COL 150 - Columba Cornerstone

The Columba Cornerstone is a freshman seminar that introduces students to foundational ideas, perspectives, and techniques of inquiry that are essential to the university experience. The Cornerstone examines time-honored questions in the liberal arts through the themes of Truth, Justice, and Earth. Using these themes to focus on the reading, writing, and thinking skills crucial to success both in college and beyond, students will explore questions about the nature of knowing, dive deeply into analyses of identities, and probe the many dimensions of human interrelatedness. Grounded firmly in the mission statement of the Core Curriculum, the Columba Cornerstone will introduce students to critical concerns of our time such as diversity and sustainability in a digitally and globally connected world. Motivated by the values and goals of peace, justice, and service, the Cornerstone will utilize classic and contemporary texts, co-curricular engagements, and a variety of pedagogues to consider new approaches to traditional problems and cutting-edge insights for the 21st century. All sections of the Columba Cornerstone, regardless of theme (i.e., Truth, Justice, Earth) incorporate instruction on six topics which have been designed to ground students in essential learning that supports the entirety of their Iona experience. These topics include: The Iona Story, Diversity, Information and Digital Literacy, The Learning e-Portfolio, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and basic Financial Literacy.

When taught in the fall semester, the Columba Cornerstone is “linked” with another course (and instructor) to form a Learning Community. As a Learning Community, the course instructors work in collaboration to foster an environment of integrated learning for the shared group of students who travel together between the two courses.
Lecture
Credits: 3
Core Course
Offered in Fall & Spring