Soundings: An Introduction to the Liberal Arts is an award-winning program with a long history at Castleton. Originally a nautical term, Soundings refers to the exploratory measurement of depth. This spirit of exploration lives on at Castleton through the Soundings program, which brings cultural and intellectual events to campus, introducing students to the richness and vitality of the liberal arts experience through lectures, plays, films, recitals, poetry readings, performances, and other activities, including presenter workshops.
The events provide a place for the entire Castleton community to gather and enjoy the cultural and intellectual life of the university. At any event, you will be joined by your fellow students, faculty, staff, members of the wider Castleton community, and even local school children attending through Castleton’s spectacular Arts Reach programs.
They expand our horizons and help us to see a part of our world in a slightly different way. Beyond this broader cultural awareness, however, they will serve another important purpose in your education. They will offer important resources for you in your coursework and life beyond the classroom.
Students in each Connections Seminar are simultaneously enrolled in Soundings. They must attend and reflect on at least four Soundings events over the course of the semester. Soundings offers an important opportunity for making connections beyond the classroom and regular coursework. It helps set the foundation for a lifetime of cultural and intellectual engagement. Successfully completing reflections on a total of 12 Soundings events over the course of completing three sections of Soundings through Connections seminars is a graduation requirement.
Students that will be attending Soundings events as part of their Connections Seminars are encouraged to survey the Soundings schedule and to select specific events to attend. Every semester includes a wide array of weekly events at different times of the week, so there are plenty of possibilities to fit anyone’s busy schedule. Students might select events that are familiar and in which they are interested, but they should also step beyond what they know to sample something new and different.
If you have questions about the Soundings program, its requirements, or proposing a Soundings event, please contact Soundings Manager Marisa Valent.