미국 대학의 교양교육: 쟁점과 교훈

초록

Purpose: This study aims to analyze the issues and trends which have made and underpinned changes in the history of liberal education in American universities, and to derive the lessons and implications in order for Korean universities to improve their liberal education. Method and design: The study is conducted on the basis of literature survey. It encompasses and analyzes a wide range of books and papers on liberal education of American universities. The paper is organized in the following order. First, a brief historical review of changes in liberal education of American universities is provided. Second the paper analyzes the issues that have underlain the major changes and turns in the history of American liberal education. Third, the efforts and attempts to revitalize the weakening liberal education in American universities by searching its new directions and orientations are illuminated. Finally, the paper derives the lessons and implications from the above investigation in order for Korean universities to improve their liberal education. Findings: The study finds that American universities endeavor to reemphasize the ideals of liberal education in its traditional sense in order to revitalize it. It also concludes that the emphasis on economic utility is extremely difficult to be compatible with the ideals of liberal education. Finally, the study recommends Korean universities to reinvigorate the system of traditional liberal education aiming at enhancing broad intellectual competence, not to focus on the economic utility of educational practices, to diversify programs of liberal education in accordance with their different goals and functions, and to underscore their social responsibilities.

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