General Education at St. Olaf College
Mary Cisar, Registrar, Assistant Vice-President for Academic Affairs • registrar@stolaf.edu

St. Olaf College Mission Statement
St. Olaf, a four-year college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, provides an education committed to the liberal arts, rooted in the Christian Gospel and incorporating a global perspective. In the conviction that life is more than a livelihood, it focuses on what is ultimately worthwhile and fosters the development of the whole person in mind, body and spirit.

Now in its second century, St. Olaf College remains dedicated to the high standards set by its Norwegian immigrant founders. In the spirit of free inquiry and free expression, it offers a distinctive environment that integrates teaching, scholarship, creative activity and opportunities for encounter with the Christian Gospel and God’s call to faith. The college intends that its graduates combine academic excellence and theological literacy with a commitment to lifelong learning.

St. Olaf College strives to be an inclusive community, respecting those of differing backgrounds and beliefs. Through its curriculum, campus life and off-campus programs, it stimulates students’ critical thinking and heightens their moral sensitivity; it encourages them to be seekers of truth, leading lives of unselfish service to others; and it challenges them to be responsible and knowledgeable citizens of the world.

--Approved by the St. Olaf faculty in 1987 and the opening paragraph adopted, as a shorter version, by the St. Olaf Board of Regents that same

When people hear the term “general education,” they often think of “distribution requirements”—a set number of miscellaneous, unrelated courses offered cafeteria-style in a variety of specific departments. The purpose of such courses is to provide “breadth” in contrast to the “depth” gained through the major. Distribution requirements are typically organized so that students take them early in their college careers, before they have decided on their major. It is not surprising that students often see these requirements as courses to “get rid of” before being allowed to study what truly interests them.

At St. Olaf, we think quite differently about general education. One useful way to understand what we mean by general education is to consider the difference between a “tourist” and a “pilgrim.” In a recent lecture on campus, St. Olaf professor John Barbour spoke about this distinction in relation to study abroad, an important element of a St. Olaf education. Tourists, he said, seek entertainment, an escape from their everyday circumstances. But “when we yearn for something more than this, we wish, like a pilgrim, to be transformed. […] We want to come back as different persons, and for our travel to influence the rest of our lives. We may be searching for community: the bonding with fellow travelers sometimes brought about through a common ordeal or new friendships with persons whose differences we learn to appreciate. […] We want to encounter another culture in its distinctive difference from our own, so that we may understand both it and ourselves.” Professor Barbour concludes, “The essential difference between a tourist and a pilgrim is this. The tourist asks, ‘Am I getting my money’s worth? Is it worth it?’ In contrast, the pilgrim asks, ‘Am I worth it? […]’ the tourist judges the worth of the culture he visits, and often reduces value to economic terms. The pilgrim judges himself.” These reflections about study abroad apply to the college experience as a whole. Like a tourist, we too often look at college as a product we purchase, instead of as the life-changing opportunity it is.

Douglas Schuurman, another St. Olaf professor, also challenges students to think in new ways about the experience of going to college. He reminds us that finding our vocation in life is not the same thing as discovering our career path. The job of a student is to “be in school to contribute to the life of its community and to make use of opportunities it supplies for building lives of worth and service.” Students are called not only to a particular career, he believes, but to study and learn here and now.”
The St. Olaf general education curriculum is designed to prepare students to be more than tourists on the road toward a career.

Core Studies build knowledge and perspectives central to the liberal arts with a global perspective. Historical studies in Western culture, multicultural studies, artistic and literary studies, biblical and theological studies, studies in natural science, and studies in human behavior and society—all contribute to a St. Olaf student’s education. Courses meeting each requirement exist in many different departments and programs offered at St. Olaf. Each element of the core has a clear purpose, publicly accessible guidelines for course content, and specific learning goals.

The Integrative Studies course builds on previous experiences, including general education, electives, study abroad, and the major, and requires that students reflect on ethical issues associated with their intellectual interests.

Distinctive characteristics of general education at St. Olaf College

  • At St. Olaf, general education extends through all four years of college. Some courses (First-Year Writing, Biblical Studies) are essential to the first-year experience and cultivate fundamental competencies—in college-level reading, writing, discussion, and research skills—that prepare students for later studies. They also provide an important experience of community with other new students. Other elements of general education are just as intentionally designed to be taken later in a student’s college career, because these courses build on previous experiences, both on and off campus.
  • At St. Olaf, many courses designed for general education are multi-disciplinary; that is, several areas of knowledge contribute to understanding the topics of study. The general education curriculum at St. Olaf encourages students to make connections among the courses they take.
  • At St. Olaf, there is an intentional overlap between general education and major studies. Many majors and concentrations purposely help students develop competencies first introduced through general education.
  • At St. Olaf, students are encouraged to connect in-class learning, on campus and abroad, with important co-curricular experiences in the arts, athletics, service activity, other forms of experiential learning, and daily life.

Make the most of your St. Olaf Education

  • Approach your college experience as fundamentally different from high school; be open to the differences.
  • Work with your academic advisor to choose courses that help you explore and expand your interests. To begin this process, visit the Explore Resource.
  • From the beginning, view general education as an opportunity for intellectual growth. Consider it a means of intentional exploration of new competencies and areas of knowledge. Seek a personal connection to each of your courses; discover common themes and questions among your courses, as different as they all may seem.
  • Seek out faculty and engage them in conversation in and out of the classroom; seek help and advice from the many faculty and staff who are ready to help you make a smooth transition to college and fulfill your potential as a student. You will find a list of campus resources in this binder.
  • Engage with other students outside of class: form study groups; discuss what you are learning with friends who are taking different courses; find links among your courses and your co-curricular activities; take advantage of the many speakers and cultural events that take place on campus. At a residential liberal arts college, learning takes place everywhere—in and out of the classroom.

The faculty of St. Olaf College offers to you, our newest students, and a general education curriculum designed to provide the opportunity to become pilgrims instead of mere tourists of the liberal arts, and to find your vocation as a St. Olaf student. Enjoy the journey!

For further reading and reflection