Midland Lutheran College Catalog

Core and Distribution

Foreign Language Competency

Midland is aware that language as a fundamental human need and response takes many forms and that those forms prescribe behavior and shape cultures. Since each language defines a way of seeing and a way of being, one year of successful work (C- or better) in one language at the high school level or 2 college semesters of foreign language is required so students become aware of the importance of language as a cultural force of unique character. Students are encouraged to complete this requirement during their first or second year at Midland.

Objectives:

Experience the unique perception of another culture through language.
Experience an exposure of at least two semesters to a language of another culture.

Math Proficiency

Midland recognizes the role of mathematics in the liberal arts as an important cornerstone in critical thinking and creative thought. It is important that students understand this role, whether they use mathematics actively or passively in their study, their work and their life. Therefore, Midland requires one mathematics course (with a C- or better) to ensure that each student is capable of continued participation in and appreciation of the utility and beauty of mathematics. Students are encouraged to select the math course which is most appropriate for them and to complete this requirement during their first or second year at Midland.

Objectives:

Recognize the role of mathematics as a language for ideas.
Recognize the utility of mathematics in the humanities, arts and sciences.
Demonstrate increased confidence and comfort in working with mathematics.
Demonstrate the ability to perform computations appropriate to the material.
Demonstrate the ability to apply mathematical problem solving techniques.

Speech Proficiency

Midland recognizes the role of oral communication in the liberal arts as an essential cornerstone in critical thinking and creative expression. It is important that students understand this role and its application in education, vocation, and life. As such, Midland requires one oral communication course (with a C- or better) to ensure development and application of essential communication skills. Speech proficiency is a basic requirement. Students are encouraged to complete this requirement during their first or second year at Midland.

Objectives:

Develop confidence, competence and comfort when participating in communication activities.
Enhance skills in and application of research techniques as applied within the area of oral communication.
Apply organizational skills, ethics, critical thinking and criticism in the development of oral presentations.Create an awareness of and skills in critical listening and positive reinforcement from a receiver’s perspective of communication.
Demonstrate effective use of multiple methods of effective delivery.
Increase ability to effectively participate in daily communication activities.

Western Heritage

Midland recognizes that an understanding and appreciation of the social/historical and intellectual traditions of Western culture is essential for those who live within it. Students should be exposed to a number of the dominant personalities, ideas, contributions, and conflicts which have shaped and continue to shape Western culture from ancient Greece to modern Israel. Therefore, Midland requires one three credit-hour course in Western Heritage (with a C- or better). Students are encouraged to complete this requirement during their first or second year at Midland.

Objectives:

Recognize the ideas that continue to influence the United States as a Western culture.
Identify and recognize dominating figures in the Western drama and their contributions.
Understand the conflicts within Western culture which continue to determine its character.

Writing Proficiency

The First Year Seminars introduce and integrate students into the intellectual life of Midland. Small class sizes are maintained to facilitate intellectual camaraderie and social cohesion. The Seminars emphasize Midland’s commitment to content-based writing. Midland believes that written language skill reflects the student’s ability to think clearly and to organize information, and furthermore, that information needs to be processed before it becomes knowledge. Students select subjects of interest to serve as a basis for content-based writing. Each course satisfies both the College first-year writing requirement and either a distribution or the “Western Heritage” core requirement. The First Year Seminar is a two-semester sequence (FYS I and FYS II) required of all entering first-year students who are required to successfully complete 6 hours from this program of courses (with a grade of C- or better and no more than 3 hours from the FYS I).

Objectives:

Develop college level writing abilities including the use of formal English syntax, spelling, grammar, and punctuation; clear presentation of a main idea; and coherent development and support of the main idea.
Develop college level research abilities.
Develop active learning skills and the process of intellectual inquiry.

Guidelines:

Require significant writing.
FYS I – at least 5000 words, including a research paper with reputable sources of a length appropriate to course content, and apply an accepted style for source documentation.
FYS II – at least 20 pages, a minimum of ten pages must consist of a research paper, including at least 6-10 reputable sources, and apply an accepted style for source documentation.
No more than five pages of the minimum 5000 words or 20 pages may consist of informal writing (journal, diary, response). At least 3750 words or 15 pages should consist of formal writing (analytical, research, and/or argumentative).
Graded writing will constitute at least 50% of the total grade for each course.
Require a writing handbook.
Require the use of dictionary and other library resources.
Revise and edit written work.
Require substantial and serious reading assignments appropriate to the focus of the course.
Require active student participation such as seminar type presentations, group projects with presentations, student debates and other forms of in-class oral and written participation.
Be in compliance with the State of Nebraska Standards for the 7-12 English Endorsement.

Additional provisions:

First-year students may not withdraw from the First Year Seminars prior to the established add/drop deadline for each semester. First-year students must be enrolled in the First Year Seminars each semester. First-year students should successfully complete the FYS I before enrolling in FYS II.
First Year Seminars will be graded on a letter grade scale for C- and above (A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C and C-). All grades lower than a C- will receive a No Credit (NC) grade at the end of the semester. Midterm grades will include D+, D, D- and F to help students and advisors assess progress.
Students who do not achieve a C- or better in the First Year Seminars are allowed to repeat the seminar, enroll in different First Year Seminars or transfer up to six hours of English Composition (ENG 101 for FYS I and ENG102 for FYS II or their equivalent) or up to six hours of an equivalent first-year writing course in fulfillment of the Midland first-year writing requirement.
Non first-year students transferring from another college (having completed at least one regular semester of college courses after high school graduation) who have successfully completed six hours of a “first-year writing” requirement at another institution will not be required to enroll in the First Year Seminars.
Non first-year students transferring from another college who have not successfully completed six hours of a “first-year writing” requirement at another institution may either transfer up to six hours of English Composition or up to six hours of an equivalent first-year writing course in fulfillment of the Midland first-year writing requirement, or take six hours in the First Year Seminars of courses at Midland.
iMpact students must transfer in 2 English Composition courses (ENG 101 and ENG 102) or their equivalent or take iMpact English Composition.

Writing (“W” courses)

As a means of ensuring and encouraging the continued development of writing skills beyond the First Year Seminars, Midland requires that each major-granting department either offer a course with a writing component or designate a “W” course from another department, following the guidelines listed below. These guidelines are to be reflected in the “W” course description and syllabus. A department may designate more than one course to provide options for meeting the “W” requirement. [See the departmental course listings for the designated “W” course(s).]

Objectives:

Continue to develop and improve writing skills.

Be evaluated on writing skills.

Guidelines:

Assign at least two pieces of written work, which are intrinsic to the course, evaluating and returning one before students begin writing the next.
Require at least 3,000 words or 12 pages of final draft prose.
Write out the writing assignments, methodically and clearly explaining the nature and audience of the assignment.
Devote at least two class periods of the course or the equivalent to discussing writing.
Evaluate written work for style, form, and content.
Recommend an appropriate manual of style, a grammar handbook, and a dictionary.

Critical Thinking (“C” courses)

Critical thinking is the intellectually disciplined process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information. Rather than merely being able to memorize facts and repeat them, individuals with critical thinking skills are able to apply learned material to new situations in a variety of settings and circumstances.

Midland recognizes critical thinking as the highest level of thinking. Because this is the basis of intellectual activity, Midland requires each major-granting department either to offer a “C” course or to designate a course in another department in which critical thinking skills are clearly required. All critical thinking courses are to reflect the above definition and to include the following objectives in the course description and syllabus. A department may designate more than one course to provide options for meeting the “C” requirement. [See departmental course listing for the designated “C” course(s).]

Objectives:

Define a problem.
Select pertinent information for the solution of the problem.
Recognize stated and unstated assumptions.
Formulate and select relevant and promising hypotheses.
Judge the quality of inferences.

Distribution Requirements

The nine areas of distribution direct the student’s exploration and exposure. Each is viewed as complementing and supplementing the student’s total educational experience. Specific courses from the various disciplines have been identified which speak most directly to the educational and developmental objectives of each distribution area.

Each student must select from the varied optional courses and successfully complete the prescribed number of credit hours in each area. No more than six credit hours or two courses from any one department may be applied toward the distribution requirement.

Aesthetic Sensitivity

Midland realizes the unique role of the arts in expanding the human capacity for understanding through creative expression. Aesthetic sensitivity requires that the student understand the formal and structural components of a work of art through sound, color, forms, movement and/or words. Since Midland wishes to encourage life-long patrons, students are required to take three credit hours in appreciation and three credit hours in participation.

Objectives:

Recognize the unique role of the arts in expanding the human mind through creative expression by:

Understanding the role of aesthetic form in the intelligent appreciation of a work of art (appreciation).
Understanding the role of aesthetic form in creation and/or performance of a work of art (participation).

*Special fees are charged for private music lessons. See the College Costs section of the catalog for specific information.

American Heritage

Midland recognizes the American experience to be one of diversity and multiple traditions. Because we both recognize and celebrate this quality that seeks to allow unity with diversity, courses in this area describe and nourish that aspect of our culture. Thus the students should come to understand the views and experiences of the variety that makes the whole. Greater understanding should lead to respect and cooperation (one three-credit course).

Objectives:

Recognize the American experience as one of diversity and multiple traditions.
Recognize that American heritage includes the capacity to overcome conflict resulting from diversity and multiple traditions.

Christianity

Midland, as a college of the church, affirms and promotes the Christian faith and the transforming power of the Gospel. The College therefore requires that every student be exposed formally to this faith and take at least one course in religion which focuses on Christian and/or Biblical faith, doctrine and history (one three-credit course).

Objectives:

Recognize the power of the Christian faith to transform human lives.
Recognize the spiritual, historical and theological importance of the Christian faith.
Grow in an understanding of the Christian faith.
Students will demonstrate knowledge of the specific course objectives for the course they take to fulfill the Christianity requirement.

Contemporary Issues

Midland recognizes that college students are the decision makers of the future. Accordingly, they must have an ability to understand and respond to concerns and issues affecting the world. An exposure to some of the issues facing our world today not only will give the students a better understanding of the world in which they live, but also will develop an appreciation for the need to stay engaged in world concerns. The contemporary issues requirement is a structured exposure to local, national and/or world concerns. Included is an understanding of potential courses of action and thought that could develop related to the issue or issues (one three-credit course).

Objectives:

Identify and understand concerns and issues affecting today’s society.
Understand the significance and relevance of current viewpoints and arguments on those issues identified.
Be aware of potential courses of action and thought on those issues.

Moral Responsibility

Midland affirms that the Gospel and the role of Christian values in daily life include recognizing moral responsibility. In response to a society, which promotes moral relativism, Midland maintains that there are values that can and should be taught. Therefore, one course in ethics taught from a Christian perspective is required as a basis for understanding individual moral responsibility (one three-credit course).

Objectives:

Recognize the role of Christian values in daily life.
Understand the importance of each individual’s moral responsibility in society.
Students will be able to demonstrate an ability to identify and to apply various moral theories in making moral choices.

Personal Well-Being

Midland views the mind, body and spirit in a holistic manner. The mind has a capacity to affect the physical health and wellness of an individual just as the health and wellness of the body has an impact on the wellness of the mind and spirit. Holistic well-being is influenced by self-image, activities, family and community life. One’s conceptual beliefs about health and wellness influence behaviors and reflect on functioning as an individual as well as within the family and society. Therefore, the student is required to complete: (1) a three credit-hour course dealing with the relationship of mind, body and spirit; (2) a one credit-hour course introducing students to principles, theories and practices of exercise, diet, nutrition and stress management; and (3) a one credit-hour physical exercise course (five credit hours).

Objectives:

Identify the relationship of mind, body and spirit in the holistic health and well-being of an individual.
Recognize the importance of exercise, diet, nutrition and stress management as part of a healthy lifestyle and for personal well-being.
Participate in physical exercise.

Scientific Literacy

Midland recognizes that science is the organized search for knowledge of the natural and physical forces that shape our universe. It is important to have a scientifically-literate citizenry in order to make appropriate decisions so that the use of this knowledge promotes a sustainable existence within this universe. Therefore, the student is required to complete one laboratory science course in the study of one of the basic divisions of science. This course will introduce the student to the methodology of scientific discovery and scientific application (one laboratory course of 4-5 credit hours).

Objectives:

Recognize that science provides a methodology for an organized search for knowledge of the natural and physical forces that shape our universe.
Recognize the role of a scientifically literate citizenry in the promotion of a sustainable existence within this universe.

Societal Structures

Midland recognizes that human interaction takes place within the societal structures and, therefore, it is important to study the effects of groups, communities, and institutions, such as family, government, school, economy, and mass media, on individual development and fulfillment. Understanding these structures prepares the student to interact with them more intelligently (one three-credit course).

Objectives:

Understand the relationship of human interaction within societal structures.
Identify the impact of the societal structure on the development and fulfillment of the individual.

World Community

Midland acknowledges that we live in a diverse and integrated world community and that students should be educated to live, work and serve in that greater world. Thus, the student should understand the differences that the world community presents, whether they are cultural, political, geographical or socio-economical. Greater understanding should lead to respect and cooperation (one three-credit course).

Objectives:

Appreciate the diversity within the world.
Demonstrate an awareness of the commonalities of human experience.
Understand the existence of interdependence between Western, non-Western and third world communities.