Siena Heights University
philosophies, styles and skills. Students will also learn about roles and responsibilities of Peer Mentors and ethical
leadership. This course is required for all Peer Mentors.
Prerequisite: LAS 100 or Permission
Course is offered: WI Every Year
LAS 301
THE ADULT LEARNER
3
In this course students will view the world through the lens of liberal arts learning in the traditions of Siena’s
Catholic and Dominican heritage. LAS 301 assists students in transitioning and enhancing critical thinking and
communication skills in compliance with the university’s mission and standards. The course fosters integration of
life and educational experiences consistent with the values and principles of liberal arts at Siena Heights
University. Topics include, but are not limited to: critical thinking, learning styles, adult development,
personal/professional goals and lifelong learning. These topics provide a forum for open intellectual inquiry and
opportunities to refine written and oral communication.
Prerequisite: ENG 101, ENG 102
Liberal Arts: Integrative Learning
Course is offered: FA and WI Every Year
LAS 341
CONTEMPLATION AND ACTION
3
This Liberal Arts Core seminar provides students an opportunity to explore and engage in the interplay between
meditation, prayer and contemplation on the one hand and creative action, work, and service to family,
community, and society on the other. The Dominican tradition, with its challenge “to contemplate and to share
with others the fruits of contemplation” provides a starting point for the course. Students will explore Dominican
Art, and Dominican social outreach, as well as some other religious traditions in terms of what insight they offer
into the fruitful tension between contemplation and action. This course helps students to continue developing
skills related to the program’s learning outcomes, especially creativity and religious traditions.
Prerequisite: LAS 241, except students transferring in with 56 or more credit hours
Course is offered: FA and WI Every Year
LAS 401
SENIOR SEMINAR: INTEGRATIVE EXPERIENCE
3
In this course students will view the world through the lens of liberal arts learning in the traditions of Siena’s
Catholic and Dominican heritage. LAS 401 affords the student, together with peers from other majors, the
structured reflective and integrative seminar that deepens and broadens their educational experience as they
continue to pursue their goals for lifelong learning. Students are expected to integrate the course readings, films
and discussions into a final project focused on their philosophy of life.
Prerequisite: Senior Standing or Permission
Liberal Arts: Integrative Learning
Course is offered: FA, WI, and SU Every Year
LAS 441
JUSTICE AND PEACE
3
This Liberal Arts Core seminar focuses on the interdependence of justice and peace. Drawing on a wide variety
of sources students ask what “justice” means with respect to the courts of law, the economy, globalization, human
rights, social harmony, and so on. Injustices of various kinds often lead to violence and even war, so this course
also provides an arena for students to consider the tenets of Just war theory, the broad lines of a common good
ethic, and non-violent means of peace-building through the promotion of justice. Students will be introduced to
some of the work of the Adrian Dominican office on Justice and Peace. This capstone course helps students
master some content and skills identified by our liberal arts learning outcomes, especially ethical integration, and
to integrate knowledge acquired through the construction of a cumulative project, or composition of a philosophy
of life essay.
Prerequisite: LAS 341, except for students transferring in with 88+ credit hours
Course is offered: FA and WI Every Year
Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog 2016-2018
241