What is Paideia
Southwestern University's Paideia Program aims to enrich its students' liberal arts educations by integrating scholarship and out-of-class academic and non-academic activities. The Paideia Program fosters and promotes connections between civic engagement, intercultural and diversity experiences, and undergraduate research and creative works through a series of one-credit hour seminar sessions and through frequent one-on-one meetings with Paideia Professors.
The Program
Although the Program is based upon the Paideia Seminars, participating in the Paideia experience and being Paideia Scholars goes beyond the seminars. Paideia Scholars and Professors share readings and engage in discussions on the meaning of diversity and other cultures, civic engagement, and the significance and practice of undergraduate research/creative works. They put these readings and discussions into sustained practice. Scholars can choose to become more involved campus citizens through participation in on-campus activities and become public intellectuals through readings of and reflections on various articles selected by their Professors and cohort members. Scholars also write reflections about the connections between their classes and their out-of-class experiences.
Seminars will have up to ten Paideia Scholars. Paideia Professors remain with the same group of Scholars for their three years in the program. Scholars complete "anchoring" experiences in the areas of intercultural/diversity experience, civic engagement, and undergraduate research and creative works. Paideia Scholars keep a record of their reflections throughout their participation in the program. This record is shared with the Paideia Professor and, sometimes, with other students.
Graduate with Distinction
During their three years in the Paideia Program, Scholars earn between four and six hours of upperlevel elective credits and can be reimbursed for up to $1000 of Paideia-related expenses. Scholars who complete all requirements graduate with special Paideia distinction.
Application and Entry
All students in good academic and disciplinary standing with the University are eligible to apply to the Program. Students apply for entry into the Program during February of their first year, and are admitted on the basis of their responses to several essay questions. Admitted Scholars are selected by the Paideia Professors based upon review of an application that consists of both essays by the applicants and letters of recommendation from faculty, staff, and students.
