The General Education program at Seattle Pacific is designed to help students pursue the path of wisdom and engage the culture with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Each component of the Exploratory Curriculum makes a distinctive contribution to this goal.
People of wisdom understand their place in God’s world, see life from a variety of perspectives, discern the appropriate use of knowledge, and thoughtfully evaluate ideas and claims. To that end, in the Exploratory Curriculum, you will take 35 total credits — 30 credits from “Ways of Knowing” courses and 5 credits from “Ways of Engaging” courses.
Ways of Knowing in the Arts (5 credits)
Utilizing assumptions, methodologies, and skills unique to the arts, "Ways of Knowing in the Arts" courses share a common focus on the artistic process. Within these courses, you learn to physically create, emotionally respond to, and/or intellectually analyze artistic works and performances.
Ways of Knowing Arts Courses
Ways of Knowing in the Humanities (5 credits)
"Ways of Knowing in the Humanities" courses address the kinds of knowing embodied in the uniquely human system of meaning and representation. Employing a foundational understanding of one disciplinary perspective in the humanities, you will examine selected profound human questions expressed by language and manifested in culture.
Ways of Knowing Humanities Courses
Ways of Knowing in Quantitative Reasoning (5 credits)
A globalized world with complex problems requires you to reason abstractly and deductively, understand and analyze data, and be fluent in quantitative problem-solving. "Ways of Knowing in Quantitative Reasoning" courses involve forms of human thought that include analysis of data, problem-solving, and deductive reasoning.
Ways of Knowing Quantitative Reasoning Courses
Ways of Knowing in the Sciences (10 credits)
In WKSCI courses students will learn principles and foundational knowledge as well as technologies and important applications in different scientific disciplines, drawn from the biological, chemical, physical, and applied sciences (such as: computer science, engineering, health and human performance, nutrition, and behavioral neuroscience).
Ways of Knowing Fundamental Science Courses
Ways of Knowing Applied Science Courses
Ways of Knowing in the Social Sciences (5 credits)
"Ways of Knowing in the Social Sciences" courses introduce you to the scientific study of human beings at the individual and societal levels. Through these courses, you egage in value-based interaction with social science materials as you develop analytical skills and knowledge in the search for truth via the social sciences.
Ways of Knowing Social Science Courses
Ways of Engaging (5 credits)
"Ways of Engaging" courses apply knowledge from "Ways of Knowing" fields to significant social issues, so that through these classes you might engage our world thoughtfully, as befits people seeking wisdom.
Note: You may not use the same coursework to meet both the "Ways of Engaging" requirements and a requirement in your first major. You may, however, use "Ways of Engaging" coursework to meet requirements in a second major or in a minor.
Ways of Engaging Courses