Southern Connecticut State University’s Liberal Education Program (LEP) is designed to create learning experiences that are structured around three overarching questions:

•      What should an educated citizen be able to do? (Competencies)
•      What should an educated citizen know? (Areas of Knowledge and Experience)
•      With what values should an educated citizen be familiar? (Discussions of Values)

Each question informs a separate level (or tier—one for each of the questions) through which students progress to achieve a broad base of knowledge intended to serve them in their majors and beyond college as life-long learners.  Structurally, courses that span the disciplines and satisfy requirements in the Liberal Education Program are organized into tiers, each one designed to build upon and reinforce the last. 

The LEP promotes specific learning outcomes, which allow concrete and consistent measurement. While specific outcomes associated with specific tiers are beyond the scope of this page, the following outcome statements emerge from putting into measurable terms the Guiding Principles for the Liberal Education Program that appear in the Undergraduate Catalog and in Appendix E of the Liberal Education Program document. Upon completion of the LEP, undergraduate students will be able to: 

• Analyze and solve complex problems.
• Cogently and articulately express ideas in speaking and in writing.
• Demonstrate academic habits of mind (e.g., time management, future orientation, study and research skills).
• Think independently and creatively from an informed understanding.
• Demonstrate ability to synthesize learning throughout the LEP curriculum, through application to a culminating experience or project.
• Apply the standards and ethics required to enter into the professional world.
• Articulate/evaluate multiple perspectives on an issue, acknowledging the potential for complexity and ambiguity.
• Engage in the integration of informational resources and technology.