College of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences

College of Humanities, Education, and Social Sciences

LORI D. LINDLEY, Ph.D., Dean LEIGHANN S. FORBES, Ed.D., Associate Dean for Faculty and Development JULIA M. MACK, Ph.D., Associate Dean for Curriculum and Student Affairs

The College of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences (CHESS) consists of a community of students, faculty and staff dedicated to the academic growth and lifelong learning of its members. We seek to provide the highest quality professional and pre-professional preparation in the context of a broad liberal education in the Judeo-Christian tradition. An education rooted in the liberal arts and humanities and undergirded by a foundation of moral and ethical teachings, provides the foundation for a productive, rewarding and ethical life. The richly diverse educational programs within the College include a focus on integrating knowledge and developing student abilities in critical thinking, communication, information literacy and the application of knowledge across a wide range of social, professional and learning contexts. We are also committed to providing students with opportunities to understand cultural, international and global experiences in order to be informed and effective global citizens. Students from the College of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences are prepared to pursue a wide variety of professions, graduate programs and forthcoming careers of the future. The College is composed of the Division of Humanities and the Division of Social Sciences. Majors are offered in 24 baccalaureate degree programs and five two-year, associate degree programs. Students are also offered a wide variety of interdisciplinary learning opportunities as well as minor programs to complement their selected programs of study. The College is committed to promoting an engaged learning environment with students participating in a collaborative learning process including student research and practical experiences through service learning, internships and cooperative education.

SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES

Comprehensive Education

The professional lives of this year’s freshmen will extend through the mid-21st century. Given the rapidity of change today, it is almost impossible to predict what professions will be in demand that far into the future. Certainly many of the careers that will be in demand do not yet exist. Furthermore, the U.S. Department of Labor estimates that this generation of college students will change careers an average of three times. Thus it is important to provide a broad, comprehensive education, fostering skills that will not become obsolete and will be transferable from one profession to another.

Skills for a Lifetime

Communication skills are vital in almost all careers and professions and are central to the development of the capacity for lifelong learning that the 21st century demands. The refinement of our students’ reading, writing, speaking and listening skills, along with facilitating the use of communication technologies, is among the most important objectives of our programs in the Humanities.

Challenging yet reasonable reading assignments are designed to inform, enhance understanding and stimulate curiosity. Students come to regard books and professional journals as tools for their continued learning after graduation. It is important to note that they learn to read and understand publications based on sophisticated research methodologies and quantitative analyses. While the English Department has special responsibilities in the teaching of writing and our School of Communication and the Arts offers work in introductory and advanced public speaking, all departments and programs make extensive use of writing assignments as well as formal and informal opportunities for the refinement of oral communication. Essay examinations, research papers, journals, speeches and debates enhance students’ abilities to “think on their feet” and communicate well. Many classes make use of sophisticated electronic audio and video equipment and integrate modern computer technology into the curriculum. Increasingly, students and faculty enjoy connectivity with one another and the world outside the classroom through the use of the Internet, video conferencing, social media and the like. Equally important are the skills of analysis and synthesis, as well as the power to think critically and independently and to make sound ethical decisions and judgments. Courses in the Humanities and Social Sciences complement the University’s Liberal Studies Core to help our students hone these abilities. Quantitative as well as qualitative reasoning is encouraged and all curricula in the Humanities and Social Sciences require at least one math course. The typical class size permits discussions in which students have the opportunity to express their ideas. Group work, class discussion and other means of interactive learning encourage students to take responsibility, learn teamwork and become active rather than passive learners.

Global Languages

The College of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences embraces Gannon’s commitment to mentoring our students as global citizens. In addition to the Global Citizenship requirement of the Liberal Core, students completing a Bachelor of Arts degree in CHESS must complete at least one three-credit course in a global language. Courses that meet this requirement are offered through the Global Languages program in the School of Public Service and Global Affairs, as well as American Sign Language offered by the School of Education. These courses not only provide students with exposure to different cultures, they also increase knowledge of grammar and syntax and promote development of critical thinking and writing skills. Please see the appropriate section of the catalog for major-specific requirements, which may include additional global language coursework. Students who have a history of competency in a language other than English are encouraged to continue development of that language if it is available, or to take the opportunity to learn a new language. Information on placement into language courses can be found in the Global Languages and Cultures section of the academic catalog. However, in acknowledgement of the challenges already presented by attending an English-language university, students whose first language is one other than English may request a waiver of the language requirement. Please contact the Associate Dean for Curriculum and Student Affairs to make this request. Additionally, a student with a documented learning disability specific to foreign language learning may request accommodations appropriate to their situation. After official documentation has been provided to the Office of Disability Services, the Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Curriculum is the point of contact for these requests as well.

Fields of Specialization

In addition to career preparation through a comprehensive, international education, the Humanities and Social Sciences offers several majors through which students develop the specialized skills of particular professions. The School of Communication and the Arts prepares students for careers in radio and television, while English majors may explore career options in journalism and other types of professional writing. Through programs in political science,

social work, psychology and criminal justice, students may develop careers in public service or the private sector. The legal profession is served by the Pre-Law and Paralegal Programs, while the Public Service and Global Affairs Program leads to careers in government, business and industry. Future teachers participate in these programs as students pursuing careers in the secondary education major in the subjects they wish to teach.

Integration of Knowledge

One of the hallmarks of the Humanities education is a commitment to the integration of knowledge and a focus on the interrelationships of the various subject areas. The Departments of Philosophy and Theology play a central role in the synthesizing effort and also perform a special function in the ethical education of Gannon students. They help to develop professionals who are capable of distinguishing between right and wrong in complex situations, enabling students to become moral leaders in our society.

Fine Arts

The Humanities are committed to instilling appreciation of the arts and fostering the development of aesthetic values in our students, including a variety of Fine Arts courses offered through the School of Communication and the Arts. A Fine Arts minor is available. The Schuster Theatre, the Schuster Art Gallery and student poetry readings sponsored by the Department of English provide students with opportunities to showcase their talent and to appreciate the work of their peers. Field trips to the internationally renowned Cleveland Museum of Art and the Albright Knox Gallery in Buffalo, the Erie Art Museum and the Erie Philharmonic Orchestra are extraordinarily beneficial to students’ cultural growth.

Experiential Education

In the Humanities and Social Sciences, it is accepted that a great deal of student learning can and should take place outside the classroom. We are committed to the idea of the integration of experiential education throughout the curriculum. Students are encouraged to engage in a wide range of activities in service learning, fieldwork, practical research, internships and cooperative education. This is facilitated by Gannon’s location in Erie’s center, close to City Hall, the County and Federal courthouses, other government offices, numerous businesses, banks, health facilities and non- profit organizations.

Co-Curricular Activities

Many activities are sponsored by the College which complement formal course work and provide opportunities for student leadership. Humanities students organize and lead Gannon’s Model United Nations each year and play leadership roles in student publications such as the literary magazine, Totem, and the student newspaper, The Gannon Knight. Co-curricular activities provide the opportunity for students to meet and interact with elite members of various professions and disciplines.

The Faculty

Composed of scholarly teachers whose research is designed primarily for the benefit of the education of our students, the faculty also contribute to their disciplines through research, publication and to the community through professional service. First and foremost, however, they are teachers who challenge and support our students. They are living proof that it is both possible and desirable to be life-long learners. The faculty recognize their responsibility to nurture the curiosity and sense of wonder of our youth and are committed to the idea that we are educating rather than just training our students. More importantly, they are committed to preparing our students to educate themselves throughout their lives. An education in the Humanities and Social Sciences is only the beginning for our students.