Preparing students to THRIVE
THE THRIVE PLAN
The THRIVE plan creates transformative experiences designed to help students flourish. Wartburg’s liberal arts curriculum prepares students for the challenges of the future and the current needs of employers.
1. Foundation
Quantitative Literacy
Introduces mathematical thinking that can be used to solve problems in area disciplines.
Scientific Inquiry
Introduces the scientific method within the natural or social sciences.
Composition
Strengthens skills in writing, critical thinking, argumentation, and research.
Oral Communication
Develops clear, confident, and rational oral communication.
Foundational Faith
Fosters critical reflection on faith, religion, values, and questions of ultimate significance for students to integrate their religious and philosophical viewpoints holistically.
Second Language
Introduces speaking, writing, reading, and comprehending a second language and engaging with its culture at the elementary II level or higher.
Value of the Liberal Arts
The National Association of Colleges and Employers ranks the top five employee attributes as communication skills, analytical skills, teamwork, technical skills, and strong work ethic.The THRIVE plan helps develop those skills by emphasizing:
- Thinking Critically
- Human Culture
- Reasoning
- Information Fluency
- Effective Communication
2. Seminars
SEM 100: Self-Identity as a learner
Explores an academic topic guided by an engaged and caring instructor to get familiar with the academic community and the world of scholarship.
SEM 200: Correlation and connection with others
Explores ways in which various identities are understood, experienced, and expressed through a focus on a specific topic.
SEM 300: Membership in a community and shared responsibilities
Gains understanding of complex issues and related ethical implications. Learn how to raise relevant questions from diverse perspectives and consider the implications of behaviors, choices, policies, and structures to encourage a deeper understanding of your perspective and your responsibilities in the diverse communities in which you live.
SEM 400: Taking action in the community on complex problems
Demonstrates what you have learned. This culminating experience challenges students to address a complex global problem.
3. Exploring
Human Culture
Students will engage with the rich diversity of human knowledge and cultures while learning about things such as cultural beliefs, arts, history, language, and communication styles of locations withing a global society while investigating, expanding, and expressing their own worldviews.
Vocation
Vocation lives in the heart of a Wartburg College education, and it frames everything we do. Helping individuals discover who they are called to be and what they are called to do is essential to our mission.
Thinking Critically
Students will analyze multiple viewpoints, including their own, while critically evaluating information, creating conclusions from their analysis, and thinking about the impact of their conclusions.