Columbia College created its Core Curriculum in the aftermath of World War One to prepare students to grapple with “the insistent problems of the present.” In the century that followed, the Core evolved considerably, often in response to crises on campus and in the wider world. In the face of wars, economic depressions, political turmoil, and social conflict, the Core has consistently affirmed the value of a community creating knowledge together, and in doing so, preparing students for pressing problems of our time.

Today, the Core is the heart of the student academic experience at Columbia College. How do these required courses prepare students to grapple with the challenges of an ever-changing world? In this talk, Larry Jackson, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, Director of the Center for the Core Curriculum, and Lecturer in philosophy, discusses the ways in which the Core Curriculum fosters a community of inquiry in which students learn to have difficult conversations.

Please Note: This event will be virtual.