“General education” has been an essential part of the SEM undergraduate program, especially after the 2009 undergraduate curriculum reform. In the spring semester of 2011, three more humanities courses were opened for undergraduates as new efforts of the general education endeavor.

The courses are: “Chinese Civilization” taught by Professor PENG Lin of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences; “Critical Thinking and Moral Reasoning” taught by Professor YANG Bin of SEM; and “History of China and Foreign Arts” taught by Professor ZHANG Fuye and others of the Academy of Arts and Design.

The three new courses, together with the “Western Civilization” course opened last semester, constitute a set of core humanities courses for undergraduates.

“Chinese Civilization” elaborates on core concepts of Confucian culture and other Chinese traditional ideas. The course requires students to develop a solid understanding by reading the original texts of classic traditional writings.

“Critical Thinking and Moral Reasoning” raises ethical dilemmas and topics for open discussion, challenging students’ taken-for-granted ethical notions in political, economic, social and cultural areas. The course encourages independent thinking, critical reflections, appreciation of differences and rational communication.

“History of China and Foreign Arts” is taught by a number of professors of the Academy of Arts and Design. It covers painting, calligraphy, architecture and other art forms, involving topics such as Buddhist art, calligraphy’s significance in Chinese culture, Chinese ancient architecture and garden design, Christianity and Western art, Renaissance and Western art, etc.