Winter 2008
Web Exclusives

Chronicle

Teaching humanities has been at the core of the college since 1853 as part of its founders’ commitment to providing a classical education.  Especially strong were studies in religion and philosophy due to the college’s ties to the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). At first, classical education included math, moral philosophy, Latin, and Greek. As educational philosophy evolved, colleges began to introduce chemistry, physics and mineralogy as well as modern languages. Through an approach called "the parallel program," academic programs began to include science, political economy, and math. As a result, the five original schools of instruction at what was then Christian University were all considered part of a classical education, even if not strictly humanities, including: Sacred Literature and Moral Philosophy, Ancient Languages and Literature, and English Literature and Natural History, Natural Philosophy and Chemistry, Mathematics and Astronomy, and Physiology, Anatomy, Hygiene and Mental Philosophy.

At the turn of the century, as schools moved into more "progressive" academic programs that emphasized practicality, physical education and "manual training," the college retained a solid core of humanities courses.  When the college offered only three degrees in the 1890s, one was a classical degree and another was a ministerial degree.

Throughout its various organizational structures and across a constantly evolving curriculum, C-SC has sustained a strong humanities focus that included creation of a general education program for all students in 1971, driven by humanities topics – "Man and His Creative and Recreative Capacities," "Man and His Heritage," "Man as Himself," "Man and Other Men," "Man and his Physical Environment." As those basic required courses evolved, the humanities emphasis remained.  In 2005, they were revised but included "Western Cultures," "Non-Western Cultures," and "Individuals and Society"

When the first division plan was adopted in 1946, it included Humanities as one of the three divisions, offering courses in art, English, speech, foreign language and music.  Although some of the coursework shifted, Humanities retained its status as a division throughout all the restructuring of the next six decades. Social Sciences was also identified as a division in 1946. It lost its division title under the 1985 restructuring and did not reappear as a division name until it paired with humanities as the Division of Humanities and Social Sciences in the 2005 restructuring.

For a look at today’s Culver-Stockton Humanities and Social Sciences Division click here.

Debate teams existed as early as 1904 and were quite successful. 

- In 1912-13, the team had a record of 11 wins and 3 losses over the previous eight years. 

- In 1929, the C-SC team defeated the team from England’s Oxford University and was ranked 28th of 135 colleges and universities in Pi Kappa Delta competition, even though it was the smallest team to compete.

- In 1955, two C-SC debate team members won a unanimous decision over a team from Harvard University arguing the negative side of the question, "Resolved: that the U.S. extend diplomatic recognition to the Communist Government of China."