The Clarkson Common Experience is a learning framework that allows students to master their major fields as they concurrently develop:
- Skills to communicate effectively
- Competence to work and live successfully in diverse environments
- Awareness of the importance of personal, societal, and professional ethics
- Understanding in adapting and applying technology to serve humanity
The Clarkson Common Experience fosters knowledge and ability through four components:
- Core Knowledge Development
- Core Ability Development
- Mastery of Specialized Knowledge and Abilities
- Professional Experience
Core Knowledge
Clarkson students develop core knowledge by completing courses distributed across the University's academic units and throughout their four years.
Courses fall under the following broad categories, teaching knowledge that contributes to an understanding of:
- the scientific and technological work;
- the social, political and cultural world; and
- personal and professional ethics and values.
Core Abilities
Clarkson students develop the following core abilities through across-the-curriculum and across-the-major-discipline approaches in all curricula:
- Critical thinking in both qualitative and quantitative terms.
- Effective communication in written, oral, and graphic modes.
- Cultural competence for living and working in diverse environments.
- Effective leadership and team building skills.
- Personal and professional integrity and responsibility.
- Information and computational literacy.
Mastery of Specialized Knowledge and Abilities
Clarkson students build on their core knowledge and abilities by adding specialized knowledge and abilities that are developed through their majors. Clarkson's minors and professional concentrations and advanced elective courses.
- Students gain mastery of the knowledge and methods of their Clarkson major areas.
- Students extend the boundaries of their major area through minors and professional concentrations.
- Students enrich their knowledge and abilities through advanced elective courses selected across all of Clarkson's academic units.
Professional Experience
