Liberal Arts Senior Research Projects
“The Authoritarian Playbook.”
“Women Religious After Vatican II.”
“The Mind of a Serial Killer.”
These titles were among the dozen that students in the final class of their Liberal Arts Major researched, wrote about and presented on for their classmates, faculty, family and friends April 14.
After each presentation, members of the audience were invited to ask questions about the students’ findings. Students had been encouraged by their instructor, Dr. Jennifer Morris, to choose a research question that allowed them to explore their passions and interests.
This “culminating experience” class challenges students to work closely with peers and faculty to compose a research question of significance and depth, conduct research and apply critical analysis from across the Liberal Arts in addressing the question. They craft a 12-to-15-page paper, then present their findings to the larger Mount community. Among those attending the event were Dr. Stephen Almquist, Provost, and Ms. Janet Cox, Dean of Students.
The following students presented: Ethan Baker, Keegan Brown, Brady Donovan, Carissa Farris, Kayla Kolde, Jackson Pruitt, Katelyn Rieder, V Robinson, Dylan Sebastian, Kaitlyn Schulte, Aiden Stuteville and Nathaniel Sweeney.
Two seniors received the Department of Liberal Arts award for outstanding academic and personal achievement: Keegan Brown and Katelyn Rieder.
Three Liberal Arts majors who completed their studies last semester—Collin Kandra, Louis Tallarigo and Joshua Taylor—will join the 12 presenters at commencement Saturday, May 3.
Photo: Dr. Jennifer Morris, second from left, with her LIB 400 students.
The culminating course is designed to demonstrate the student's strong command of the learning outcomes and performance indicators associated with the Liberal Arts major. Working closely with peers and a faculty scholar, the student will compose a research question of significance and depth, conduct research and apply critical analysis from across the Liberal Arts in addressing the question, craft a twelve-to-fifteen-page paper presenting his or her findings, and articulate those findings to the wider University community.