Loyola University Chicago

The University Core Curriculum incorporates Values Across the Curriculum as an essential element in students' Loyola undergraduate experience. In particular, the core has the following four values requirements:

• Understanding and promoting justice
• Understanding diversity in the U.S. or the world
• Understanding spirituality or faith in action in the world
• Promoting civic engagement or leadership

Courses that satisfy the values requirements can be core courses, courses in a major, courses in a minor, or elective courses. Each values course will be devoted largely to the value in question, and will go beyond historical assessment to contemporary relevance of a value. Given values courses across the curriculum, students will experience how values are integral to their overall undergraduate experiences and operative in the contemporary world.

A course that satisfies a value requirement must have at least 50% of it devoted to the relevant value, in terms of its focus, readings and assignments. See below for Value Area Descriptions.

The proposal forms are listed below. To download a form, right click on the appropriate values area link below, then click on "Save target as..." If you are using a Mac, click and hold on the link, then go to "Save file as..."

• Understanding Diversity in the United States or the World
• Understanding and Promoting Justice
• Understanding Spirituality or Faith in Action in the World
• Promoting Civic Engagement or Leadership

When you have completed the proposal form, please e-mail it to core@luc.edu.

Values Area Descriptions

Understanding and Promoting Justice (1 course)

Learning Outcome: Promote economic, environmental, political and social justice

Competencies: By way of example, Loyola graduates should be able to:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of diverse fields of intellectual thought regarding ideal and actual societies and the goals, values, virtues and conceptions of justice
2. Analyze and appraise the functions and impacts of specific social practices, organizations, and policies established in the name of social justice
3. Articulate a personal philosophy of responsibility to promote a more just and humane society within a sustainable global environment
4. Recognize the challenges and opportunities offered by scientific, technological, and industrial developments, as well as population trends, and their implications for us as engaged national and global citizens
5. Develop a broad understanding of the origins and characteristics of issues relating to economic, political and social injustice and their effects on humanity and the environment

Understanding Diversity in the United States or the World (1 course)

Learning Outcome: Demonstrate an understanding of diversity in the United States and the world

Competencies: By way of example, Loyola graduates should be able to:

1. Recognize that human diversity is complex and variegated
2. Distinguish the various factors that inform and impact individual identity formation
3. Comprehend how group identities are formed in a heterogeneous society
4. Identify distinctive patterns of thought and behavior that contribute to the formation of a culture different from one's own
5. Perceive the interdependence of cultures in domestic and global terms

Understanding Spirituality or Faith in Action in the World (1 course)

Learning Outcome: Evaluate the significance of faith traditions and spiritual formation in life-long actions and decisions

Competencies: By way of example, Loyola graduates should be able to:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of and capacity to articulate the foundations of one's own and others' beliefs or faith traditions
2. Demonstrate how faith traditions or belief systems have been or can be related to intellectual and cultural life
3. Develop an ability to reflect upon the applications of one's beliefs or faith traditions to decisions in one's personal, professional and civic life

Promoting Civic Engagement or Leadership (1 course)

Learning Outcome: Promote leadership development and civic engagement

Competencies: By way of example, Loyola graduates should be able to:

1. Identify models of leadership and civic engagement, both current and historical
2. Demonstrate an understanding of the ethical responsibilities of leadership and its relationship to the Jesuit tradition
3. Apply analytical and reflective tools to assess situations and recognize leadership possibilities and opportunities for civic engagement
4. Articulate a vision that can empower and inspire others
5. Demonstrate effective team-building skills
6. Evaluate the leadership style of self and others
7. Engage in the community through activities effecting positive change in society and the environment

Sample Values Syllabus Outline

Course:
Instructor:
Course Theme: Servant Leadership and the Common Good
Required Texts:
Recommended Texts:

Course Objectives: The aim of this course is twofold.

First, we will explore “servant leadership” as a model of value-based leadership in different types of organizational settings (e.g., human services, business, education). We will explore the values that guide servant leaders’ efforts to transcend ideological and philosophical differences to develop strategic policy initiatives for the greater
good of all concerned.

Second, we will explore the nature of the common good as both a process and a goal. We will explore how we can settle on shared definitions of the common good that can be applied across diverse groups of people. Through case studies we will look at social practices, cultural influences, and political influences that challenge our settling on shared definitions of the common good. We will look at how these social, cultural, and political variables affect servant leaders’ abilities to achieve substantive equality and human rights.

At the end of this course, students will be able to:

a) understand how the dynamics of power, ritual, and organizational culture influence leadership;
b) identify and articulate a model of servant leadership within the Jesuit tradition;
c) examine effective decision-making processes and strategic planning through the lens of moral frameworks;
d) work with communication and conflict resolution skills necessary for effective leadership; and
e) use critical thinking skills to analyze effective leadership styles of others and to reflect on their own leadership styles.

Students will also be able to:

a) understand the diversity of thought on social justice and the common good;
b) identify the social practices that bear on our abilities to develop shared definitions of the common good;
c) use key concepts regarding social justice to analyze current social practices and issues thatchallenge the common good;
d) reflect on the tensions between the moral development of organizations/communities and their abilities to take responsibility for the common good; and
e) articulate their own ethical position on the common good.

The syllabus should list assignments (e.g., papers, presentations, projects) that will demonstrate student understanding of the relevant value requirement(s).