Syracuse University’s Shared Competencies
Syracuse University’s Shared Competencies are six institutional learning goals that enhance undergraduate education through an integrated learning approach. Undergraduate students develop competencies through their major degree courses, liberal arts requirements, and co-curricular experiences. The Shared Competencies enable students to communicate their learning experience, provide pathways for academic development, and integrate different aspects of a Syracuse University education. Each competency includes corresponding framing language that communicates the content of that competency to educators and learners. The framing language suggests a range of knowledge, skills, and attributes that each competency entails.
Ethics and Integrity
Reflection on the dynamic relationships among one’s values, sense of self, and social contexts. Thoughtful engagement on settings and experiences that present ethical problems, varying perspectives, and how one evolves as they analyze positions and ethical issues. Application of ethical decision-making in the context of personal, academic, professional, and collaborative pursuits.
Critical and Creative Thinking
Exploration and synthesis of ideas, artifacts, issues, and events to inform and evaluate arguments, develop new insights, and produce creative work. Reflection on, and application of divergent modes of inquiry, analysis, and innovation to research, knowledge, and artistic creation.
Scientific Inquiry and Research Skills
Application of scientific inquiry and problem solving in various contexts. Analysis of theories, replication of procedures, and rethinking existing frameworks. Supporting arguments through research, data, and quantitative and qualitative evidence that can generate new knowledge.
Civic and Global Responsibility
Knowledge, exploration, and analysis of the complexity surrounding interdependent local, national, and global affairs. Engagement in responsible, collaborative, and inclusive civic and cross-cultural learning, with an emphasis on public, global, and historical issues.
Communication Skills
Effective individual, interpersonal, and collaborative presentation and development of ideas through oral, written, and other forms of expression to inform, persuade, or inspire.