Lakeland College
P.O. Box 359
Sheboygan, WI 53082-0359

Core III

CORE III: Shaping the Future

The final level of the Core asks students to apply their understanding of individuals and the human condition to a contemporary societal problem.  If Core I looks at the present and Core II builds on resources from the past, then Core III looks to the future, helping the student discover the utility of individual civic action.  Emphasizing cross-disciplinary perspectives and cross-cultural analysis, Core III uses current events as a springboard for discussion on the future costs and benefits of particular policies, decisions, and choices.  Given the writing-intensive designation of this course, the main assessment and critical thinking tool will be a fully researched proposal or plan of action, but formal presentations and classroom discussion will further hone students’ oral skills.  Students will also be asked to gain some hands-on experience in the area of discussion by participating in and reporting on a service learning experience in the community.  This fits with the “Student as Practitioner” focus and incorporates earlier ideas about individual actions within one’s immediate community.  By the end of the course, students should be able to

• Demonstrate mastery of Core I and II skills

• Deliver formal group and individual presentations with classmate(s)

• Engage with the topical issue through service in the local community

• Identify and distinguish between various ethical strategies for addressing the issue

• Use research to analyze and evaluate multiple solutions to the topical issue

Open to students with senior standing.  One of the following:

GEN 442                    Current Issues in Health  

GEN 443                    Global Conflict and Cooperation    

GEN 445                    Environment and Consumption