Paideia Course

Paideia courses (or "Paideia Seminars") are high-level college courses that bring together students from a variety of majors, levels of experience, and backgrounds to explore intensively and in depth a wide range of topics. Paideia Courses are offered in a seminar setting, where both faculty and students discuss texts, debate topics, and closely examine evidence leading to arguments and counterarguments. Each course focuses on a particular interdisciplinary theme and consists of a 12- to 15-week program, requiring 33 to 37 hours of class time or equivalent. Paideia emphasizes a multidisciplinary approach to learning, with participation from various participants and concentrations, such as history, sociology, philosophy, and literature. The objective of Paideia is to allow students to traverse the frontiers of current scholarship in a particular field and gain an understanding of the inter-relationships of disciplines within the topic. Students in the course are expected to be knowledgeable about the literature and evidence related to the subject and capable of making their own contributions to the discussion. Discussions include exploration and evaluation of opposing arguments and perspectives. Through the class and the outcomes it strives for, Paideia also aims to foster critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Additionally, students are expected to develop better communication and collaborative skills and become more engaged citizens within the context of their chosen field of study. Finally, the coursework serves as a foundation for further exploration and research, extending the students' education beyond the boundaries of the classroom.