FILA: General Education Curriculum

Taught in the style of a seminar; a small group of students learn thinking skills through discussion, debate, peer review and brainstorming. Content varies from section to section. Incoming students select topic preferences and then are assigned to a section. Focuses specifically on two key areas of personal development: (1) intellectual growth is stimulated through systematic critical questioning, and (2) a sense of community involvement and responsibility is developed through classroom group work, collaborative learning and a class community engagement project. The course also contains success skill exercises and college orientation information, including an introduction to the portfolio program. FILA general education: master core skills.

Introduction to the academic community of Bridgewater College, the liberal arts and the skills of critical thinking, ethical reasoning and writing specifically designed for transfer students. Taught in the style of a seminar: a small group of students engage in public discourse, peer review and reflective writing. Content varies from section to section. Focuses specifically on three key areas: (1) critical thinking skills are developed, including skills of civil discourse, perspective taking, public reasoning (i.e. rules of logic, evidence and fallacies) and self/ community-authorship, (2) ethical reasoning skills are developed through learning, applying and critiquing a variety of ethical perspectives, and 3) writing skills are developed through reflective writing, peer review, revision and editing. The course also contains success skill exercises, college orientation information and a community engagement project. Students who have completed FILA-150 or FILA-150H may not enroll in FILA-350EW. FILA general education: master core skills, ethical reasoning & writing intensive.

Students create a senior e-portfolio, which demonstrates and documents their experiences and growth over the four years, integrating both curricular and co-curricular experiences, as well as experiential learning experiences, and discussing short- and long-term goals and aspirations for the future. A passing grade, as determined by faculty evaluators from a variety of disciplines, is a requirement for graduation. FILA general education: integration of skills and ideas.