Archway Curriculum - Traditional Program

2021-2022 Course Catalog

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Archway Curriculum

The Archway Curriculum integrates learning across disciplinary boundaries, enhances learning through non-classroom experiences, and weaves skill development throughout the academic program. Students will have frequent opportunities to develop fundamental skills in communicating effectively and thinking critically. Through this curriculum, students will be exposed to a broad range of topics and perspectives, enhancing their understanding of the world.

  • Except for the Archway Seminar, any course in the Archway Curriculum may count in a major or minor, as appropriate.
  • Any course that is listed in multiple areas within Archway Curriculum may be counted by a student in all the applicable areas.
  • Students may take only one course pass/fail (grade of P*) in the Archway Curriculum. That course must be in the Foundational Literacies. [Note: if the course is also used for student's major or minor, taking the course pass/fail is not allowed.]
  • For students entering Nebraska Wesleyan with a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution, the Archway Curriculum is waived.
  • Further information about the goals and purpose statements for each Archway Curriculum area can be found here.

 

FIRST-YEAR CURRICULUM

First-Year Curriculum: Archway Seminar

The Archway Seminar introduces first-year students to the intellectual practices that must be cultivated and routinely exercised to make the most of a liberal education.  By exploring an interdisciplinary topic, students develop their capacity to think analytically, conduct research, communicate orally and in writing, and collaborate in solving problems.

Students will take one of the following courses in their first semester:

First-Year Curriculum: First-Year Writing

First-Year Writing courses prepare students for further academic study and for careers by improving their writing skills. These courses focus on all stages of the writing process and give students the opportunity to compose in different styles and formats for different purposes.

Students will, within their first year, take ENG 1030FYW Writing and the Creative Arts for 4 credit hours, or take two of the following courses:

FOUNDATIONAL LITERACIES

Foundational Literacies: Modern Language Literacy

The study of a modern language is a vehicle for learning about other cultures. Developing proficiency in another language enables students to communicate more effectively in a multilingual society.

Students with previous language study will complete a language assessment to be placed in the appropriate language class. The Modern Language Literacy requirement can be met in the following ways:

  • Students with previous language study who have been placed higher than Stage 2 may meet this requirement upon completion of one semester in a new language, if they prefer (4-5 hours).

Modern Language Literacy requirement waived for:

  • students who have completed the fourth-year high school language course in a modern language with grades of "B" or higher in each semester of language study, or a grade of "A" in both semesters of the fourth year, or
  • native speakers of language other than English who have fulfilled the TOEFL/APIEL/IELTS admission standard.

Note: Native speakers of a language other than English (who were not required to take the TOEFL/APIEL/IELTS) may petition the Executive Committee for a language waiver. You can find out more about the Executive Committee petitions on the Registrar's Office forms page.

Foundational Literacies: Mathematical Problem Solving

Developing skills in mathematical problem solving provides students with important tools in logical reasoning that can be applied to both quantitative and non-quantitative arguments.

Students will choose at least 3 credits from the following courses:

Foundational Literacies: Scientific Investigations

In order to understand many of the most important challenges that society faces, students must possess a basic understanding of both the natural and social sciences.

Natural Science Laboratory:

Students will take at least 4 credits (including a lab) from the following courses:

Social Science:

Students will take at least 3 credits from the following courses:

Foundational Literacies: Creative and Performing Arts

Creative and Performing Arts courses give students a first-hand experience of the creative act and of our shared artistic heritage. Students engage in the conceptual, formal, critical, and reflective processes that are central not only to artistic practice, but also to the demands of their working, social and private lives. The participatory structure of the classes enhances students’ potential for creative expression in the future.

Students will take at least 3 credits from the following courses:

INTEGRATIVE CORE

The Integrative Core prepares students to confront the multifaceted challenges that face them as members of a diverse and global society.  In these courses, students examine a core issue from different disciplinary, cultural, historical, social, scientific, artistic, or ethical perspectives.  As a result of this integrative study, students develop the intercultural, interpersonal, and interdisciplinary skills they will need as the next generation of civic and professional leaders.

Students will take either two 9-hour or one 18-hour of the following thematically integrated thread(s) of courses.

In each thread, students must take at least one course from the 2000 level or above.

Courses in a 9-hour thread must be from a minimum of two disciplines. Courses in an 18-hour thread must be from a minimum of four disciplines, with no more than 9 credits being from any one discipline.

Students who transfer to Nebraska Wesleyan with 45-89.5 credits earned since high school graduation or GED completion need only one 9-hour thread. The Integrative Core requirement is waived for students who transfer in with 90 or more credits earned since high school graduation or GED completion. 

ESSENTIAL CONNECTIONS

Essential Connections: Writing-Instructive Courses

Writing-Instructive Courses ensure that students have frequent opportunities to develop their writing skills beyond the first year and across the curriculum.

Students must take three Writing-Instructive courses from the following:
At least one course must be at the 3000-level or 4000-level.

Students who transfer to Nebraska Wesleyan with 58 or more credits earned since high school graduation or GED completion have one Writing-Instructive course waived. An upper-level course is still required.

Essential Connections: Discourse- and Speaking-Instructive Courses

Discourse and Speaking-Instructive courses ensure that students have frequent opportunities to develop their speaking skills beyond the first year and across the curriculum. 

Students must choose either three Speaking-Instructive or two Speaking-Instructive and one Discourse-Instructive course from the following:
At least one course must be at the 3000-level or 4000-level.

Students who transfer to Nebraska Wesleyan with 58 or more credits earned since high school graduation or GED completion have one Speaking-Instructive course waived. An upper-level course is still required. 

Discourse-Instructive:

Speaking-Instructive:

Essential Connections: Diversity-Instructive Courses

Diversity-Instructive courses invite students to expand their understanding of majority/minority relations in U.S. society and to develop greater appreciation of our global society.  In an increasingly diverse world where global migration is increasing at a rapid pace, where inequality based on heritage is built into social systems, and where societal problems facing all humanity will require the minds, voices, and actions of individuals from every background, students must have a deeper understanding of the diverse nature of their world.  This deeper understanding will allow for movement toward social justice.

Students must choose one course designated as Global Diversity and one course designated as U.S. Diversity from the following:

Global Diversity:

United States Diversity:

EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING

Experiential Learning integrates co-curricular experiences into academics in order to expand, deepen, and apply students’ classroom learning.

Students must complete one Exploratory Experiential Learning activity (which usually requires at least 20 hours within the first two years at Nebraska Wesleyan University) and one Intensive Experiential Learning activity (which usually requires at least 45 hours and is usually taken within the last two years at Nebraska Wesleyan University), or may choose to complete two Intensive Experiential Learning activities. Courses that contain these experiential activities are as follows:

Students who transfer to Nebraska Wesleyan with 58 or more credits earned since high school graduation or GED completion have the Exploratory Experiential Learning activity requirement waived. 

Exploratory:

Intensive: