As a cornerstone in Medaille College’s General Education Core curriculum, this course aims to introduce students to the fundamentals of critical thinking. Its coursework integrates basic critical thinking, argumentation, and related written and spoken communication lessons with the exploration and evaluation of significant ideas. Thus, the course specifically addresses some of the most important academic skills required not only for success in college, but also for open-minded and reflective inquiry, substantial understanding, and informed judgment. Offered as needed.

This course is designed to develop students’ knowledge of and skills in oral communication. It focuses on the speech-making process, rhetorical analysis, and the ethics of public speaking. Students will prepare, present and respond to public speeches on a regular basis. Offered as needed.

This course develops students' skills in critical thinking and in writing analyses using subject matter from across the curriculum. Each writing assignment requires research and writing from sources. Students will produce a portfolio of their written work, including a self-assessment. Offered as needed.

This course examines the relationship between justice and democracy in America. The course will focus on a specific theme (to be listed in the course schedule) from an interdisciplinary perspective to examine critically how people differently situated in the social structure have both shaped and been shaped by American society and government. Students will probe the relationships between political ideals and the evolution of American culture, society, and politics; and examine the construction of categories related to identity, such as class, race, gender, religion, ethnicity, etc. In the process, students will explore the ways in which their selves relate to others in their community. Offered as needed.

Through various topics and themes by section, this course explores forms of creative expression in visual, performing, and literary arts. Students will acquire abilities and perspectives about these arts and interrelationships among them. In addition, through exploring, developing, and demonstrating their creativity in one art form, students will enhance their understanding of artistic expression. Offered as needed.

The course is an inquiry into the process of scientific discovery, its methodology, development, relationship with technology, and role in modern society. By exploring aspects of scientific inquiry, students will develop a critical awareness of science as a unique way of studying and understanding the natural world. Offered as needed.

The baccalaureate capstone is a course about ideas and the ways in which the educated person contends with them. The course deals in an integrative, interdisciplinary fashion with the five broad General Education themes: The Self and Others, Global Perspectives, Creative Expression, Science and Technology, and Communication. The course invites students to engage in a sophisticated way with ideas and works that raise questions about and shed light upon contemporary life. Through the process of reading, reflection, writing, and discussion, students will be required to demonstrate the critical thinking and communication skills generally held to be the hallmark of the educated individual pursuing and enjoying an informed life. Offered as needed.

This seminar course gives students the opportunity to integrate their coursework with individual research projects. Each student is responsible for the production, presentation, and defense of a research paper which addresses a specific academic topic related to the College’s General Education core. Research projects must demonstrate significant knowledge within the selected topic area, an understanding of its place in an integrated intellectual framework, and a high level of skill development. Offered as needed.