General Education: The Commons

The Commons represents Southern New Hampshire University's General Education program and the University's mission of supporting justice, equity, diversity, and citizenship—understood as the common good—in the core undergraduate academic experience. The Commons invites students to embrace, as their life’s work, the journey of learning for the purpose of building a more just and equitable society. The Commons seeks to give deeper meaning and value to the balance of a student’s academic pathway. It empowers them with the knowledge, tools, skills, and dispositions necessary to become effective critical and creative thinkers and decision makers capable of navigating the complexities of and positively contributing to contemporary, global society. Throughout The Commons, students will develop core skills necessary to navigate society, as well as those important for success in their major fields of study, personal lives, and professional paths. Students will learn how to communicate and collaborate in a variety of contexts, examine the influences of history and culture on contemporary issues and challenges, and explore the rich complexities of intercultural fluency. Students will employ theoretical and practical frameworks and will integrate and apply knowledge and skills from the arts and humanities; science, technology, and mathematics; and the social sciences through a variety of learning experiences. The interdisciplinary curriculum of The Commons engages students in the cultivation of equity and sustainability across various academic contexts and environments and serves to promote the development of a mindset aimed at a 21st-century citizenship grounded in service, creativity, and advocacy. ** Please refer to your Program Evaluation or your Academic Advisor for specific course information. **