Teaching and learning for the common good: A case study on pedagogical engagement in the US higher education

Abstract

This article introduces a course entitled Professional Pathways Through Ignatian Pedagogical Engagement, recently developed at the University of San Francisco. The course aims to bridge theory and practice by fostering ethical civic engagement, personal reflection, and professional development through internships and role-based communication and drama activities. Drawing on the Jesuit educational tradition—specifically the Ignatian pedagogical paradigm (IPP)—the course supports intellectual, emotional, and spiritual growth regardless of students’ faith backgrounds. Students explore concepts of humanization inspired by Paulo Freire, John Dewey, and Martha Nussbaum, encouraging development toward the common good. In an era shaped by the increasing presence of artificial intelligence (AI), the course helps students critically reflect on professional praxis and societal responsibility. Designed for students in their final years, it promotes lifelong learning and the Jesuit ideal of cura personalis—care for the whole person.