Expanding the Conversation: Perspective Taking as a Civic Outcome of College

Abstract

The conversation about essential learning outcomes of college has never been more active or important. Although much of the attention on learning outcomes is narrowly focused on cognitive outcomes, especially critical thinking, the need to educate students for personal and social responsibility has never been clearer. In this article the author draws upon data from the Association of American Colleges and Universities’ Core Commitments: Educating Students for Personal and Social Responsibility initiative to argue that one dimension of personal and social responsibility, taking seriously the perspectives of others, is essential to active citizenship in today’s diverse democracy and, therefore, an essential outcome of a college education.