Viterbo
University Mission Seminar (VUSM)
100—Franciscan
Values and Traditions, 3 Cr.
Viterbo University was
founded in 1890 by the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration. This entry-level
course examines that heritage and what it means to be and behave like a
Franciscan. These courses will use the works of Saints Francis, Clare, and Rose
of Viterbo as a foundation for exploring the university’s core values of
hospitality, integrity, contemplation, stewardship and service.
101—Leading
by Serving: Becoming a More Effective Leader, 3 Cr.
This
seminar is designed for the active student learner. Students will learn the
principles of Servant Leadership, examine Franciscan, values and participate in
a variety of leadership experiences which build a foundation for leadership in
any career.
110—Relationships,
Health, and Well-Being, 3 Cr.
Using the stories of Francis, Clare, and Rose as a lens
to reflect on contemporary and personal narratives, this seminar introduces
Franciscan values and traditions as they relate to relationships, health, and
well-being.
120—The
Franciscan Tradition and Christian Theology, 3 Cr.
With St. Francis of Assisi and St. Clare of
Assisi as models, students will explore the history of these two people who
have inspired the founders of Viterbo University (Franciscan Sisters of
Perpetual Adoration, FSPA). Students will explore how the values that the
university community holds are found in the lives of Francis, Clare, and Rose
of Viterbo (patroness of the FSPA). They will also trace these values back to
Scripture, the source for Francis. Because these values are so key to the
university, students will explore how to implement them in their own lives on
campus as well as after graduation.
The course will also teach skills for
developing a Christian mind, helping to construct a solid foundation for
thinking through life’s most important issues. Units on Scripture, Christology,
ecclesiology, morality and spirituality will develop the Christian worldview as
it interacts with the secular age. Students will be taught how theological
concepts were significant for Francis and Clare, as well as learning the key
components to those concepts.
125—Choosing,
Changing, or Confirming Your Calling, 3 Cr.
This course of study will review the life of
St. Francis from the perspective of career/vocation choices and the struggles
that led his to such a magnificent life. A study of Franciscan values as they
apply to vocation as well as presentations from local business, Church, and
community leaders on their vocational choices will serve as the foundation of
this course.
126—Franciscan
Joy, Franciscan Friendship, 3 Cr.
The joy of the Gospel is present in the
life of St. Francis. The source of his joy is ours: faith and friendship. We
will explore the development of both using St. Francis as a guide.
127—Francis
and the Feminine, 3 Cr.
Using the
lens of St. Francis of Assisi and St. Clare of Assisi, students will be
introduced to Franciscan women saints, the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual
Adoration and the Viterbo University community and the unique ways in which
they live(d) out Franciscan values in their lives. Students will consider how
these models might become mirrors for their own lives and faith journeys.
140—Bartolomé de las Casas Legacy: a Search
for Peace and Justice in the 21th Century, 3 Cr.
This course will approach the life and major works of
Dominican priest Bartolomé de las Casas (1484-1566) from a Cultural Studies
perspective with a Franciscan emphasis. The Seminar format will allow for in
deep conversation using and ample range of materials -articles, books, films,
and others- assigned for this course, and also encourages students to look for
additional peer review readings to discuss in class.
150—Music
and More, 3 Cr.
This course will explore the life of Francis
through an integrated approach that melds the discipline of classical music
with Viterbo University’s Franciscan core values (hospitality, integrity,
contemplation, stewardship, and service). Two weeks of introduction to
Franciscan values and traditions will set the stage for an exploration of music
that has been organized into five categories:
I. Creation and the Good Earth; II. Self-giving Love and Perfect Joy; III.
Peace, Justice and What It Means to Hug a Leper; IV. A Caveman’s Guide to
Prayer and Contemplation; and V. God with Us: The Mystery of the Incarnation.
While pertinent musical selections will serve as study material, the Viterbo
core values will guide assignments and projects throughout the semester.
160—Shaking
Words: Examining Franciscan Virtues through
Young Adult Literature, 3 Cr.
In this seminar, we will examine five
Franciscan virtues through the lens of contemporary Young Adult Literature and the
narratives of Saint Francis. It will pair the Franciscan narratives and Young
Adult Literature with five Franciscan values.
The award-winning books and the St. Francis narratives address the
questions, challenges, and truths embedded in Viterbo University’s goal to
teach hospitality, integrity, contemplation, stewardship, and service.
170—Franciscan
Sustainability Praxis, 4 Cr.
Five hours lecture/lab per week.
In this course students will explore
the Franciscan perspective and traditions of caring for creation; a
sustainability praxis. The tension, synergy and significance of how
science/technology and theology/spirituality differ will be discussed and
applied to local, national and global sustainability issues. Students will be
engaged in laboratory activities to develop and understanding of the origin and
limitations of scientific knowledge. Through class activities, media, readings,
discussion and nature experiences, students will learn to the clearly
articulate a personally held sense of place and worldview. Students will learn
how worldview differences, held beliefs, and lack of scientific knowledge are
the root causes of sustainability conflicts and key to implementation of
successful resolutions.
180—Franciscan
Values and Social Justice, 3 Cr.
This course serves as an interdisciplinary connection
between sociology and Franciscan values. Students will be introduced to
real-life examples of how practicing sociologists use sociology to work toward
social change and social justice. In the process, it will examine the
Franciscan values of creating a peaceful and socially just world, developing
compassion for the poor, displaying hospitality, service, and advocating for
human rights and environmental causes. Social patterns in society, sociological
theories, methods of research and their application in the real world will also
be discussed
200—Living
in a Diverse World, 3 Cr.
This seminar course is designed to increase students’
awareness, understanding, and appreciation of diversity, broadly defined (e.g.,
diversity in race and ethnicity, social class, gender, age, sexual orientation,
disability, and religion). Through completion of this course, students will
build knowledge and skills involved in being advocates for cultural competency
and responsible citizens in our diverse and changing world. Prerequisite: any 100 level
VUSM course or transfer student placement.
201—Introduction
to International Business, 3 Cr.
This course
introduces the global business environment, including concepts such as foreign direct
investment, trade agreements and organizations, internationalization of a firm,
and the multinational enterprise. Students will examine the interactive effects
of demographic, historical, socio-cultural, political/legal, economic and
technological forces that shape international commercial activity. Prerequisite: any 100 level
VUSM course or transfer student placement.
226— Religious Diversity and Leadership, 3 Cr.
America is
comprised of many races, religions, persuasions, and worldviews. The challenge
lies in overcoming the biases and prejudices that are deeply rooted within us.
From the moment of birth, we learn about ourselves, our families, neighbors,
and the culture at large. These experiences are embedded within us and shape
our perceptions about how we view things and how we respond to them. This
course of study will review examples of diversity in our culture and world. It
will provide opportunities to explore how one can model leadership and a
value-driven life amidst our heterogeneous culture. A major focus will be on
the religious diversity in America and the tolerance and appreciation of
rituals, creeds, theology, and practices of various religious movements
influential in American life. Prerequisite: any 100 level VUSM course or
transfer student placement.
227—One World –
Many Religions: Contemporary Religious Diversity, 3 Cr.
One of the great
challenges facing our world today is the respect and acceptance of religious
diversity. The world is made of many races, religions, spiritual paths, and
worldviews. The challenge lies in supporting one’s religious allegiance, while
overcoming possible biases and prejudices that may be deeply rooted within us.
This course of study will review examples of religious diversity in our culture
and world. It will provide opportunities to explore how one can model religious
tolerance while affirming one’s own and value-driven, faith-filled life amidst
our heterogeneous culture and pluralistic world. Prerequisite: any 100 level
VUSM course or transfer student placement.
252—Women in Theatre, 3 Cr.
At its best,
theatre helps us understand who we are; it can explain, examine, ridicule, or celebrate
the human condition. Gender is a fundamental aspect of personal and social
identity. It is a biological, psychological, and
cultural category of paramount importance. In addition, gender is often a
criterion for social stratification and differing political treatment, as well
as a favored symbol for expressing essential values and beliefs. This course examines specific examples
of the representation of women on the American stage, focusing on what this
dramatic literature says and implies about women. It illuminates ideas about
the “nature” of women and the changing perceptions of their roles in both the
family and society throughout the last 100 years, while also addressing how
these changes impact the role of men in dramatic literature. Prerequisite: any 100 level VUSM course or transfer
student placement.
253— Diversity in
the Mass Media, 3 Cr.
In this course we’ll examine the way diverse
populations have been represented in news and popular programming on radio and
television, as well as in newspapers, from early United States history through
the present. We’ll also look at public
acceptance of media spokespeople who are from culturally diverse groups. Prerequisite: any 100 level VUSM course or
transfer student placement.
260— Multicultural
American Literature, 3 Cr.
Multicultural American
Literature addresses questions of cultural difference and what defines culture
through analysis of contemporary American texts. Students will examine how
character choices and options are culturally shaped and socially bordered.
Representative authors, such as Toni Morrison and Jhumpa Lahiri, are
contemporary and hyphenated American. Against the background of dominant white
culture, students will explore the common ground among these hyphenated
cultures—conflicts between genders and generations as well as pressure and
resistance to assimilate. Students will
also compare their own cultural identities with those represented in the
narratives they analyze. Prerequisite: ENGL 104 or C or higher in 105 or C or
higher in 195, any 100 level VUSM course or transfer student placement..
280— Diversity and
Social Justice, 3 Cr.
This course will
examine the background, structures and effects of bias, prejudice, and
discrimination in society. Social and cultural differences related to race and
ethnicity (e.g., Hmong, Native Tribes of Wisconsin, etc.), social class,
religion, sex, sexuality, ableism, age and their intersections will be
addressed, including an introduction to cultural competence. Students will
begin to develop servant leader characteristics and explore ways in which
social justice is created through empowerment, equity and liberation on three
levels – personal, institutional and societal. Prerequisite: any 100 level VUSM course or
transfer student placement.
281—Understanding Mexicans Living and Working in the U.S., 3 Cr.
The objective of this course is to begin to learn about
the complex nature of the relationship between Mexico and the U.S. of America
through the lived experience of Mexican people. The focus of this course is the
present day realities of Mexican people working and living in the U.S. The
course will offer knowledge, values and skills necessary to understand and work
with Mexicans in the U.S. Students will learn about selected historical,
social, cultural, political and economic events that shape the life of today’s
Mexicans as well as current policy and political decisions that are impacting
Mexicans in the U.S. The skills necessary to communicate with and serve
Mexicans will occur through 10-15 hours of volunteer service, enhancing
students’ cross-cultural practice experiences. Prerequisite: any 100 level
VUSM course or transfer student placement.
290—Introduction to Women’s Studies, 3 Cr.
This course familiarizes students with the social,
economic, psychological, and political issues that challenge contemporary women
locally and internationally. It also encourages students to further their
personal progress toward understanding and dealing constructively with women’s
issues. Prerequisite:
any 100 level VUSM course or transfer student placement.
291—Communication across Barriers, 3 Cr.
This course explores the barriers to effective
communication between members of different classes, races, generations,
abilities, and gender. Students will examine how prejudicial discourse develops
and sustain attitudes, values, and beliefs that separate individuals and impede
understanding and communication. Student in this class will also investigate
the institutionalization of intolerant discourse by the media, the politicians,
and the educational system as well as identify strategies to overcome the
existing barriers to effective communication. Prerequisite: any 100 level VUSM
course or transfer student placement.
292—Awareness through Experience in the Spanish-speaking
World, 3 Cr.
This is a study abroad course designed to develop an
awareness of the cultures and peoples in the Spanish-speaking world through
immersion. The experience includes opportunities to interact with the people in
rural and urban communities to learn from them about political, social,
religious, and economic realities. Prerequisite: any 100 level VUSM course or
transfer student placement.
293—Introduction to Latin American Studies, 3 Cr.
This course will give students theoretical tools to
understand Latin America from an interdisciplinary perspective. Using a wide
range of cultural products, we will seek to understand the region beyond a
descriptive approach by looking into its socio-historical formation. Among
other topics, we will examine issues of class, race, and gender as well as
political tradition and intellectual history. Prerequisite: any 100 level VUSM
course or transfer student placement.
300—Serving
the
Common Good, 3 Cr.
Following in the Franciscan tradition
and Viterbo value of service, this seminar provides an opportunity for students to experience
civic engagement. Students will participate in activities designed to foster
the common good while reflecting on their values and practices of community,
servant leadership, and collaboration. Partnerships and collaborations with
community partners will allow students to demonstrate a developing competency
of community engagement and responsibility. Prerequisite: any 200 level VUSM course or
transfer student placement.
325—The
Common Good in the Life of a Christian, 3 Cr.
“The common good” is a
notion that originated over two thousand years ago in the writings of Plato,
Aristotle, and Cicero. It is generally defined as "certain general
societal conditions that are equally to everyone's benefit. The Catholic religious tradition, which has a
long history of struggling to define and promote the common good, defines the
“common good” as "the sum of those conditions of social life which allow
social groups and their individual members relatively thorough and ready access
to their own fulfillment." The common good, then, consists primarily of having
the social systems, institutions, and environments on which we all must depend
and work in a manner that benefits everyone. This course of study will examine
the environments that establish and enhance the common good among us. Using
philosophical principles, ethical theories, and religious traditions, the
student will come to understand the utilitarian aspects of the common good
while pursuing a just, compassionate, and virtuous worldview. Prerequisite: any 200 level VUSM course or
transfer student placement.
330—Classical
Conceptions of the Common Good, 3 Cr.
The purpose of the course
Classical Conceptions of the Common Good is to introduce students to the early
development of the idea of the common good in ancient Greek and Roman
Philosophy. Through their conception of
virtue, politics and “the Good,” people like Socrates, Plato, Aristotle,
Cicero, and Marcus Aurelius, provided the foundation for many later Christian
notions of the common good. An important
component of the class will be dedicated to contrasting classical conceptions
of the common good with later Christian perspectives (Aquinas’ idea of Natural
Law and recent Catholic social teachings) and at least one contemporary
perspective (Rawls). As a section of the
Common Good Mission Seminars,
this course also provides an opportunity for students to experience
civic engagement. Students are required to participate in activities
designed to foster the common good while reflecting on their own values,
practicing servant leadership and community collaboration. Partnerships
and collaborations with community partners will allow students to demonstrate a
developing competency in community engagement.
In line with the emphasis of this class on the philosophical foundations
of the common good, Philosophy for Children (which follows the Socratic model
of educational engagement) will be introduced as another model of servant
leadership that uses philosophy to empower children to be respectful, tolerant
and morally responsible, as a way of promoting the common good. Prerequisite: any 200 level VUSM course or
transfer student placement.
340—Serving
the Common Good: The Lakota of the Great Plains,
3 Cr.
The focus of section 003 of this Serving the Common Good seminar is Northern Great Plains Indian
History, specifically the history of the Lakota from pre-contact times to the
present. In addition to exploring and
defining the concept of the common good, the reading will examine Lakota
history, with special attention given to the importance of the Black Hills to
the Lakota. The history portion of the
course provides an overview of past and contemporary Plains Indian
cultures and societies. Prerequisite: any 200
level VUSM course or transfer student placement.
Class work will emphasize
discussion of the readings and journaling to record your reflections. This Common Good seminar provides an
opportunity for students to experience civic engagement through a required
spring break service-learning trip to the Cheyenne River Youth Project (CRYP)
on the Cheyenne River Reservation in Eagle Butte, SD. This service trip to the CRYP provides
students the opportunities to interact with Native American pre-school through
high school youth, as well as elderly residents. There is a fee for this section to defray
travel and lodging costs for the week-long service trip. Prerequisite: any 200 level VUSM course.
400—The
Ethical Life, 3 Cr.
The Ethical Life builds upon
the student’s ethical reasoning to examine the role of moral values and to
explore real world ethical dilemmas. The seminars may approach ethical living
from a variety of perspectives, professions, and disciplines. Prerequisite: any 300 level VUSM course or
transfer student placement.
430—Ethical
Reasoning and Moral Wisdom, 3 Cr.
In this seminar we will deliberate on ethical values,
both our own and those of others, in multiple contexts, with a view toward
making an assessment of the values involved in striving to live for that which
is good. We will learn about the
practice of moral analysis, examine many influential moral theories, such as,
Virtue ethics, Deontological ethics, and Utilitarianism, look at many
contemporary moral debates in applied ethics, and show the relevancy of ethics
across disciplines. By the end of the
seminar students should be able to identify and analyze their own ethical
values as well as apply ethical principles to clarify/resolve a wide range of
issues. Prerequisite: any 300
level VUSM course or transfer student placement.
431—The
Ethical
Life From the New Testament Gospels, 3 Cr.
“What did Jesus do” is a question that remains the
hallmark of the Christian Church’s message and identity in the world. “What
would Jesus do?” is the major question this course will ask. What are the
determined features of the ethical life Jesus modeled and taught? What do the
narratives of the four gospels offer as ethical foundation for one’s personal
life? Prerequisite: any 300 level VUSM course or
transfer student placement.
470—Accelerated
Mission Seminar, 4 Cr.
This intensive Mission Seminar is designed for and
available only to degree completion students in the Center for Adult Learning.
This seminar combines the learning outcomes of the four Mission Seminars of the
university’s core curriculum: Franciscan Values and Traditions, Living in a
Diverse World, Serving the Common Good, and the Ethical Life. Restricted to Center
for Adult Learning students. Restricted to students with junior standing or
higher.