GE: Exploratory Curriculum
The Seattle Pacific University General Education program is a Christian Liberal Arts curriculum tailored to SPU’s context and students. It has been designed to help students develop competence and character in the service of the common good. Students develop and deepen skills to pursue the path of wisdom and engage the culture with the gospel of Jesus Christ through both core courses (the Common Curriculum) and distribution courses (the Exploratory Curriculum).
The General Education program at Seattle Pacific is designed to help students pursue the path of wisdom and engage the culture with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Each component of the Exploratory Curriculum makes a distinctive contribution to this goal.
People of wisdom understand their place in God’s world, see life from a variety of perspectives, discern the appropriate use of knowledge, and thoughtfully evaluate ideas and claims. To that end, in the Exploratory Curriculum, you will take 35 total credits — 30 credits from “Ways of Knowing” courses and 5 credits from “Ways of Engaging” courses.
Exploratory Curriculum
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Ways of Knowing in the Arts | 5 | |
Ways of Knowing in the Humanities | 5 | |
Ways of Knowing Quantitative Reasoning | 5 | |
Ways of Knowing in the Sciences | 10 | |
Ways of Knowing in the Social Sciences | 5 | |
Ways of Engaging | 5 | |
Total Credits | 35 |
Ways of Knowing in the Arts (5 credits)
Utilizing assumptions, methodologies, and skills unique to the arts, "Ways of Knowing in the Arts" courses share a common focus on the artistic process. Within these courses, you learn to physically create, emotionally respond to, and/or intellectually analyze artistic works and performances.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
ART 1102 | Drawing Studio: Observation and Realism | 5 |
ART 1180 | Understanding Visual Art and Design | 5 |
ART 2302 | Painting Studio: Observation and Realism | 5 |
ART 2421 | Printmaking Studio | 5 |
ART 2422 | Metals Studio | 5 |
ART 2602 | Monuments of World Art I | 5 |
ART 2603 | Monuments of World Art II | 5 |
ART 2722 | Sculpture Studio | 5 |
ART 3546 | Art Education | 3 |
COM 3780 | The Art of Film | 5 |
FCS 1710 | Global Impacts of Design | 5 |
FLM 1001 | Introduction to Film Genres | 5 |
FLM 2001 | The Hollywood Studio System: Film History I | 5 |
FLM 2002 | Movies and Cultural Politics in the 1960s: Film History II | 5 |
HHP 1105 | Introduction to Ballet | 2 |
HHP 1165 | Introduction to Dance | 2 |
HHP 1166 | Dance Techniques: Modern and Jazz | 2 |
HHP 1167 | Social Dance Techniques | 2 |
HON 2200 | Honors Core: History and Representation | 5 |
MUS 1050 | Fundamentals of Music | 3 |
MUS 1250 | Beginning Keyboard Class | 2 |
MUS 1251 | Intermediate Keyboard Class | 2 |
MUS 1260 | Voice Class | 2 |
MUS 1270 | Beginning Folk Guitar | 1 |
MUS 1600 | Exploring Music | 5 |
MUS 2301 | Gospel Choir | 2 |
MUS 2304 | Chamber Singers | 1 |
MUS 2305 | Treble Choir | 2 |
MUS 2307 | Percussion Ensemble | 1-2 |
MUS 2311 | Jazz Improvisation Lab | 2 |
MUS 2312 | Tenor/Bass Choir | 2 |
MUS 2315 | World Drums | 1 |
MUS 2341 | Gamelan Ensemble | 1 |
MUS 2342 | Worship Band | 1,2 |
MUS 2350 | Concert Choir | 2 |
MUS 2351 | Wind Ensemble | 2 |
MUS 2353 | Orchestra | 2 |
MUS 2360 | Singing from the Stage | 1-2 |
MUS 2605 | Survey of Popular Music | 5 |
MUS 3501 | Music in the Non-Music Classroom | 3 |
MUS 4239 | Music of Latin America and the Caribbean | 3 |
MUS 4301 | Gospel Choir | 2 |
MUS 4304 | Chamber Singers | 1 |
MUS 4305 | Treble Choir | 2 |
MUS 4307 | Percussion Ensemble | 1-2 |
MUS 4311 | Jazz Improvisation Lab | 2 |
MUS 4312 | Tenor/Bass Choir | 2 |
MUS 4341 | Gamelan Ensemble | 1 |
MUS 4342 | Worship Band | 1,2 |
MUS 4350 | Concert Choir | 2 |
MUS 4351 | Wind Ensemble | 2 |
MUS 4353 | Orchestra | 2 |
MUS 4360 | Singing from the Stage | 1-2 |
SPGE LWKA | Lower Division Ways of Knowing in the Arts | 1-10 |
SPGE UWKA | Upper Division Ways of Knowing in the Arts | 1-10 |
TRE 1110 | The Theatre Experience | 5 |
TRE 1340 | Acting Fundamentals I | 5 |
TRE 1930 | Performance Practicum | 2 |
TRE 2220 | World Theatre Literature | 5 |
TRE 2450 | Analyzing and Interpreting Theatre | 5 |
TRE 3800 | Theatre Education | 3 |
TRE 3930 | Performance Practicum | 2 |
- 1
"SPGE LWKA" and "SPGE UWKA" are codes that indicate transfer courses that are eligible for WK Arts usage. They are not actual courses and are not available for registration.
Ways of Knowing in the Humanities (5 credits)
"Ways of Knowing in the Humanities" courses address the kinds of knowing embodied in the uniquely human system of meaning and representation. Employing a foundational understanding of one disciplinary perspective in the humanities, you will examine selected profound human questions expressed by language and manifested in culture.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
CHN 2200 | Chinese Culture - Past and Present | 5 |
CHN 3300 | Food Culture of East Asia: Japan and China | 5 |
CHN 3307 | Silk Road Culture | 5 |
CLA 1300 | Survey of Classical Literature | 5 |
COM 1101 | Introduction to Interpersonal Communication | 5 |
COM 1321 | Public Speaking | 5 |
ENG 1110 | Literature and Faith | 5 |
ENG 1220 | Film and Faith | 5 |
ENG 2221 | Good Poems | 5 |
ENG 2223 | Fantasy and Science Fiction | 5 |
ENG 2234 | Literature by Women | 5 |
ENG 2248 | International Fiction | 5 |
ENG 3334 | United States Multi-Ethnic Literature | 5 |
ENG 3335 | Celtic Literature and Culture | 5 |
FRE 2101 | Niveau Intermediaire I | 5 |
FRE 2102 | Niveau Intermediaire II | 5 |
FRE 2103 | Niveau Intermediaire III | 5 |
HON 2100 | Honors Core: Ethics and Critical Reasoning | 5 |
JRN 1000 | Fundamentals of Digital and Online Media | 5 |
JRN 2335 | Media Representation | 5 |
LIN 2100 | Foundations of Language Study | 5 |
PHI 1001 | Logic and Critical Thinking | 5 |
PHI 1002 | Ethics and the Good Life | 5 |
PHI 1004 | The Examined Life | 5 |
SBS 4913 | Middle East Seminar: Islamic Thought and Practice | 6 |
SJC 2248 | International Fiction | 5 |
SJC 3334 | United States Multi-Ethnic Literature | 5 |
SPGE LWKH | Lower Division Ways of Knowing in the Humanities | 1-10 |
SPGE UWKH | Upper Division Ways of Knowing in the Humanities | 1-10 |
SPN 2101 | Intermediate Spanish I | 5 |
SPN 2102 | Intermediate Spanish II | 5 |
SPN 2103 | Intermediate Spanish III | 5 |
SPN 2201 | Latin American Civilization and Culture | 5 |
- 1
"SPGE LWKH" and "SPGE UWKH" are codes that indicate transfer courses that are eligible for WK Humanities usage. They are not actual courses and are not available for registration.
Ways of Knowing in Quantitative Reasoning (5 credits)
A globalized world with complex problems requires you to reason abstractly and deductively, understand and analyze data, and be fluent in quantitative problem-solving. "Ways of Knowing in Quantitative Reasoning" courses involve forms of human thought that include analysis of data, problem-solving, and deductive reasoning.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
BUS 2700 | Statistics for Business and Economics | 5 |
CRIM 2360 | Introduction to Statistics in Social and Behavioral Sciences | 5 |
CSC 1521 | Contemporary Math with Computing | 5 |
EDU 2600 | Statistics Unleashed: Application in Education and other fields | 5 |
MAT 1221 | Survey of Calculus | 5 |
MAT 1234 | Calculus I | 5 |
MAT 1300 | Introduction to Statistical Reasoning | 5 |
MAT 1521 | Introduction to Contemporary Mathematics | 5 |
MAT 2360 | Introduction to Statistics for the Sciences | 5 |
MAT 2561 | Statistical and Algebraic Reasoning | 4 |
PSY 2360 | Introduction to Statistics in Social and Behavioral Sciences | 5 |
SOC 2360 | Introduction to Statistics in Social and Behavioral Sciences | 5 |
SPGE LWKQR | Lower Division Ways of Knowing in Quantitative Reasoning | 1-10 |
SPGE UWKQR | Upper Division Ways of Knowing in Quantitative Reasoning | 1-10 |
- 1
"SPGE LWKQR" and "SPGE UWKQR" are codes that indicate transfer courses that are eligible for WK Quantitative Reasoning usage. They are not actual courses and are not available for registration.
Ways of Knowing in the Sciences (10 credits)
In "Ways of Knowing in the Sciences" courses, students will learn principles and foundational knowledge as well as technologies and important applications in different scientific disciplines, drawn from the biological, chemical, physical, and applied sciences (such as: computer science, engineering, health and human performance, nutrition, and behavioral neuroscience).
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
BIO 1101 | Biological Fundamentals | 5 |
BIO 1104 | Environmental Science | 5 |
BIO 1105 | Marine Restoration Ecology | 5 |
BIO 1106 | Ecological Fundamentals | 5 |
BIO 1107 | Introduction to Forensic Science | 5 |
BIO 1121 | Coral Reef Ecology | 5 |
BIO 1145 | Oceanography | 5 |
BIO 2101 | General Biology | 5 |
BIO 2103 | General Biology | 5 |
BIO 2129 | Human Anatomy and Physiology | 5 |
BIO 2571 | Introduction to Biology | 5 |
CHM 1100 | Introduction to Chemistry | 5 |
CHM 1100L | Introduction to Chemistry Lab | 0 |
CHM 1110 | Introduction to the Nature of Science | 5 |
CHM 1211 | General Chemistry I | 5 |
CHM 1211L | General Chemistry I Lab | 0 |
CHM 1310 | Survey of General Chemistry | 5 |
CHM 1310L | Survey of General Chemistry Lab | 0 |
CHM 2410 | Environmental Chemistry and Sustainability | 5 |
CSC 1010 | Science and Technology | 5 |
CSC 1130 | Beginning Programming | 5 |
CSC 1230 | Problem Solving and Programming | 5 |
CSC 2230 | Computer Programming for Engineers | 5 |
EE 1014 | Electric Vehicle for Everyone | 5 |
EGR 1010 | Science and Technology: How Things Work | 5 |
FCS 2000 | Nutrition and Culinary Survival Skills | 5 |
FCS 2340 | Nutrition Science and Malnutrition | 5 |
PHY 1101 | General Physics | 5 |
PHY 1110 | Introduction to the Nature of Science | 5 |
PHY 1121 | Physics for Science and Engineering | 5 |
PHY 1135 | Astronomy: Individual and the Universe | 5 |
PHY 1140 | The Physics of Sound | 5 |
PHY 1142 | Earth System Science | 5 |
PHY 2573 | Concepts in Physical Science for Educators | 5 |
PHY 3311 | Experimental Methods I | 3 |
PHY 3312 | Experimental Methods II | 3 |
SPGE LWKAS | Lower Division Ways of Knowing in the Sciences: Applied Science | 1-10 |
SPGE LWKFS | Lower Division Ways of Knowing in the Sciences: Fundamental Science | 1-10 |
SPGE UWKAS | Upper Division Ways of Knowing in the Sciences: Applied Science | 1-10 |
SPGE UWKFS | Upper Division Ways of Knowing in the Sciences: Fundamental Science | 1-10 |
- 1
"SPGE LWKAS," "SPGE UWKAS," "SPGE LWKFS," and "SPGE UWKFS" are codes that indicate transfer courses that are eligible for WK Sciences usage. They are not actual courses and are not available for registration.
Ways of Knowing in the Social Sciences (5 credits)
"Ways of Knowing in the Social Sciences" courses introduce you to the scientific study of human beings at the individual and societal levels. Through these courses, you egage in value-based interaction with social science materials as you develop analytical skills and knowledge in the search for truth via the social sciences.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
ANT 2250 | Cultural Anthropology | 5 |
ECN 2101 | Principles of Microeconomics | 5 |
ECN 2102 | Principles of Macroeconomics | 5 |
GDEV 2001 | Development Issues in International Setting | 5 |
HIS 1357 | The Game of Life: World War II | 5 |
HIS 1490 | Life and Death in World Cities | 5 |
HIS 1734 | War on Terror: History of Our Lives | 5 |
HIS 2417 | Religious Traditions of Asia | 5 |
HIS 2502 | The United States to 1876 | 5 |
HIS 2503 | The United States Since 1876 | 5 |
HON 2000 | Honors Core: Culture and Social Systems | 5 |
ISD 2000 | Introduction to International Sustainable Development | 5 |
MUS 2550 | Foundations of Music Education | 5 |
POL 1120 | United States Government and Politics | 5 |
POL 2330 | International Relations | 5 |
PSY 1180 | General Psychology: Individual in Growth | 5 |
PSY 1181 | General Psychology: A Health Sciences Approach | 5 |
SBS 4912 | Middle East Seminar: People and Cultures | 6 |
SOC 1110 | Introduction to Sociology | 5 |
SPGE LWKSS | Lower Division Ways of Knowing in the Social Sciences | 1-10 |
SPGE UWKSS | Upper Division Ways of Knowing in the Social Sciences | 1-10 |
- 1
"SPGE LWKSS" and "SPGE UWKSS" are codes that indicate transfer courses that are eligible for WK Social Sciences usage. They are not actual courses and are not available for registration.
Ways of Engaging (5 credits)
"Ways of Engaging" courses apply knowledge from "Ways of Knowing" fields to significant social issues, so that through these classes you might engage our world thoughtfully, as befits people seeking wisdom.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
ART 3605 | Modern Art: Image and Power | 5 |
ART 3606 | Cross-Cultural Encounters | 5 |
ART 3608 | Issues in Contemporary Art and Visual Culture | 5 |
ART 3610 | History of Graphic Design/Illustration | 5 |
ART 3611 | Reading Images: An Introduction to Visual Studies | 3 |
ART 3612 | Reading Urban Spaces: The Eternal City | 5 |
ART 3613 | Reading Sacred Spaces: The Churches of Rome | 5 |
BIO 3000 | Introduction to Biological Anthropology | 5 |
BIO 3304 | Oceanography of the Galapagos Archipelago | 5 |
BIO 3835 | Theological Ecology | 5 |
BUS 2000 | Purpose and Practice of Business | 5 |
BUS 2330 | Introduction to Sustainable Management | 5 |
BUS 2500 | Integrated Topics in Business, Economics and Political Science | 5 |
BUS 3330 | Climate Change Action | 5 |
COM 3781 | A World on Film | 5 |
CSC 3011 | Living in a Digital World | 3 |
ECE 2100 | Foundations of Early Childhood Education | 5 |
ECN 2500 | Integrated Topics in Business, Economics and Political Science | 5 |
ECN 3811 | Microeconomics of Development: Community Development | 5 |
ECN 3812 | Macroeconomics of Development: International Economic Growth | 5 |
EDU 2000 | Introduction to Teaching | 5 |
EDU 2100 | Foundational Issues in Education | 5 |
EGR 3630 | Participatory Development in Appropriate Engineering | 5 |
ENG 3003 | Literature and Medicine | 5 |
ENG 3380 | African Literature | 5 |
ENG 3381 | Middle East: Film and Literature | 5 |
ENG 3382 | South Africa: Stages of Protest and Democracy | 5 |
ENG 3383 | Arab Spring: Gender, Islam, Democracy | 5 |
ENG 3386 | The Eternal City in Art and Literature | 5 |
FCS 2385 | Food and the Consumer | 5 |
FCS 3100 | Sustainable Food Production | 5 |
FCS 3250 | Philippines Study Abroad: Serving Children, Families and Communities | 5 |
FCS 3251 | Mediterranean Diet and Lifestyle | 3 |
FCS 3716 | Affordable Housing | 5 |
FCS 3823 | Exploring Global Dress and Behavior | 5 |
FLM 3000 | Directors and Genres | 5 |
FLM 3781 | A World on Film | 5 |
FRE 3105 | Ecriture Engagee | 5 |
FRE 3205 | Topics in Francophone Literature | 5 |
GS 3931 | Cross Cultural Experiences in Guatemala | 5 |
HIS 2418 | Modern Expressions of Asian Religions | 5 |
HIS 3366 | The Holocaust in Prague: Jewish Experiences | 5 |
HIS 3406 | Christianity in America | 5 |
HIS 3440 | War, Peace World Order | 5 |
HIS 3448 | Refugees and Human Trafficking: History of Forced Migration and the Law | 5 |
HIS 3600 | History of the Pacific Northwest | 5 |
HIS 3670 | History of United States Foreign Relations | 5 |
HIS 3720 | Rise of Islamic Civilization | 5 |
HIS 3730 | History of the Modern Middle East | 5 |
HIS 3765 | Family, State and Patriarchy in East Asia | 5 |
HIS 3785 | Trade, War, and The Making of East Asian Modernities | 5 |
HIS 3786 | Nation, City and Identity in China: From Opium Wars to Megacities | 5 |
HIS 3788 | Pandemics, Empire and Survival of Asia and the World | 5 |
HIS 3790 | History of Africa | 5 |
HON 3000 | Honors Core: Faith and Science | 5 |
HSC 3000 | Issues in Women's Health | 3 |
HSC 3035 | Human Sexuality | 3 |
HSC 4710 | Culture, Diversity, and Health | 3 |
HSC 4710F | Culture, Diversity, and Health | 2 |
INF 3500 | Information and Society | 5 |
ISD 3400 | Corruption and Development | 5 |
ISD 3510 | Monitoring and Evaluating Development Projects Programs | 5 |
ISD 3520 | Grant Writing for Government Non-Profit Agencies | 5 |
LCL 3500 | Cultural Study Abroad | 3-8 |
MUS 2402 | History and Appreciation of Jazz | 5 |
MUS 2606 | Music of Asia | 5 |
MUS 3401 | Music and Worship | 2 |
MUS 3402 | The Song of the Church | 3 |
MUS 4402 | History and Appreciation of Jazz | 5 |
PHI 2222 | Social Ethics | 5 |
PHI 2500 | Science, Technology and Society | 3 |
PHI 2999 | Ethics and the Arts | 3 |
PHY 3011 | Global Climate Change: Scientific, Social and Moral Implications | 5 |
POL 2500 | Integrated Topics in Business, Economics and Political Science | 5 |
POL 3320 | Political and Economic Development of Nations | 5 |
POL 3330 | Global Women's Issues | 5 |
POL 3440 | War, Peace and World Order | 5 |
POL 3670 | History of United States Foreign Relations | 5 |
POL 4336 | Cybersecurity | 5 |
SJC 3380 | African Literature | 5 |
SJC 3381 | Middle East: Film and Literature | 5 |
SJC 3382 | South Africa: Stages of Protest and Democracy | 5 |
SJC 3383 | Arab Spring: Gender, Islam, Democracy | 5 |
SOC 2351 | Living on the Margins: Cities in the Global South | 5 |
SPGE LWE | Lower Division Ways of Engagng | 1-10 |
SPGE UWE | Upper Division Ways of Engaging | 1-10 |
SPN 3131 | US Hispanic Latinx Cultures | 5 |
THEO 2730 | Biblical and Theological Introduction to Christian Reconciliation | 5 |
THEO 3260 | Biblical Topics | 5 |
THEO 3303 | Christianity in America | 5 |
THEO 3304 | Christian Heritage | 5 |
THEO 3401 | Exploring Christian Theology | 5 |
THEO 3403 | History and Theology of Christian Worship | 3 |
THEO 3540 | Creation Care | 5 |
THEO 3735 | Youth Ministry as Mission and Evangelism | 3 |
THEO 4720 | Leadership in Society | 5 |
- 1
"SPGE LWE" and "SPGE UWE" are codes that indicate transfer courses that are eligible for WE usage. They are not actual courses and are not available for registration.