Connections

About liberal education

The first two pillars in our Liberal Education model, breadth and integration, trace back to the Education model of the Romans. The Romans developed seven subjects, known for centuries as the original seven Liberal Arts, namely arithmetic, geometry, astronomy and music (the quadrivium) and grammar, rhetoric and logic (the trivium). Note the inter-disciplinarity here, with both science (math, physics, logic), arts (music, rhetoric) and the humanities (language, philosophy, logic) - the whole range of the academy! The ancients saw these as all combined and intertwined; for example they connected music to ratios of numbers, and to the motion of planets in space.

Another aspect of breadth and integration that is increasingly important, at all levels of studies, is the idea of multiple viewpoints for looking at the world. Rather than simply learning a standard canon of knowledge, a more modern multi-cultural approach reminds us that although our education system is based on a classical Western tradition, it is important now to unpack and challenge that tradition, to bring in other voices and approaches and worldview, as part of expanding our knowledge and its uses. This means not only welcoming a diverse group of scholars into the conversation, but also making the search for knowledge, the kinds of questions we ask and the kinds of answers we can consider, inclusive and accessible and broad.

Definition

Connections: The ability to form connections and integrate knowledge across disciplines.

The second foundational pillar of liberal education is the beginning steps in deeper thinking. This pillar is integral in building a foundation where students see that all the different knowledge they come across, through breadth, are not separated and isolated from each other, but interwoven and vibrant together. Whether it is connecting the sciences with the arts or history and mathematics, a liberal education allows for a more complete picture to be formulated and relied upon. Forming connections are the steps that lead to critically thinking about how to approach an issues or question at hand. It ultimately broadens our vision and gives us skills in seeing nuances and the finer details that could unlock further knowledge.

"When deciding to choose the University of Lethbridge for my Post-Diploma Bachelor of Management, their philosophy of Liberal Education played a significant role. I had already been in and out of post-secondary, trying to discover what kind of career I wished to pursue. After completing a diploma in Business Administration, and working as an apprentice electrician for a year after, I decided no matter which field I was in, I wanted to have a degree. Already having a mindset for trying new things, I decided it would be most beneficial to attend a university that offered me the opportunity to take classes outside of Management. I learned how to approach my education in a new light, and how to integrate knowledge from a variety of disciplines. Liberal Education gave me the gift of understanding human behaviour beyond a management perspective."

Bryce Baker, Post-Diploma Bachelor of Management

Connections Articles

Below are articles that specifically tie into the connections pillar. There is a variety of content, opinions, and positions throughout these articles. This is a good place to start looking through resources for the essay that needs to be written as well as a place for the curious eye to wander and catch an interesting article to read.

Connections Skills and Competencies

  • Comparing how knowledge is created and used in various disciplines
  • Understanding complex issues from multiple viewpoints
  • Learning agility
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Teambuilding skills
  • Communications skills
  • Self-expression