The University Freshmen’s Perception in the Liberal Arts Course Selection Process: An Exploratory Study on Their Convergent Cultural Identity

Abstract

This study examined the cultural characteristics of university freshmen’s perception organized in liberal arts course enrollment at this point when the COVID-19 pandemic has been gradually stabilizing. Their perception was divided into two categories; a single cognitive system, one of the characteristics of the culture of modernity and a multiple cognitive system, one of the characteristics of the culture of postmodernity. The former is divided into three theme clusters, learning contents as superficial explicit knowledge, pursuit of originality and authenticity from a course, and course enrollment based on formal collectivity. The latter is also divided into three clusters, learning contents as multi-layered tacit knowledge, pursuit of virtuality and pseudo-event from a course, and course enrollment based on situational individuality. The results show that the subjective consciousness, situation, and structural environment of freshmen who experienced the COVID-19 era and entered the university interacted in the construction of their convergent cultural identity. Universities need to develop and operate university liberal arts education that meets convergent values, considering the freshmen’s perception.