop of worldview and ethics. It emphasizes the application of worldview claims to the private and public spheres of life, with special consideration of practical and ethical questions. |
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SC Courses
| SC 101 Introduction to a Flourishing Life | 3 |
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This course explores rhythms and habits of human flourishing in the context of Whitworth's Christ-centered mission, identity, and community. Drawing on numerous fields of inquiry, the course will empower students to explore together the contours of a wise and meaningful life through ever-deepening communion with God, one another, and creation. |
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| SC 101H Honors Introduction to a Flourishing Life | 3 |
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This course explores rhythms and habits of human flourishing in the context of Whitworth's Christ-centered mission, identity, and community. Drawing on numerous fields of inquiry, the course will empower students to explore together the contours of a wise and meaningful life through ever-deepening communion with God, one another, and creation. The Honors version build on SC 101 by integrating content on design thinking, problem solving, and vocational discernment. |
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| SC 125 First Year Seminar | 1 |
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Presentations, discussions, and activities that encourage the successful transition to college life and help first-year students become a part of the Whitworth community. |
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| SC 125H Honors First Year Seminar | 1 |
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Presentations and discussions are designed to inform frosh with honors at entrance about the university's traditions, procedures and to help them become a part of the Whitworth community and the GW Honors Program. Elective for first-term frosh interested in pursuing the GW Honors Program. |
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| SC 126 Connecting the Disciplines | 1 |
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Introduction to interdisciplinarity and the interdependence of knowledge. Students will explore what it means to synthesize various sets of knowledge and skills through interdisciplinary learning. |
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| SC 126H Connecting the Disciplines (honors) | 1 |
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Introduction to interdisciplinarity and the interdependence of knowledge. Students will explore what it means to synthesize various sets of knowledge and skills through interdisciplinary learning. Whitworth Honors students take precedent for enrollment. |
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| SC 301 Foundations of Vocational Service | 1 |
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The goal of this course is to motivate students to consider the possibility post-graduate service, explore the benefits of such service, and learn how to apply for service opportunities. Students will consider how their personal faith/worldview can be integrated within the service experience. Finally, students will learn how to find service opportunities that are available to them locally, nationally, and internationally. Intercultural awareness and the benefits of reflection after service will be emphasized. |
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| SC 302 Introduction to a Flourishing Life | 3 |
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Introduction to a Flourishing Life explores rhythms and habits of human flourishing in the context of Whitworth's Christ-centered mission, identity, and community. Drawing on numerous fields of inquiry, the course will empower students to explore together the contours of a wise and meaningful life through ever-deepening communion with God, one another, and creation. |
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| SC 302H Honors Introduction to a Flourishing Life | 3 |
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This course explores rhythms and habits of human flourishing in the context of Whitworth's Christ-centered mission, identity, and community. Drawing on numerous fields of inquiry, the course will empower students to explore together the contours of a wise and meaningful life through ever-deepening communion with God, one another, and creation. The Honors version build on SC 101 by integrating content on design thinking, problem solving, and vocational discernment. |
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| SC 325 Transfer Seminar | 1 |
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Presentations, discussions, and activities that encourage the successful transition to college life at Whitworth and help transfer students become a part of the Whitworth community. |
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| SC 325H Honors Transfer Seminar | 1 |
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SC-325H is designed to assist transfer students in a successful transition to the Whitworth community. Students will learn about opportunities and resources to help them connect with students and faculty and plan a course for academic success. While each section of the course has unique properties, this course is designed to help students get tapped into the Honors Program as quickly as possible. |
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| SC 335 The Flourishing Mind | 3 |
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In this course, students will develop self-awareness of their thinking processes, understand how they have arrived at their opinions and assertions, and apply critical thinking skills with the goal of communicating thoughts and findings effectively. This course must be taken within the first semester of attendance. |
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| SC 424 Job Skills: How to Find & Do the Work You Love | 2 |
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This course will prepare you with the knowledge, skills, and professional materials needed to enter a job or internship experience. Through discussion & activities we will: 1) explore and identify the work and career opportunities you are interested in, and 2) further develop your professional skill set through developing your resume, online presence, job search and interview strategies to expand your professional competency to help you find and be prepared to work at a job, internship and other future career opportunities. |
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| SC 425 Career and Professional Development | 3 |
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This course will prepare you with the knowledge, skills, mentoring, and professional materials needed to enter your career. Through discussion, activities, presentations by industry experts, and intentional mentoring and coaching with industry professional mentors, we will: 1) identify your professional skills set and career goals, 2) further develop your professional skill set through developing your resume, online presence, networking and interview strategies, and 3) collaborate with industry professional mentors to expand your professional communication competencies and ultimately further your professional development. |
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