NIC Cardinal Classical Pathway

Classical General Education Pathway

North Idaho College has a proud heritage of fostering general education learning experiences that equip students with the durable skills, knowledge, and competencies for successful careers, workforce participation, and meaningful contributions to society. General Education courses at NIC are governed by Idaho State Board of Education - General Education Policy.  

The Cardinal Classical Pathway is a subset of general education offerings that are designated as following a classical orientation. Our classical curriculum is rooted in the traditions of Western intellectual history and examines the human experience spanning centuries and continents. It is an invitation into a conversation across the ages, where students engage with the great works, enduring questions, and rich perspectives that have shaped human thought both past and present. 

At North Idaho College classically oriented courses are found throughout the general education curriculum pulling elements from classical thought and its modern iterations to include logic, rhetoric, mathematics, natural sciences, humanities, social sciences, and arts. NIC’s classical pathway aims to form critical thinkers, eloquent communicators, and educated decision-makers. It values not only the accumulation of knowledge, but the ability to integrate these durable skills and knowledge across disciplines to be engaged citizens.  

In addition to NIC general education outcomes, students will work through a classical education lens to:

• Integrate Knowledge 
  synthesize ideas across the humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences to analyze enduring human questions and the legacy of classical thought in engaging current issues. 
• Utilize Critical Reasoning 
  demonstrate the ability to evaluate arguments, identify assumptions, and apply frameworks to make informed, reasoned judgments about complex societal and personal challenges. 
• Communicate and Engage Civically 
  Develop the capacity to articulate ideas with clarity and persuasion—both orally and in writing—and to apply this skill in contributing to civic, cultural, and intellectual life.

Students should expect to be engaged through class sessions of rich lecture and Socratic discussion. The courses will require rigorous reading and writing. Course materials have been selected for their historical and/or cultural relevance and will be examined in the context of ongoing intellectual inquiry. 

Watch for additional information on the pathway coming soon!  

The pathway will launch in Fall 2026.