The General Education Path is a core curriculum shared by all undergraduate students at Malone University. As they navigate The Path, students work closely with their academic advisors to shape the general education program to match their own emerging interests.

The mission of general education is to develop wise and thoughtful students who are broadly educated in the liberal arts as well as in Christian scriptures and traditions to serve as faithful agents of transformation in the communities in which they live and work.

Malone University is committed to equipping graduates to put “Christ’s Kingdom First” in all of life. In part, this means cultivating in students the skills, knowledge, and dispositions that will equip them to serve effectively in the workplace. This goal is addressed both through specialized study in the major and throughout the general education program. In a day when most people will engage in multiple careers across a lifetime, our general education curriculum cultivates crucial abilities that transcend specialization, such as critical and creative thinking, interaction with knowledge and ideas, communication, and problem solving. Whatever their callings, we are committed to preparing students to serve faithfully and effectively.

The General Education Path at Malone University seeks to guide students along the path of wisdom as they discover their calling, develop critical and creative thinking skills, and mature into faithful, socially aware world citizens who are prepared to serve, to solve problems, and to be agents of transformation in the communities in which they live and work. 

The Path begins with a seminar of community building and self-discovery and continues through a core curriculum that requires students to apply critical thinking and creative expression. These courses progress from Foundations courses that establish a strong framework for Christian higher education to engaging courses designed to deepen and expand our understanding of people, creation, our nation, and our world. In some components of the Path, all students take required courses in common; in other components students have opportunities to make choices and follow The Path that best fits their interests and calling. The Path culminates in an interdisciplinary capstone course, which serves as a bridge to life beyond Malone University. 

The General Education Path provides a solid grounding in Christian scriptures and tradition, along with many additional opportunities for growth in self-knowledge, knowledge of God, and knowledge of the challenges, complexities, and opportunities of our changing world. While the world around us changes, one thing remains true: “The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.” (Proverbs 4:18). 

Program Goals: As an academic institution in the Christian tradition of the Evangelical Friends Church, Malone is committed to intellectual enrichment in the context of Christian faith.  We strive to provide an education that produces graduates with a love of truth and a vibrant, mature faith.  Our intent is that students attain the wisdom, knowledge, and skills necessary to serve, engage, and transform the communities in which they live and work.  To this end, we provide context in which to pursue the following educational goals:

• To help students understand the challenges, complexities, and opportunities of our changing world
• To help students cultivate critical and creative thinking, problem solving, and skillful interaction with knowledge and ideas
• To help students communicate effectively in multiple contexts
• To help students gain a grounding in Christian scriptures and tradition, to apply this understanding to serving the Church, community, and world, to apply Christian faith to ethical and social issues, and to provide them with additional opportunities for growth in self-knowledge and knowledge of God.

Successful navigation of The Path will achieve the following learning outcomes:

Students will understand theories and cultural influences that have shaped the world.
   For example, students will articulate significant social and intellectual traditions influencing American cultures and demonstrate the ability to engage constructively with diverse cultures.

Students will think critically and creatively.
   For example, students will gather and assess the relevance of information, demonstrate the ability to use key methods of inquiry to gain understanding of content (scientific method, qualitative, quantitative), be able to integrate Christian faith with disciplinary knowledge, and develop multiple approaches to problems.

Students will communicate effectively in multiple contexts.
   That is, students will be able to express ideas with clarity, read and listen to the ideas of others with understanding and discernment, and engage in rhetorically effective communication.

Students will understand the foundations of the Christian faith and the role of service to the church, community, and world and apply this knowledge to ethical and social issues.