Liberal Arts and Professional Applications (Accelerated Program)
College of Arts & Sciences
Liberal Arts and Professional Applications (B.A.)
The Liberal Arts and Professional Applications Program is an accelerated, 62-hour, cohort-based program that students complete in about eighteen months. It is the most accelerated program in the Bellevue University curriculum--and perhaps the most intellectually demanding. It meets on Saturday mornings, with a few Saturdays free during the eighteen months to celebrate national holidays. The program is fully committed to the belief, often voiced by corporate CEOs, that solid preparation in the liberal arts is one of the keys to success for promotions to more important positions, for pay raises, and for addressing the reality that the most responsible people in the work force will change jobs a number of times during their lifetime. This accelerated program is designed to incorporate both liberal arts and professional content, the better to prepare students for success in their journey through lifelong learning.
Liberal Arts and Professional Applications (B.A.) (127 credit hours)
General Education Core Curriculum (45 credit hours)
Major Requirements (62 credit hours)
Courses
Unless noted, all courses are 3 credit hours. They are offered in clusters of two or three courses, with the exception of Portfolio and Independent Study.
Orientation and American Studies
LAP 305 Orientation to the Liberal Arts and Professional Applications Program
An introduction to the skills and content of the entire Liberal Arts and Professional Applications program. Primary emphasis is on interdisciplinary learning‹that is, learning to use intellectual tools from traditional academic disciplines‹such as history, sociology, and political science‹flexibly and with real-world practical results. Explores methods of learning and applies them to topics that are complex and broad in scope. Among methods learned and reviewed are writing and oral communication skills, teamwork, problem solving, active critical thinking, and, most important, self-assessment skills. Students learn and practice basic computer skills of e-mail and Internet-searching in this class. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the L.A.P.A. accelerated degree program.
LAP 330 Introduction to American Studies
Examination of the American experience from a variety of perspectives, centralized around ideas such as what it means to be American, American values, the American character, and questions regarding diversity in American life. Topics include definitions of "American" from the beginnings to the present, the legacy of the frontier experience, immigration, class and racial relations, generational differences, and the impact of violence on American life. Materials from history, literature, and the social sciences are explored and discussed. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the L.A.P.A. accelerated degree program.
Self-Concept and Family Life
LAP 310 Self-Concept
Exploration of perspectives about the self, including analysis of the roles of psychological, social, historical, economic, and cultural influences on identity formation and change. An autobiographical approach is used to explore the impact of the various influences on identity, emotional stability, and self-efficacy (one¹s sense of competency). An important element in the program is discussed here: the use of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), especially its significance for self-assessment practices. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the L.A.P.A. accelerated degree program.
LAP 320 Profiles of Family Life
Interdisciplinary study of the family and of historical and cultural factors that have influenced contemporary patterns or profiles of family life. Multiple approaches are used to analyze family structure, dynamics, roles, and functions in society; and students are introduced to a "systems" approach to the family as a social institution. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the L.A.P.A. accelerated degree program.
Humanities, Leadership and Values
LAP 455 Humanities, Arts, and Public Policy
Examination of contemporary issues relating to the humanities and arts. Field trips and activities increase appreciation for the importance of the humanities and arts in daily life and in expressing cultural values throughout history. In a collaborative project, students organize and present an exhibition of their own photographs. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the L.A.P.A. accelerated degree program.
LAP 465 Leadership and Values
Study of ethical issues facing leaders, the essential role of the leader in inspiring, empowering, and leading people, and identifying one¹s own leadership style. Students examine and practice specific skills for successful leadership--including speaking, critical thinking, effective problem solving, decision-making, and team building. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the L.A.P.A. accelerated degree program.
Communication and National Issues
LAP 325 Communication and Professional Presentations
Focuses on communication skills at various levels (intra-personal, interpersonal, small group, and public presentations) and provides opportunities to facilitate discussion and present information. Students will identify their own communication abilities as well as the abilities of others and address a variety of communication concerns in business, social, and public areas of life. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the L.A.P.A. accelerated degree program.
LAP 345 National Issues Forum
In an exercise in experiential learning, students are responsible for organizing and presenting two public forum events following the model used in National Issues Forum materials. These forums provide a structured way for citizens to identify areas of common values regarding significant contemporary controversies. This course is designed to build self-confidence, to involve students closely in teamwork and problem solving, and to aid in time management, as well as to expand citizenship and awareness of contemporary social and political issues. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the L.A.P.A. accelerated degree program.
Portfolio
LAP 390 Portfolio Session I
Individual presentation of portfolios and assessment of the contribution of the courses in the first half of the program to student goals. Using PowerPoint, students give a brief oral self-assessment presentation, which has a clear thesis or theme, of important learning and change that resulted from their work and experiences during the first half of the program. Faculty assess the presentations and the materials in the portfolios for completeness, relevance, and accuracy in supporting the assertions of individual students regarding their academic and personal growth. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the L.A.P.A. accelerated degree program. 1 credit hour.
Popular Culture and Critical Thinking
LAP 350 Mass Media and Popular Culture
Study of the enormous impact of popular culture and its proliferation through channels of mass media such as newspapers and magazines; radio, television, and movies; and the music recording industry. Students examine their own reactions to media, defend positions on critical media issues, and practice critical thinking about the ethics of mass media messages in American culture. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the L.A.P.A. accelerated degree program.
LAP 355 Critical Thinking and Research
Practice in critical thinking, especially as applied to evaluation of readings, Internet offerings, and other source materials. Students review and practice some of the principles of critical thinking‹including summarizing and synthesizing information, and evaluating the usefulness and quality of that information. The course is especially useful in helping students prepare for the independent study and the requirements for accurate and complete documentation of source material in the final program paper. Also includes the importance of critical thinking to practices in self-assessment. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the L.A.P.A. accelerated degree program.