Cornerstone: Foundational Skills and Capacities for Academic Success

Quarters
Fall Open
Location
Olympia
Class Standing
Freshman
Sophomore
Junior
Lynarra Featherly

Cornerstone welcomes both new and continuing Evergreen students who are interested in developing their academic skills and strategies for engaging in meaningful college-level work. At the center of our work will be an important philosophical question: What does it mean to be "good"? Should we aim to be "good enough" or strive for perfection, as humans and as students? We'll explore these ideas through a range of accessible, challenging, and rich philosophical texts from thinkers like Aristotle and Hegel as well as contemporary works like Michael Schur's witty How to Be Perfect (written by the creator of "The Good Place") and Lewis Newman's Thinking Critically in College.

Whether you're feeling uncertain about college-level work or looking to sharpen your academic skills, Cornerstone provides a welcoming space to grow alongside other curious students. You'll learn how to make the most of Evergreen's distinctive approach to education, turning academic requirements into opportunities for genuine learning and discovery. This course is especially valuable for students who want to build confidence in college-level reading and writing, those seeking a supportive introduction to seminar discussions, and anyone interested in exploring big ideas in an accessible way. Join us in creating a collaborative learning community where we can explore important ideas while developing the skills for college success.

Anticipated Credit Equivalencies:

4 - Foundational Skills for Academic Success

Registration

Academic Details

The metaphor of a "Cornerstone" comes from traditional building, where it means the first stone laid for a structure, and it marks the geographical location by orienting the building in space. This course will be about helping you orient yourself and lay the foundation to happily and successfully pursue the projects that are important to you.

4
25
Freshman
Sophomore
Junior

Schedule

Fall
2025
Open
In Person (F)

See definition of Hybrid, Remote, and In-Person instruction

Weekend
Schedule Details
Olympia

Revisions

Date Revision
2025-02-03 Course description edited