Intro

In Fall 2023, Ohio Wesleyan will launch a new General Education curriculum. This bold new academic program was designed with one overarching purpose in mind: to help students to find their place in the world and make their mark upon it. The curriculum delivers on this promise by connecting the knowledge, skills, and reflective habits that students cultivate in their studies to the kinds of persons they wish to become, fulfilling the charge that an Ohio Wesleyan education develop those “qualities of intellect and character” that will serve students well “no matter what they choose to do in later life” (OWU Statement of Aims).

The new General Education curriculum builds on best practices in higher education and yet is also distinctively “Oh-Wooo!” in character: 

  • First, it is thoroughly interdisciplinary. Integrating perspectives across a range of fields, students become global problem-solvers by developing a rich and multifaceted understanding of the world in all its complexity. 

  • Second, it is experiential. Building on the intellectual, interpersonal, and introspective capabilities they have cultivated in their coursework, students put theory into practice through Connection Experiences that embody their passions and interests.

  • Third, it embraces student values and choice. Rather than marching students through a set itinerary, students chart their own path by choosing from a broad menu of options with the guidance and support of faculty and peer mentors who push them to take intellectual risks.

The new General Education Curriculum consists of the the following components:

CNX 100: How to Change Your World

Your Ohio Wesleyan journey begins with How to Change Your World, an interdisciplinary first-year seminar devoted to a complex global challenge. Bringing together faculty and students with interests across the arts, sciences, and humanities, How to Change Your World tackles this global challenge as a case study in academic problem-solving–all while building the fundamental skills that will help you succeed in college no matter where your interests take you. 

ENG 105: College Writing Seminar

While How to Change Your World introduces you to the world of college inquiry, English 105 introduces you to the world of college writing. You will write multiple essays, working through each stage of the research, writing, and revision process, with a focus on refining your ideas through discussions, workshops, and individual conferences with your professor. A sequence of library assignments also introduces you to Beeghly Library and its abundant resources. 

Core Competencies

The ultimate purpose of an Ohio Wesleyan education is to equip students with “knowledge, competence, and character for leadership, service, and continued learning in a complex and increasingly global society” (OWU Statement of Aims). The Core Competencies are the fundamental ways of knowing, doing, and being in the world that OWU faculty have judged most essential to achieving this purpose. You must take at least one course in each competency category, and no more than two courses taken to fulfill the competencies may have the same prefix (e.g., ART, BIOL, ENG). For definitions of each core competency, visit: owu.edu/core-competencies.

  • Think Aesthetically 

  • Reason Formally & Quantitatively

  • Question Scientifically

  • Listen, Imagine, & Understand

  • Write & Speak Effectively

  • Learn a Second Language 

  • Examine Power & Inequities

  • Engage Diversity

  • Act Responsibly 

Connection Experience

Your OWU education achieves its ultimate purpose when it transforms knowledge, skills, and values into action. The Connection Experience (CE) requirement is where this transformation occurs. A Connection Experience is an activity or project that allows you to apply your academic knowledge to opportunities beyond the classroom. All Connection Experiences include personal reflection as well as a public presentation at the biannual Connection Conference–a celebration of student achievement featuring student and faculty panels, a symposium of student research and creative work, and academic and career advising. Connection Experiences may include credited and uncredited activities from any of the following categories: 

  • Think Big – Undergraduate Research (e.g., independent studies, summer research)

  • Do Good – Community-Engaged Learning (e.g., service learning, student leadership)

  • Go Global – Off-Campus Study (e.g., study away/abroad, travel-learning courses)

  • Get Real – Career Exploration (e.g., internships, externships)

All students complete at least one Connection Experience, but many students complete multiple! 

For questions about the implementation, please fill out this form or contact:

Chair of the Committee on Academic Programs (CAP)

Brian Rellinger