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SUNY Potsdam Faculty Develop Humanities for Thoughtful Leadership Microcredential

SUNY Potsdam's Newest Microcredential Program Focuses on Humanities for Thoughtful Leadership

Potsdam, NY (06/03/2025) — The State University of New York at Potsdam is proud to announce the launch of a new microcredential program, titled Humanities for Thoughtful Leadership, beginning in Spring 2026. The program is designed to equip students from all disciplines with the critical thinking, communication and cultural literacy skills essential for success in today's rapidly evolving workforce.

The Humanities for Thoughtful Leadership microcredential is an eight-credit sequence that introduces students to foundational texts and ideas from across the humanities. Participants will complete two new "great books" seminars-HUMN 101: The Ancient and Early Medieval World, and HUMN 102: The Late Medieval and Modern World-followed by a capstone seminar exploring a timely theme that changes each year.

"This program is about more than reading the classics-it's about cultivating the intellectual agility and ethical insight that thoughtful leadership demands," said Professor of History Dr. Geoffrey Clark, who developed the program. "The humanities since their inception in the 14th century have asserted that there exists no contradiction between leading a good and moral life focused on the pursuit of truth while also being focused on the practical challenges of living fully engaged in the world. Indeed, the humanities are perfectly suited to giving people the adaptive analytical skills to navigate a turbulent and uncertain world."

The program's small seminar-style classes will ensure close faculty interaction and a dynamic learning environment. Guest speakers and interdisciplinary perspectives will enrich the experience, helping students connect timeless human questions to contemporary challenges.

"The microcredential will have broad appeal to students across the disciplines and in a wide range of professional settings. These HUMN courses will not only strengthen the humanities at SUNY Potsdam, but also aid in marketing our college as a place where academic tradition meets innovation," said School of Arts and Sciences Interim Dean Dr. Shiho Imai.

The microcredential is open to all SUNY Potsdam students, as well as non-traditional learners, including retirees and working professionals seeking to sharpen their communication and problem-solving skills. The program is especially valuable for students in technical or scientific fields, where employers increasingly seek graduates with strong "soft skills" such as adaptability, creativity and effective collaboration, Clark said.

A recent study by Hult International Business School, reported by Forbes magazine, found that communication, a willingness to learn, collaboration, creativity and critical thinking are the top five human skills employers are seeking -- skills that the humanities are uniquely positioned to develop.

"We are living at a critical moment in history when we must anticipate unprecedented transformations in science, technology and society," said Clark. "We see this program as appealing to people who realize the magnitude of this challenge and the necessity of retaining humanistic values at the core of our work environment, public institutions, and private lives. Of course, the humanities are also worth knowing and exploring for their own sake. They enrich our souls through an encounter with the greatest minds of the past -- men and women who grappled, like we still do, with the timeless questions of what it means to be human.

To learn more about SUNY Potsdam's growing list of microcredentials, visit www.potsdam.edu/mc.

About SUNY Potsdam:

Founded in 1816, The State University of New York at Potsdam is one of America's first 50 colleges -- and the oldest institution within SUNY. Now in its third century, SUNY Potsdam is distinguished by a legacy of pioneering programs and educational excellence. The College currently enrolls approximately 2,500 undergraduate and graduate students. Home to the world-renowned Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam is known for its challenging liberal arts and sciences core, distinction in teacher training and culture of creativity. To learn more, visit www.potsdam.edu.

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SUNY Potsdam is launching a new microcredential, titled Humanities for Thoughtful Leadership.

Students in the new Humanities for Thoughtful Leadership microcredential program at SUNY Potsdam will benefit from small seminar-style classes with close faculty interaction.

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