Catalyst 606__ is North Park’s innovative Chicago-based curriculum that redesigns the University’s weekly schedule to encourage students to learn outside the classroom—and in the city—at least two Wednesdays per semester.
Starting fall 2017, Wednesday afternoons will be designated only for Catalyst courses, enabling students to explore the city during staff- and faculty-guided group excursions. Catalyst courses are all credit-earning core classes.
The Catalyst 606_ _ program is designed to:
- Offer hands-on learning.
- Provide cultural experiences in the city.
- Blend theory and practice with applied academics.
Catalyst experiences aim to better connect students to the world around them. Students will engage with their peers to process their experiences together, discover options for their career paths, and be inspired to contribute to the community.
Richard Kohng, North Park’s director of civic engagement, says that “facts about the labor movement in a textbook come alive with visits to the Historic Pullman Foundation; accounting and marketing principles become more relevant with visits to businesses in the Loop’s financial district; art and culture become transformative through conversations with local artists like Pilsen muralist Hector Duarte.”
“Advancing student career interests and promoting hands-on learning prompted North Park to restructure its weekly schedule to designate Wednesday afternoons for these city experiences,” says North Park Provost Michael Emerson. Catalyst courses offer North Park students distinct advantages for career and life success in Chicago and other cities worldwide.
