Core Curriculum

Last year was the most challenging in the history of Saint Joseph’s College of Maine. In the midst of a global pandemic, the faculty, staff, and administration developed innovative ways to maintain the academic progress of our students while balancing the health and safety of the college community and the community at large. COVID 19 may have changed the way we interacted with each other and with our students, but we stayed true to the mission and values of Saint Joseph’s College of Maine by providing the support and encouragement our students needed to be successful.

While our collective work was commendable during the pandemic, we now live in a deeply changed and challenged world. It is increasingly polarized, chaotic, and uncivil. Environmental warning signs also demonstrate that we sit at a clear and  critical crossroad concerning the health of our planet. This new reality calls on us to go further, to take our Mercy values (faith, excellence, integrity, community, respect, compassion, and justice) and strategically build a better 21st Century.

This moment thus demands transformation. Saint Joseph’s College and its Mercy values must be part of new solutions for a better future, one that incorporates and builds justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. Beyond words, we must actively and practically build Leaders for Sustainable Communities. We must be purposeful, flexible, and create relevant, ‘real life’ learning experiences for our students.

This new LSC core, built on the foundations of Catholic liberal arts education and the work of colleagues past and present, pushes us into new territory, a new beginning for Saint Joseph’s College of Maine.

Submitted December 2021 by the Ad Hoc Core Revision Committee: Chris Sullivan (co-chair), Mark Hibben (co-chair),  Karen Croteau,  Martha DeCesere, Meredith Emigh-Guy, Yi Jin Gorske, Laurie Murphy, James Paruk, and Joshua Schoenfeld.

The LSC core is driven by its learning outcomes. LSC core learning outcomes are built on the premise that all graduates of Saint Joseph’s College of Maine have the foundation to become leaders in creating a sustainable future. More specifically, we organize the LSC core learning outcomes around three areas:

1. Sustainability of Knowledge
2. Sustainability of Communities and the Planet
3. Sustainability of Self

Every SJCME graduate:

• Acquires foundational knowledge of the diverse human condition, human society, and the natural world.
• Develops essential skills in critical thinking, quantitative reasoning and written communication.
• Demonstrates the ability to evaluate, acquire and synthesize new information.
• Understands the connections among domains of knowledge and applies this understanding in addressing real world problems.
• Applies foundational knowledge from core courses to their chosen professional field and understands the connection between their day-to-day work/life and this broad knowledge base.

Every SJCME  graduate:

• Engages in ethical, philosophical, and theological debates concerning sustainability and 21st century human life.
• Attains historical and civic literacy necessary for effective citizenship at the local, state, national, and global level.
• Acquires understanding of the diversity and historical foundations of 21st century cultures, societies, religions, and belief systems.
• Develops leadership skills to create 21st century sustainable outcomes at the local, state, national and global level.
• Applies knowledge and skills to address issues of justice, equity, diversity, and  inclusion (JEDI).
• Attains basic literacy in environmental science and develops knowledge and skills to improve the ecological and environmental sustainability of their communities.

Every SJC graduate:

• Engages in artistic, creative, ethical, and spiritual exploration.
• Develops knowledge of, and skills related to, personal health and wellness, including practices in the physical, emotional, intellectual, social, and spiritual dimensions.
• Acquires skills that enhance employability (including communication, collaboration, and analytical skills), embraces a developmental approach to the attainment of professional goals, and develops the capacity to leverage networking opportunities that foster professional success.
• Identifies and acknowledges their own strengths and weaknesses, and focuses on leveraging strengths and minimizing weaknesses in the process of becoming a lifelong learner.

The new core incorporates three modes (Mode #1, Mode #2, and Mode #3) to meet LSC core learning outcomes. Students must complete Mode #1 and Mode #2 to fulfill LSC core outcomes. Mode #3 is optional.

Mode #1:

LSC core courses (13 LSC core courses). All students who graduate from SJC must complete 13 core courses in 13 core categories (or equivalence if a transfer student or through substitution via Mode #3).

Mode #2:

Senior Capstone/Seminar (Addresses two specific LSC outcomes not covered in Mode #1 and offers opportunities to reinforce LSC outcomes covered in Mode #1).

Mode #3:

Experiential Equivalence (An experience that meets a LSC Mode #1 core course requirement). This is optional and intended as a tool to increase flexibility for students to meet LSC core outcomes.