Core Purposes
Praxis for Social Justice
The extension of social justice across society has been among the most central aims of an Antioch education since its founding in 1852. The Antioch Santa Barbara Undergraduate faculty believes a just and equitable education should serve to enhance the lives of those directly receiving the education, and encourage a society where all members have the same basic rights, security, obligations, and opportunities.
Education is a continuing reconstruction of knowledge and experience in which both its process and goal are one and the same. Learning achieves its value when it is translated into modes of action which are beneficial to society. Thus, the mission of Antioch’s BA Program, as described above, is approached through an experiential blend of theory and practice we term Praxis for Social Justice. Praxis is achieved as students become increasingly fluent in the essential competencies described in detail in the AUSB Undergraduate Core Purposes.
Praxis for social justice combines learning and doing for the purpose of encouraging critical consciousness, ethical reasoning, and socially responsible behavior. It is a cycle of action, reflection, and transfer, wherein cultural differences are understood and valued, where human dignity, the earth, and future generations are respected, and all are encouraged to participate in bringing about a more equitable and compassionate world.
Characteristics of praxis include intellectual integrity, self-determination, positive intentionality, creativity, and rational approaches to learning and understanding. Thus, Praxis for Social Justice is the process by which one’s learning in the classroom is tested in daily life and becomes an integral component of lived experience. It is the unifying principle that informs our Core Purposes and Undergraduate curriculum.
Critical Thinking
Critical and creative thinking are the necessary thought processes of a master thinker who has the ability to weave in and out of divergent and convergent thought patterns to arrive at an appropriate conclusion in a given situation.
Critical thinking (convergence) is the disciplined mental activity of evaluating arguments or propositions and making judgments that can guide the development of beliefs and taking action. Creative thinking (divergence) is marked by the ability to generate many, or more complex or complicated, ideas from one idea or from simple ideas or triggers.
Indicators:
- Synthetic ability – the use of divergent thinking to generate new, novel and interesting ideas. The ability to spontaneously make connections between ideas that often go unnoticed by others.
- Analytical ability – the use of convergent thinking and appraisal to analyze and evaluate thoughts, ideas, outcomes and possible solutions.
- Practical ability – the ability to translate abstractions and theories into realistic applications and to communicate one’s ideas to others.
Diversity and Global Awareness
Issues of cultural diversity and equity have formed the basis of human interaction throughout time. Distinguished and united by such differences and similarities as gender, age, language, culture, race, sexual identity, religion, geography and class, diversity challenges our intellect and emotions as we learn to work and live together in harmony.
Antioch University Santa Barbara’s Undergraduate program supports cross-cultural sensitivity and affiliation, promotes unity and the integration of diversity, and encourages students and faculty to think and act both locally and globally.
Our goal is to develop students’ skills to prepare them for their roles as global citizens, enhance their understanding of world affairs, and develop their sense of social and civic responsibility.
Indicators:
- Has the ability to reflect thoughtfully and objectively upon the values and norms of diverse cultures, both locally and globally.
- Has the capacity to analyze and synthesize ideas, issues, and problems from diverse orientations, approaches and perspectives.
- Is knowledgeable about the connectedness of the nations of the world historically, politically, economically, technologically, socially, linguistically and ecologically.
- Can articulate and justify one’s own point of view in the context of other valid arguments and cultural perspectives.
- Is able to recognize, analyze, and evaluate major global trends and the interconnections of these trends with both their local and national communities.
- Demonstrates willingness to be an active participant in processes that promote unity and inclusivity.
Holistic Personal Development
A primary purpose of Antioch’s Undergraduate education is the encouragement of self-actualization through holistic personal development. Taking personal responsibility for one’s own learning and development through a process of assessment, reflection, and action, changes how a person makes meaning of the world and how one impacts others. Adult learning and personal development are interrelated experiences.
Learning promotes development, while development encourages further learning.
Indicators:
- Is aware of the personal and societal influences upon one’s self and others, including cognitive, emotional, spiritual, socio-economic and environmental.
- Sees problems in terms of challenges and situations requiring solutions, rather than as personal complaints or excuses.
- Can identify and articulate a moral and ethical personal philosophy.
- Demonstrates personal responsibility for one’s beliefs and actions.
- Demonstrates consistency of thoughts, words and actions.
- Has the ability to review and evaluate experiences through meaningful self-reflection.
- Has the ability to adapt to changing circumstances and life transitions.
Competence for Professional Pursuits
At the core of Antioch University Santa Barbara’s Undergraduate degree program are certain educational outcomes that promote inquiry, critical thinking and a deeper understanding of subject matter that allows for transfer and application of knowledge from the liberal arts to the pursuit of professional competence.
Through Antioch’s core curricula students explore the central knowledge and skills of their chosen field or profession to prepare for engagement in meaningful and socially responsible work.
Indicators:
- Has the ability to reflect upon the nature and meaning of work in relation to past and present work experiences and accomplishments.
- Can plan for one’s professional development in the context of contemporary and future political, social and economic trends.
- Can clarify and assess one’s values and reflect upon the implication of these values in selecting and accomplishing one’s work.
- Advocates for social justice in the professions.
- Adapts to change in one’s work environment.
- Incorporates service to humanity in one’s professional pursuits.
- Demonstrates appropriate depth of knowledge, skills and expertise in one’s chosen profession.
- Has the willingness to engage in life-long learning.
Effective Communication
Communication is the co-creation of meaning focusing on how people use content to generate understanding within and across various contexts, cultures, channels, and media. It always includes a communicator, an audience, a subject, and a situation.
Effective communicators understand their own style and the necessity of adapting that style to the communication style of their audience.
The goal of communication is shared meaning. Communication competence is the degree to which a communicator’s goals are achieved through effective and appropriate interaction.
Indicators:
- Has the ability to articulate a well-developed argument, both orally and in writing.
- Understands one’s own communication style and awareness of how one is perceived by others.
- Has the ability to express ideas through language.
- Has the ability to adapt to one’s audience and establish rapport.
- Listens actively and appropriately responds.
- Has the ability to appropriately give and receive feedback.
- Participates effectively in a group setting and can lead a group discussion.
- Demonstrates competent use of technology as a communication tool.
