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THRIVE
Because Wartburg College is called to be the leading institution in education of the whole person, the general education program is designed to help students thrive so they can become resilient leaders of positive change through service in a complex world.
Starting with the first year, students will engage in a series of select courses that will help prepare them to be successful students, establish a sense of belonging, and begin to discover their vocations. The general education program builds upon the first-year experience with courses designed to help students thrive at Wartburg and beyond.
The Roots: Foundational Courses
Courses that foster critical thinking and establish the groundwork for academic success across the curriculum. These courses are introductory, but they are not expected to be easy for all students, as Wartburg’s mission is “to challenge and nurture” our students. Ideally, students will engage with the six specific foundational areas in their first two years.
Quantitative Literacy Introduces mathematical thinking that can be used to solve problems in area disciplines.
Scientific Inquiry Introduces the scientific method within the natural or social sciences.
Composition Strengthens skills in writing, critical thinking, argumentations, and research.
Oral Communication Develops clear, confident, and rational oral communication.
Foundational Faith Fosters critical reflection on faith, religion, values, and questions of ultimate significance for students to integrate their religious and philosophical viewpoints holistically.
Second Language Introduces speaking, writing, reading, and comprehending a second language and engaging with its culture at the elementary II level or higher.
The Trunk: Seminar Courses
A sequence of four seminars, one taken in each of the four years of a student’s Wartburg career. This sequence provides a shared experience for all students and a deliberate scaffolding of courses within general education to encourage student intellectual growth. The seminar courses grow from the roots of the foundational courses and assist students in transitioning to college-level coursework, growing throughout their time at Wartburg, and then preparing to be engaged citizens in a complex world.
1Y Seminar Explores an academic topic guided by an engaged and caring instructor to get familiar with the academic community and the world of scholarship.
2Y Seminar Explores ways in which various identities are understood, experienced, and expressed through a focus on a specific topic.
3Y Seminar Gains understanding of complex issues and related ethical implications. Learn how to raise relevant questions from diverse perspectives and consider the implications of behaviors, choices, policies, and structure to encourage a deeper understanding of your perspective and your responsibilities in the diverse communities in which you live.
4Y Seminar Demonstrates what you have learned. This culminating experiences challenges students to address a complex global problem.
The Branches: Exploring Courses
Courses that provide dimension to a student’s education. These courses may come from any discipline and may be offered by any department on campus. Students may complete their branch courses at any point in their academic career.
Vocation Vocation lives in the heart of a Wartburg College education, and it frames everything we do. Helping individuals discover who they are called to be and what they are called to do is essential to our mission.
Human Culture Students will engage with the rich diversity of human knowledge and culture while learning about things such as cultural beliefs, arts, history, language, and communication styles of locations with a global society while investigating, expanding, and expressing their own worldviews.
Thinking Critically Students will analyze multiple viewpoints, including their own, while critically evaluating information, creating conclusions from their analysis, and thinking about the impact of their conclusions.
THRIVE Requirements by Degree
Candidates for the BACHELOR OF ARTS (B.A.), BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (B.S.), BACHELOR OF MUSIC (B.M.), and BACHELOR OF MUSIC EDUCATION (B.M.E.) degrees take courses that fulfill THRIVE (see requirements table here ) and courses that complete a major as listed by each academic department.
Candidates for the BACHELOR OF APPLIED ARTS (B.A.A.) or BACHELOR OF APPLIED SCIENCE (B.A.S.) degree take courses to fulfill THRIVE (see requirements table here ) EXCEPT SEM 100 and SEM 200. The Associate degree substitutes for the major.
THRIVE Courses by Requirement
Below are the courses as approved by the Educational Policies Committee (EPC) to meet each requirement in THRIVE.
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