Lasallian Core Traditions Program

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The Lasallian Core Traditions Program was the General Education system/program for students entering Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota prior to Fall 2018.  Students entering Fall 2018 and after must complete the Integrated General Education Program.

The Lasallian Core Traditions Program is the required core for the majority of the students in the undergraduate College, and completion of the core curriculum partially fulfills the general education requirements. This core provides a common Lasallian educational experience for students and is grounded in the university mission and the Lasallian dispositions of faith, zeal, service and community. These four commitments underscore the ultimate aim of the program: to awaken and nurture the intellectual, spiritual and personal development of learners in preparation for lives of service and commitment to social justice.

The first-year seminar helps new students transition to university life while also beginning to develop their Lasallian identity as educated, competent and compassionate members of society. In the second-year course, students hone their writing skills through the study of important texts on the virtuous life from within the Western tradition, including selections from the life and work of Saint John Baptist de La Salle. In the junior year, students explore issues of social justice inherent in our emerging global society, while at the same time refining the knowledge, skills, and Lasallian Catholic values needed to evaluate and respond appropriately to different perspectives on real world issues, problems and themes. In the senior capstone course, students explore the historical and philosophical origins of our American culture and examine how these origins affect our understanding of our work, our relationships, our faith and our citizenship. The purpose of this forward-looking capstone course is to prepare students to live out the Lasallian charism in contemporary America and the world.

While completing the First-Year Seminar, students have the option to be part of a living learning community (LLC). Students will enroll in a first-year seminar that is devoted to a theme. The students who select the particular LLC theme will also live together in a designated residence hall. As a member of a living learning community, first-year students will be a part of a group of students who are passionate about similar interests, have common goals, and who want to be engaged outside of the classroom. This is an opportunity to build an instant and lifelong support network of friends (and professors) while participating in unique experiential learning opportunities.

Students must complete the 12-credit-hour Lasallian Core Traditions Program to graduate; first-year students take LCT140 ; sophomores take LCT225 ; juniors take LCT375 ; and seniors take LCT475 . In addition, all students take ID160 , an interdisciplinary and experiential arts course.

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