Concentration
A concentration allows for an in-depth exploration of a focused area within the scope of the student’s major discipline. Concentrations are available for study by majors within the appropriate area only. Options for concentrations are specified by the academic program. Similarly, the number of credits required to complete the concentration as well as the sequence and selection of required and elective courses are determined by the program.
Creativity Core
The mission of Jefferson’s Creativity Core Curriculum is to cultivate a confident and flexible student mindset through learning opportunities that explore individual and collaborative aptitude and equip students to yield novel and valuable results. The Creativity Core Curriculum has three components incorporated into the undergraduate student curriculum on the East Falls campus:
- A Creativity Intensive Course
Every major has a required course specific to the major that is designated as creativity intensive (CI). This course will help students to define creativity and creative practices in the context of a chosen discipline. - Creative Making Workshops
Students will complete two Creative Making Workshops during their time at Jefferson: one in the First Year Seminar, and one in the Creativity Intensive course in their major. Creative Making Workshops are distinct experiences of 3–5 hours in length that provide students with the opportunity, materials, guidance and time to experiment in a risk-free environment in absence of expectations and deadlines. Workshop experiences require no prior topic knowledge, and student participation will result in the development of a unique artifact—whether tangible, digital, performative or conceptual. Topics for these workshops draw inspiration from a wide range of disciplines. - The Hallmarks Core Senior Touchstone Course
The final course in the Hallmarks Core, “Philosophies of the Good Life,” highlights the role that creativity plays in meaningful and successful lives. This course challenges students to use strategies like design thinking and reflective writing to imagine possible life and career paths, and to combine the wisdom of diverse cultures and thinkers into a personal vision of “the good life.”
Designated Electives
Designated electives allow students to select a course from a pre-approved set of courses. Designated electives enable both freedom of choice with some degree of programmatic guidance.
General Electives
General Electives allow students to tailor their degree program to meet their personal interests and educational goals. Students who participate in an internship may apply these credits toward partial-completion of general elective requirements.
General Education
Study in the liberal arts and sciences encourages students to be integrative thinkers who build connections across disciplinary boundaries and within a wide range of knowledge. Through immersion in complex, real-world issues and studies in the humanities, social sciences, mathematics, and the natural and physical sciences, Jefferson prepares graduates who are well-read, well-spoken, worldly, flexible and adaptable—individuals who never stop learning and making connections in everything they do.
Goals, Learning Outcomes, Components
Our Curricula Seek
- To advance students’ knowledge and abilities.
- To broaden students’ ways of thinking.
- To enhance students’ awareness of the ideas, practices and values of their own and other cultures.
- To prepare students to synthesize general and specialized knowledge and apply it to a full personal and professional life.
Assessing Student Learning
Jefferson is committed to providing excellent and innovative educational opportunities for all students. In order to maintain this quality and assure that students are learning all that they should, the University takes its responsibility for assessment seriously. The assessment of student learning occurs at all levels of the curriculum and is a central aspect of measuring institutional effectiveness. Learning outcomes are stated in the syllabus for each course and program, and student learning is assessed on a continuous basis at the course and program levels to ensure the continuous improvement of the curricula, programs and teaching, in order to increase student attainment. Students may be required to provide faculty with representative examples or copies of their work at various points in their curriculum in order for faculty to evaluate achievement of programmatic learning outcomes. All curricula at Jefferson combine theory and application, and offer integrative and active learning experiences for students. Assessment helps faculty understand how well students are achieving these outcomes, and reflects the commitment to the importance of learning through active engagement. Assessment helps to ensure that the University’s programs meet the institutional learning outcomes.
Learning Outcomes
All Jefferson graduates will:
- Apply broad and deep professional knowledge and skills
- Synthesize disciplinary and Liberal Arts/Humanities understanding to formulate transdisciplinary approaches
- Communicate effectively
- Interpret, respect, and value local, global, and conceptual diversity
- Act ethically in personal, professional, and civic spheres
- Integrate theory and practice to guide research, scholarship, and creative endeavors
- Integrate technology appropriately into professional practice
Hallmarks for General Education
Students who attend our East Falls undergraduate programs fulfill the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s requirement for 40 credits of general education courses by completing the Hallmarks Core curriculum, which is overseen by the College of Humanities and Sciences. Jefferson’s customized approach to general education provides the scaffolding for undergraduate learning and organizes the Pennsylvania requirements to match the needs and interests of our pre-professional students, bringing all of the East Falls students together to share a common educational experience and to learn from one another’s diverse perspectives.
Minors
A minor is a set of undergraduate courses that provides enhanced study in a particular subject area. Please refer to the minor section of this catalog.
Physical Education
PE 00 Varsity Athlete
Students who have participated on one of the University’s 16 intercollegiate sports teams for one season will satisfy the requirement for this course and receive .05 credit. Students must register for this course in the semester they expect to receive the course credit. Students must register for two separate semesters of PE 00 Varsity Athlete and complete an intercollegiate season in each semester to receive full physical education credit. Note: There will be no retroactive credit or arrangement for students other than those in his/her graduating (last) semester. For any concerns contact the Associate Director of Athletics.
PE 02 Recreation and Wellness
Students participate in recreation and wellness activities offered through the Department of Athletics. Opportunities include participation in intramural sports, recreational courses in team and individual sports, and wellness courses such as yoga, stress management and tailored exercise programs.
- All activities must be validated by a representative from the Department of Athletics to earn credit.
- Students must register for the course at the beginning of the semester to receive course credit.
- All Students who register for two separate semesters of PE-02 and would receive 0.5 credits per 15 hours of pre-approved classes/events/participation for each semester
- If a student is currently enrolled in the graduating semester of his/her senior year and needs a PE credit to make their total required credits for graduation, s/he must directly speak and have approval from the Director of Fitness and Wellness to move forward with any exceptions.
- If a student is in the graduating semester of his/her senior year and wants to take a 0.5 PE credit to make their total required credits for graduation, s/he will be expected to enroll for the class in his/her final semester.
- Physical education course options offer a variety of activities, including traditional instruction. PE options are PE 00 Varsity Athlete and/or PE 02 Recreation and Wellness.
Professional Studies
Strongly integrated with general education, the course of study in each professional major broadly prepares students to engage with the professional world and inquire about its political, economic and social contexts through the perspective of their practices. Professional studies provide the knowledge and skills to be successful in a profession and to become lifelong learners who are able to adapt to the changing conditions and demands of their careers.
Service Learning
SERV 101 Serv Learning in Philadelph , a one-credit course, provides an opportunity for students to contribute to and learn from Philadelphia, its neighborhoods and people. These experiences allow students to explore their interests and expand their knowledge through hands-on projects with a community outside of the University. Learning Outcomes for Service Learning Students who have completed SERV 101 Serv Learning in Philadelph will:
- Develop a sense of responsibility and commitment toward public service and citizenship through critical reflection and action
- Improve their understanding of societal problems, which affect members of the Philadelphia area community and beyond
- Relate community service experiences and issues to assigned journal questions and readings
- Develop a commitment to full participation in the life of their communities
- Consider civic obligations as a professional to improve quality of life in communities
Specialization
A specialization allows for a thematic grouping of courses within the scope of the student’s major discipline. Specializations are available for study by majors within the appropriate area only. Options for specializations are specified by the academic program. The number of credits, sequence and selection of courses required to complete the concentration are determined by the program.