Blessed Saint John Henry Newman presents his vision for a Catholic university education in his famous book, The Idea of a University. Newman extols the value of all disciplines, from literature to science to business, but argues that they must be deeply rooted in the liberal arts and ultimately brought together in pursuit of Truth and Goodness. For Newman, a university education should produce an enlargement of mind that allows the graduate not merely to succeed in society, but to elevate it. The Newman Studies Program encompasses the ideas developed by Blessed Saint John Henry Newman.
Every undergraduate earning a baccalaureate degree at Newman University must complete the Newman Studies Program (NSP). The NSP consists of three tiers: Skills Courses, General Education Courses and Capstone courses, with each tier supporting the goals for Newman baccalaureate graduates. Four areas divide up the General Education and Capstone courses: (i) The Human Story, (ii) The Creative Spirit, (iii) The Universe We Live In, and (iv) the Quest for Meaning. Both the general education tier and capstone tier are divided into four areas: (i) The Human Story, (ii) The Creative Spirit, (iii) The Universe We Live In, and (iv) Quest for Meaning.
The NSP creates a common experience for Newman students of all majors and backgrounds and prepares students with the skills to think about the world around them in both disciplinary and interdisciplinary ways. The skills tier consists of intensive, skills-based courses which emphasize writing, speaking, mathematics, which serve as the foundation for effective engagement of college-level coursework. The program continues with the General Education tier courses offering students a body of knowledge and the opportunity to cultivate dispositions. The General Education tier also intentionally addresses ways disciplines explore the world, define questions and posit answers. Finally, the Capstone Tier courses examine problems or issues that cross disciplinary boundaries. In Capstone courses, students draw from all the elements of their education and consider problems or issues from the perspective of two or more disciplines while practicing the skills necessary to be successful students and citizens.
Transfer Student Requirements:
Students who enter Newman with an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree from an appropriately accredited institution or a Baccalaureate degree from an appropriately accredited 4-year institution are required to take: General Education Tier courses in Theology and Philosophy and one Capstone Tier course that is not embedded in the major.
- EXCEPTION: Externally accredited programs (Division of Education and School of Healthcare Professions) may count two capstone courses toward major requirements.
All other students are required to complete all three tiers of the Newman Studies Program (NSP).
Skills Tier
(4 courses, minimum 12 credit hours)
To fulfill the Skills Tier a student must complete the 4 required courses listed below:
Required Courses
General Education Tier
(8 courses, minimum 24 credit hours)
To fulfill the General Education Tier a student must complete the following:
Only one course from a discipline may be used, so that eight (8) different disciplines must be completed to satisfy general education requirements. The course prefix defines the course’s discipline. A cross-listed course counts toward both prefixes; an example is when a student takes a course cross-listed as history and political science. Students will need a second course in a discipline that is not history or political science in order to meet the General Education requirements.
Capstone Tier
(2 courses, 6 credit hours, must be taken at Newman University)
Capstone courses are interdisciplinary and examine a particular issue or problem. They are often team-taught and have small enrollments capped at 25 students. Prerequisites for Capstone courses are sophomore standing and completion of the NSP Skills courses.
To fulfill the Capstone Tier a student must complete two NSP Capstone courses from two different areas: Human Story, Creative Spirit, Universe We Live In, or Quest for Meaning.
No more than one course from the two capstone courses may count towards a major.
- EXCEPTION: Externally accredited programs (Division of Education and School of Healthcare Professions) may count two capstone courses toward major requirements.
Students majoring in the following satisfy one capstone (or two for externally accredited programs) through the program’s approved capstone course(s):
1. Education: EDUC 3113 Foundation and Philosophy of Eduation (CS) and EDUC 3363 Reaching and Teaching Diverse Learners (HS)
2. Nursing: NSG 3184 Mental Health Nursing Across the Lifespan (HS) and NSG 4053 Community Nursing (UL)
3. Social Work: SWK 3503 Deconstructing Privilege (HS)
4. Business: BSAD 3193 Business Ethics (HS)
NOTE:
Capstone courses may be repeated as elective credit with a change in topic/title.
Scholars Day
The Newman Studies Program (NSP) affords students the opportunity to present an original, faculty supervised work to an audience of their peers. The presentation may occur during the official Scholars Day event (held each semester on the Newman University campus) or through another venue approved by the NSP committee. Students completing a bachelor’s degree under the Newman Studies Program must enroll and successfully pass this course. This zero-credit hour course is graded pass/fail and is a requirement for graduation. Failure to complete Scholars Day will result in a grade of “F.” No incompletes will be provided for this course.
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