UNE’s model for a liberal arts is for their students to develop a foundational knowledge and critical thinking skills that are necessary for the students future. The handbook talks about instilling “fluency, creativity, and imagination in thought and expression” in the students. With these goals, the university then creates a curriculum that will hit the students necessary needs for their major, but also give them the tools to develop this type of knowledge and critical thinking skills stated earlier in the handbook. The whole point of the Core Curriculum in UNE’s handbook is to integrate these values to create a well prepared student who is responsible for caring for themselves and others. UNE believes that they can achieve these goals that they have set for the students through the liberal arts education model, which Ungar is a big advocate for. Ungar believes that “An astounding 89 percent said they were looking for more emphasis on “the ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing,” and almost as many urged the development of better “critical thinking and analytical reasoning skills.” Seventy percent said they were on the lookout for “the ability to innovate and be creative.’” which is what UNE is trying to create. Students who are able to communicate both verbally and in writing, and the best way to create this well-rounded type of student would be the liberal arts model. With this model UNE is going to be creating better, more well rounded students that are going to be top choice when it comes to the job market. This type of education is a game changer for many students and without knowing it, they are going to be getting the best education possible.
Looking at my classes from this semester and the fall semester, I can see from the handbook where they all fit in the curriculum. My english class fits into both the english section and the humanities explorations course, both my chemistry and biology classes fit into the laboratory science classes, my introduction to environmental issues class last semester fits right in as the key piece of my first year, and both of my calculus classes fit into the math section. Everything has a place in the curriculum. We are asked to see if there are a few classes that don’t fit the model of this liberal arts curriculum but all of my classes fit. The only thing that seems off to me is that I don’t have a specified explorations course. This english class could count toward it but then i would have to take english again, I think the fact that i am taking two science classes with labs is what is creating the issue for me. What I do think is hard, for my major especially, is that I am going to get less of the humanities classes and ideas that the liberal arts education wants because I am focused on the sciences. But the handbook does show me that those classes pertaining to the liberal arts ideas will be there someday, it is just I have to get to them first. Besides missing those few pieces of the liberal arts education, I think that all my classes lineup with the curriculum and my classes for future semesters are lining up as well, which makes me happy to know that I am going to have a great grasps and knowledge in not only the liberal arts but also in the sciences.
