The Liberal Arts

What are the Liberal Arts?

With a history stretching back to the Classical and Medieval Eras, the liberal arts provide a rigorous education for the development of mature Christian persons, active citizens and responsible thinkers who can meaningfully contribute to their communities and lead fulfilling lives.

While the specific disciplines and coursework of the liberal arts have changed through the years, the joyful pursuit of knowledge for its own sake remains a staple of this tradition.

The Purpose of the Liberal Arts

At the University of Sioux Falls, the tradition of the liberal arts is embedded in the University’s foundational commitment to Christian discipleship. The aims of the liberal arts at USF are: 

• Firstly, to provide students with a foundation and global orientation in the arts, humanities and the natural and social sciences.
• Secondly, the liberal arts will enable students to reflect on how the truth, beauty, and goodness of these disciplines are deepened through knowledge of and commitment to the Christian faith.

The Seven Characteristics of a Liberal Arts Education at USF

Building upon the rich heritage of the Christian liberal arts, the faculty at USF designed a set of core coursework promoting seven inter-related characteristics needed by every ethical thinker of any vocation in the twenty-first century. These include character, curiosity, critical thinking, communication, creativity, community and care. In keeping with the University’s mission of integrating faith and learning, each of these characteristics reflect the skills and values exemplified by the teaching of Christ. The Liberal Arts Core at the University of Sioux Falls nurtures these vital characteristics by:

Character

Cultivating virtues that support a flourishing individual and communal life.

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• These include courage, integrity, self-control, faithfulness, kindness, justice, joy, peace, and love. 
• Demonstrating responsible and ethical choices in academic work, community life, and professional preparation.

Curiosity

Fostering a lifelong love of learning and an ongoing pursuit of knowledge, truth, and wisdom.

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Investigating the key questions, ideas, and principles of a wide range of intellectual pursuits. These include digital and quantitative literacy, inquiry in the natural and social sciences, and an exploration of the humanities and the arts.

Critical Thinking

Developing the skills of information literacy and research across the disciplines.

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• Practicing clear and coherent thought by engaging in new ways of thinking, and by encouraging reflection throughout the learning process.
• Promoting awareness of and thoughtful engagement with the significant issues of the day at the local, regional, national, and global levels.

Communication

Expanding the ability to write and speak clearly and with purpose.

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Strengthening rhetorical skills across the disciplines through the principles of effective communication, including active reading for comprehension.

Creativity

Pursuing innovative and imaginative endeavors in academic, cultural, artistic, scientific, and social contexts.

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Developing creativity in writing, speaking, and the arts.

Community

Understanding and strengthening our communities through the pursuit of human dignity and justice.

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• Furnishing opportunities for collaboration with others, including those with a wide variety of differing life experiences and perspectives.
• Encouraging the development of effective and respectful interpersonal and intercultural communication and relationship skills.

Care

Embracing the motto of the University of Sioux Falls: Culture for Service

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• Building awareness of and involvement with the world around us as a foundation for personal and community growth.
• Cultivating a sense of stewardship for the earth, its people, and its resources.

To hone these characteristics, the faculty at USF create classroom environments where students can learn, practice, grow and even fail without fear of judgment or ridicule. Interacting with these inherently good and beautiful ideas may at times be challenging, but it is in these moments where a liberal arts experience can be most transformative. Students of the liberal arts are equipped with the ability to ask meaningful questions, to find trustworthy information to answer those questions, and encouraged to pursue the truth, wherever it may lead. Faculty challenge them to grow, to think about new things, and encounter new perspectives. In the process, students become more nuanced and reflective persons, strongly equipped to serve God and humankind in the world.