Admissions

Engaged Citizenship Curriculum

Simpson's curriculum is designed to prepare students for future academic and professional success.

With Simpson's curriculum, the courses students take delve deeper and focus more on projects that provide hands-on understanding of the subject matter. These courses allow students to work closely and build strong relationships with faculty members and encourage students to take advantage of Simpson's community partnerships, hold internships, study abroad or conduct independent research.

Simpson's curriculum also allows students to gain those skills and experiences valued most by employers looking for effective communicators, innovators and problem solvers.

Simpson builds  Embedded Skills into many courses to help students grow and develop the expertise needed to succeed in graduate school or the workplace.

The seven embedded skills are:

  • Collaborative Leadership
  • Critical Thinking
  • Information Literacy
  • Intercultural Communication
  • Oral Communication
  • Quantitative Reasoning
  • Written Communication

In addition to classes in their major, students will take seven Areas of Engagement courses, giving them the knowledge needed to effectively participate in their communities. Several classes qualify for each area, so students have the flexibility to take courses that closely align with their interests.

The areas of engagement are:

  • The Arts
  • Civic Engagement
  • Diversity and Power in the United States
  • Ethics and Values Inquiry
  • Global Perspectives
  • Historical Perspectives on Western Culture
  • Scientific Reasoning

Students take two courses to bookend their Simpson Experience: the Simpson Colloquium and the Senior Capstone. The Simpson Colloquium is taken during the first semester of college and is designed to help students make the transition to college life. The Senior Capstone is a culminating project in each student's major demonstrating their proficiency in a chosen field of study.

According to the AAC&U, “a liberal education helps you achieve broad knowledge and a set of skills and capacities that you need for all kinds of careers, and for the rest of your life as well.” Simpson is on the forefront of providing the kind of experiential, liberal arts education college graduates need to succeed in their careers and achieve fulfillment in their lives.

Last Updated: 11/18/11