Learning Communities

As a first-year McAnulty College of Liberal Arts student, you will be a part of a Residential Learning Community. Learning communities foster an environment where new students can successfully transition to college life, both academically and socially. Students benefit from learning and living alongside peers who share their interests and working closely with faculty in small-group settings.

Each Learning Community cohort takes three thematically-related courses together in the fall semester. On campus students also live together on Learning Community-designated residence hall floors. Explore each of our learning communities to determine which is the best fit for you.

Learning Community Goals

Help students learn to make connections between fields of study
Promote the development of skills and habits that will prepare students for their academic career
Encourage collaboration between students and between students and instructors
Help first-year students in the College find friends and study companions
Create a sense of identity and unity among students in the College of Liberal Arts

With a focus on small groups of students, communities quickly form their own identity. Each community has a Latin name that captures its emphasis and focus. Every community class satisfies either a McAnulty College of Liberal Arts or University Core requirement.

AFRICA Unique people - diverse places - enhanced opportunities	AFST 150C - Intro to African Studies PHIL/AFST 209C - African Philosophy UCOR 101C - Thinking & Writing across the Curriculum
ARTES Creativity, passion, and beauty	ENGL 204C - Fashion and Literature ARHY 112C - Art History: Renaissance to Modern UCOR 101C - Thinking & Writing across the Curriculum
CIVITAS Creating engaged citizens in their communities, their nation, and the world	POSC 105C - American National Government COMM 102C - Public Speaking UCOR 101C - Thinking & Writing across the Curriculum
FIDES Trust, Confidence, Belief, Faith	COMM 103C - Exploring Interpersonal Communication UCOR 132C - Basic Philosophical Questions UCOR 101C - Thinking and Writing across the Curriculum
INTERSECTIO The crossroads of identity and social justice	ENGL 204C - Gender and Social Justice UCOR 132C - Basic Philosophical Questions UCOR 101C - Thinking and Writing across the Curriculum
JUSTITIA Search for truth and justice through evidence in the public sphere	SOCI 103C - Intro. to Criminal Justice THEO 211C - Finding Religion in Prison UCOR 101C - Thinking & Writing across the Curriculum
MEDITATIO Exploring theories and meditative practices from psychology & spirituality	PSYC 260C - Psychology, Religion & Spirituality THEO 210C - Buddhist-Christian Dialogue UCOR 101C - Thinking & Writing across the Curriculum
NARRATIO Engaging the world through stories	MDIA 140C - Media Literacy ENGL 113C - Diversity & Literature UCOR 101C - Thinking & Writing across the Curriculum
ORBIS Explore the world, learn about other cultures, and confront human rights challenges	WDLI 103C - New Voices, Questions, Realities COMM 114C - Exploring Intercultural Comm UCOR 101C - Thinking & Writing across the Curriculum
RATIO (NOT open to Math/Comp Sci. majors) Ask better questions; work toward more satisfying answers	SOCI 106C - Social Problems MATH 125C - Fundamentals of Statistics UCOR 101C - Thinking & Writing across the Curriculum
SPECTACULUM Explore the idea of performance both on stage and in our daily life	ENGL 203C - Intro to Drama THEA 151C - Intro to Theater Arts UCOR 101C - Thinking & Writing across the Curriculum
TERRA Cultivate compassion for the Earth and those who inhabit it	ENGL 201C - Confronting the Eco-Apocalypse SOCI 124C - Global Sociology UCOR 101C - Thinking & Writing across the Curriculum