Mission and Tradition
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences seeks to promote intellectual curiosity and rigor within the University; to instill the fundamentals of critical insight, mature judgment and independent thinking; and to strengthen our students’ sense of their moral responsibility for others and for the betterment of society.
We draw inspiration from the dynamic legacy of St. Augustine, the great teacher and scholar, and his restless, passionate pursuit of wisdom and truth. Committed to our Christian intellectual and moral foundations, the College respects the beliefs of all the members of its diverse community. We believe that it is the inalienable right of all individuals to participate in creation, to seek truth and to apply such truth to enrich their personal lives and advance their communities.
Our unique heritage as the first Augustinian institution of higher education in the United States provides additional inspiration for our educational mission. Villanova College was founded in 1842 by eight Irish friars of the Order of Saint Augustine to make higher education accessible to the sons of Irish working-class immigrants, who suffered discrimination and exclusion from other educational institutions. This history reinforces our commitment to collaborating with people of all traditions as we build the moral foundation and social consciousness necessary to educate responsible leaders.
Mission-Centered Curriculum
The academic mission of the College is intimately connected with its Core Curriculum. The Core curriculum is purposefully rigorous and diverse, preparing students to become critical thinkers, strong communicators, and ethical leaders with a global perspective.
The goals of the Core are:
Achieve a synthesis of knowledge that provides a basis for informed judgment, not simply “fact finding.” This includes learning to think and process information in a critical manner.
Promote literacy as a foundation for intelligent discourse and the articulation of informed views. This goal acknowledges that literacy spans all disciplines, and undergraduates should demonstrate an ability to understand and utilize a wide variety of information (e.g., scientific, quantitative, cross- cultural, etc.) to articulate said views.
Define culture in a broad sense, educating students to understand and to appreciate the interrelated patterns of customary beliefs and practices, social forms, aesthetics, and material traits that act to define a culture and its position within a larger historical and intellectual framework. Students should develop an understanding and appreciation of the diversity of cultures and experiences as well as the development of a multicultural and international perspective.
Acknowledge that our world is vibrant and continuously redefined, not simply a static version of the past. Thus, we challenge students to understand that the present is recognizably formed from past influences. In order to assess the present and arrive at a view of its future, students must be educated to scrutinize and bring into perspective the relationship of the present day with that of the past.
Prepare students to become active and responsible participants within society, developing an understanding of ethical responsibilities and valuing communal responsibilities.
Encourage personal development in preparing students to regard themselves as citizens living in society, who have respect for the individual as well as the feeling of belonging to a world community.
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is committed to sustaining, improving, and monitoring the effectiveness of our academic programs, guided by a comprehensive assessment plan focused on student learning outcomes. Each academic department has developed their own assessment plan for evaluating your learning experience. Please see your department/program chair or contact Seth Matthew Fishman, PhD, Assistant Dean, Curriculum and Assessment, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Access more information about learning outcomes assessment.
Detailed LEARNING GOALS are on the College's website under 'Your Academic Journey'.