QU | Academic Feature
Corey Broeckling ’98 believes his liberal arts education from QU prepared him for his research career. “There is a tendency, I think, to assume that the knowledge needed at the undergraduate level is hyper-specialized and applied,” said Broeckling. Learning to write code, grow microbe cultures, collect samples, record, analyze, and interpret data are essential proficiencies students need to develop for their overall knowledge of their area of study. But equally important is a student's ability to perceive, interpret, and think critically about the world in which they live. “Those general habits of mind enable students to develop wisdom, using the skills and information related to a specific field, whether it's STEM, business, education, or any other discipline,” Barb Schleppenbach, Title III project director, says. “I guess you could say that the liberal arts are the transformation engine for turning knowledge into wisdom.”
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QUniverse | Fall 2021
There is a misconception that a student must choose to study either liberal arts or STEM to prepare for gainful employment. With the Title III Grant–Expanding Student Access to STEM, QU has enabled students to combine preparation for in-demand careers in STEM fields, with the problemposing method of learning found in liberal education. With the blend of liberal arts and science, QU creates a rich academic landscape. QU’s educational experience prepares students to enter the workforce with critical thinking skills, creativity, and the ability to communicate, adjust, and work with others. Students studying in the STEM fields are subject to complete the Bonaventure program of general education based upon the concepts of a liberal education.
“Having a broader knowledge base and perspective provided by a liberal arts education allows students to approach things from different angles.” —Kimberly Hale, PhD, chair of the division of science and technology
