At the heart of the Columbia experience is a conscious and considered process of becoming—not just scholars, intellectuals and professionals, but also individuals. We believe elements of personal character transcend disciplines and occupations. As an institution, we seek to cultivate in our students a holistic and multifaceted sense of self that will serve them well in all endeavors, both as members of their community and citizens of the world.
student:
I constantly see the world through the lens of my learning in the classroom. My classroom learning challenges me to explore different ways of viewing the world and different ways one can approach the same subject. The interdisciplinary nature of my learning at Columbia has impacted my intentions in my future career path to always seek out other perspectives and consult other disciplines to build a more nuanced understanding of my view of the world.
Kelly
W
Coldwater, MI
Psychology, Minor in Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies
The Core Competencies of the Columbia College Journey
The transformative habits of mind that define the Columbia College journey include 13 competencies students can use to better understand their academic, social and intellectual experience in the context of their growth as an individual. Neither requirements nor restrictions, these competencies serve as landmarks that can help you find your way on the path to becoming who you’re meant to be.
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Civic and Individual Responsibility
Understand your values, and imagine the impact of your words and actions. Seek experiences that reflect those values; act in concert with your community.
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Community Engagement and Inclusion
Practice stewardship within your community. Be inclusive. Recognize and celebrate differences in values and identity. Broaden your perspectives and your horizons.
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Creativity and Innovation
Identify interests that support your creativity and enhance your ability to think flexibly. Imagine original knowledge, solutions, creations and works.
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Critical Thinking
Understand how you analyze information and ideas. Think critically about the world. Apply lenses across subjects and disciplines.
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Global Awareness
Construct a working view of the world. Immerse yourself in the unfamiliar, and build connections across continents and cultures.
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Information and Technological Literacy
Evaluate your relationship to technology and society’s vast informational landscape. Know your tools, manage them carefully and deploy them masterfully.
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Knowledge
Strive for understanding. Build a broad foundation, advance the proficiency of your interests, and aspire to mastery of many disciplines.
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Oral Communication
Speak deliberately — with precision, passion and clarity. Trust your ability to articulate complex ideas and perspectives. Above all, express yourself.
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Quantitative Literacy
See the whole equation. Become fluent in the interpretation and analysis of data. Find solutions through a multiplicity of pathways.
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Research
Pursue new knowledge. Engage effectively and resourcefully with existing theory; indulge in healthy criticism of your own approach; discover opportunities in the unknown.
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Teamwork and Collaboration
Consider what is gained through collective commitment toward a shared goal. Develop strategies for fostering engagement and taking initiative in pursuit of discovery.
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Wellness and Resilience
Balance the spheres of your life. Acknowledge success, learn from failure and form sustainable strategies for preserving physical, mental and emotional well-being.
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Written Communication
Harness the written word. Explore forms, media and rhetoric. Find your voice, and train it to tell your story.
student:
Through the Core Curriculum, I've tackled some of humanity's enduring questions through the lens of different texts. Despite these texts being separated by culture, time, and more, it's been eye-opening to see how the texts interact with each other. It's led me to the realization that life and humanity itself is connected by inherent patterns, and that even across all these differences there are underlying consistencies. I find myself going out nowadays and looking for these patterns.
Connor
L.
Pasadena, CA
East Asian Studies, Economics
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