University Studies Program

QUEST I SAMPLE SYLLABUS LANGUAGE

Quest I courses are also Explore Courses, so you may also use the sample explore course syllabus language. Also, please be sure to consult the Quest I Syllabus Checklist to ensure that your syllabus contains all of the expected content. In addition, you may wish to use or revise some of the following language in your syllabus for the elements that are required of all Quest I syllabi, regardless of Signature Question content.

Quickly access sample language for:

Learning Community

Your first-year experience includes a learning community formed by two courses for first-semester students: this Quest I course and an information literacy course on either writing or speaking. These courses are said to be “paired” since you and your classmates are enrolled in both classes simultaneously. Your professors and a peer mentor collaboratively support an environment favorable to learning within the community. These paired courses investigate the same socially relevant signature question from the point of view of different disciplines. With your learning community’s help, you will learn about university resources, engage in campus activities, and gradually become accustomed to college life and to this university.

Brief explanation of how this course connects to Liberal Education

• Liberal Education is an approach to learning that empowers individuals and prepares them to deal with complexity, diversity, and change. It provides students with broad knowledge of the wider world (e.g. science, culture, and society) as well as in-depth study in a specific area of interest. A liberal education helps students develop a sense of social responsibility, as well as strong and transferable intellectual and practical skills such as communication, analytical and problem-solving skills, and a demonstrated ability to apply knowledge and skills in real-world settings. (AAC&U, http://www.aacu.org/leap/what-is-a-liberal-education)

OR

• Sample from a syllabus submitted by COB’s Bill Wresch:Defining a Liberal Arts Education
  Liberal Educationis a philosophy of education that empowers individuals with broad knowledge and transferable skills, and a strong sense of values, ethics, and civic engagement. These broad goals have endured even as the courses and requirements that comprise a Liberal Education have changed over the years. Characterized by challenging encounters with important and relevant issues today and throughout history, a Liberal Education prepares graduates both for socially valued work and for civic leadership in their society. It usually includes a general education curriculum that provides broad exposure to multiple disciplines and ways of knowing, along with more in-depth study in at least one field or area of concentration. Original source: AAC&U “What Is a 21st Century Liberal Education?“, http://www.aacu.org/leap/what-is-a-liberal-educationHow does that definition connect to our course? The place of business in a community has been an important – and changing – issue throughout history. This course will provide you with background on this issue, background you will need as you become a community leader. It will help you determine for yourself what values, ethics, and a sense of community you wish to bring to your work.

Peer Mentors

• As a part of this course you will have access to a returning student to help guide you on your Quest. The peer mentor will attend campus events with us, answer questions you have about UW Oshkosh, and visit our classes with timely information. Our mentor is [MENTOR NAME HERE] and you can reach him/her at [MENTOR NETID]@uwosh.edu.

OR

• One of your best resources on this campus is your peers, especially those who have been there, done that. In this class we are fortunate to have someone who is specially trained and willing to help you become familiar with academic life at UW Oshkosh. The peer mentor will attend campus events with the class, answer your questions about the campus, and refer you to various resources. You should not hesitate to get to know our mentor as (s)he is an important part of the Quest I experience.

Signature Questions

The University Studies Program (USP) is your gateway to a 21st century college education at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. This Quest I course is the first in a series of courses you will take to introduce you to the campus and all it has to offer, the vibrant Oshkosh community, and the challenges and opportunities of academic life as you pursue a liberal education. In these courses, you’ll be exposed to three “Signature Questions” that are central to a UW Oshkosh education:

• How do people understand and engage in community life?
• How do people understand and create a more sustainable world?
• How do people understand and bridge cultural differences?

The Quest classes are designed to provide a solid foundation for the rest of your education here, no matter which major you choose. Your USP courses will also provide the opportunity for you to Explore and Connect as you begin your college education. For further information about the unique general education program at UW Oshkosh, visit the University Studies Program website at uwosh.edu/usp.