Ethos


 

Introduction

In Ancient Greek, “ethos” was the word for an informed citizen’s character. The ideal was to become an individual of courageous aspiration and sound moral judgment. Much later, ethos referred to a speaker’s authority, trustworthiness, and capacity for civic excellence. And today, one of the great aims of a comprehensive liberal education might be said to be the development of student ethos, the disposition and habits of mind essential to living a meaningful life. LaGrange College’s Ethos program endeavors to be the foundation in every student’s search for that meaningful life. Students will refine their intellectual skills​, explore multiple modes of inquiry​, and interrogate the values of thoughtful global citizenship​. Dedicated to LaGrange College’s roots in the Wesleyan tradition and implemented across every year of an undergraduate degree program, the Ethos curriculum values high-impact learning practices and culminates with integrated, project-based senior capstone experiences unique to each student’s major area of study. The Ethos program is the soul of LaGrange College's commitment to the liberal arts tradition. It is our promise to prepare students to be curious and creative global citizens.

 

Ethos Courses

PROGRAMMATIC GOAL ONE: INTELLECTUAL SKILLS

12 Hours

Writing and Information Literacy

ENGL 1101, ENGL 1102

6 Hours

Logical and Quantitative Reasoning

One from the following list:   MATH 1101, 1221, or 2221

and

One from the following list:  MATH 1114, 1115, 1120 , or MATH 2222

6 Hours

 

PROGRAMMATIC GOAL TWO: MODES OF INQUIRY

Students may count no more than seven credit hours of coursework bearing the same four-character course designation to fulfill the requirements of Programmatic Goal Two.

25 Hours
Diverse Cultures, Human Behavior, and Human Relationships

ECON 2200;
EXCS 2331;
POLS 1101, 2220;
PSYC 1101;
SOCI 1000;

3 Hours

Modern Languages

Two sequential courses from among SPAN 1101, 1102, 1102M, 2103, 2105

6 Hours

Laboratory Science and the Natural World

BIOL 1101, 1102 and 1102L, 1107 and 1107L, 1108 and 1108L, 2148, 2149 and 2149L;
CHEM 1101, 1101L, 1102, 1102L;
PHYS 1101, 1101L, 1102, 1102L, 2121, 2121L, 2122, 2122L

7 Hours

World Civilization and Humanities

ARTD 1109, 1110, 1111;
ENGL 2204, 2205, 2206, 2207;
FILM 1008;
HIST 1101, 1102, 1111, 1112;
MUSI 1110;
POLS 2210;
PHIL 1410;
THEA 1101, 1102;

6 Hours

Artistic Expression

ARTD 1151, 1152, 1153, 2227, 2229,2272, 2273;
FILM 2001;
MUSI 1101, 1107, 1108, 1112;
THEA 1180, 1184, 1205;
WRPS 2500;

3 Hours

 

 

PROGRAMMATIC GOAL THREE: GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP

7 Hours

Values

ETHS 1101, ETHS 1102

4 Hours

Faith Traditions

PHIL 2430
RLGN 1102, 1103, 1104, 1105, 1107, 2320;

3 Hours

 

 

TOTAL REQUIRED ETHOS HOURS

44 Hours

General Education

The Ethos Curriculum comprises the General Education at LaGrange College.

Assessment of the Ethos Curriculum

During the first semester and again prior to graduation, students take the college’s assessment exam, designed to determine the extent to which students have achieved the objectives of the Ethos Curriculum. Participation in this testing program is a requirement for graduation with a baccalaureate degree.

All Ethos courses will include authentic assessments that are designed and administered by the courses’ instructors. For the most part, these assessments will be written artifacts, but multimedia artifacts including recorded presentations and/or performances, photography, and sound files may also be appropriate.

While often adequate for assessing student learning within certain courses, student results on standardized  and/or computer scored midterm and final exams are not recommended as authentic assessments. Rather, students are encouraged to design signature assignments that may function as transactional discourse outside of the classroom.

Artifacts must demonstrate gains made within each of the student learning outcomes: creativity, critical thinking, communication, and connection.

The Ethos Council will annually conduct assessment of artifacts associated with a limited number of learning outcomes. This cyclic, systematic process will focus on distinct sets of learning outcomes in succeeding assessment periods until all learning outcomes are evaluated. With some exception, many of these assessments are already being administered across LaGrange College’s curriculum.

In the following table, students may see which courses produce the artifacts that are tied to a cycle of improvement in the general education.

 

Portfolio Artifacts and Courses

Artifact

Courses

First Year Writing

ENGL 1102

Logical/Quantitative Reasoning

CHEM 1102/1102L;
MATH 1114, MATH 1115, MATH 1120;
PHYS 1101/1101L; 2121/2121L

Performance or Written Artifact from Outside the Student’s Major

ARTD 1109, ARTD 1110, ARTD 1111;
BIOL 1102/1102L, BIOL 1108/1108L, BIOL 2149/2149L;
ECON 2200;
EXCS 2331;
FILM 1008;
HIST 1101, HIST 1102, HIST 1111, HIST 1112;
PHIL 1410;
POLS 2210, POLS 2220;
PSYC 1101;
SOCI 1000;

Language Competency

SPAN 1102, SPAN 1102M, SPAN 2103, SPAN 2105

Fine Arts

ARTD 1151, ARTD 1152, ARTD 1152, ARTD 2227, ARTD 2229, ARTD 2272, ARTD 2273;
ENGL 2500;
FILM 2001;
MUSI 1101, MUSI 1107, MUSI 1108, MUSI 1112;
THEA 1180, THEA 1184, THEA 1205

Spoken Communication

ENGL 2204, ENGL 2205, ENGL 2206, ENGL 2207;
MUSI 1110;
POLS 1101;
THEA 1101, 1102;

Faith Identity

PHIL 2430
RLGN 1102, RLGN 1103, RLGN 1104, RLGN 1105, RLGN 1107, RLGN 2320

Values

ETHS 1101, ETHS 1102

 

Ethos Curriculum: Time Restrictions

There is no time limit on the credit or validity of coursework in the Ethos Curriculum. It should be noted, however, that students who have not been enrolled at LaGrange College for four (4) years, or who transferred from LaGrange College and subsequently return, enter the college under the Bulletin in force at the time of re-entry.