Policies

General Education Learning Outcomes

Persons Affected

Students

Procedures

I. KNOWLEDGE AND SKILL AREAS
1. MATHEMATICS Students will demonstrate the ability to:

• interpret and draw inferences from mathematical models such as formulas, graphs, tables and schematics;

• represent mathematical information symbolically, visually, numerically and verbally;

• employ quantitative methods such as, arithmetic, algebra, geometry, or statistics to solve problems;

• estimate and check mathematical results for reasonableness; and

• recognize the limits of mathematical and statistical methods.

2. NATURAL SCIENCES Students will demonstrate:

• understanding of the methods scientists use to explore natural phenomena, including observation, hypothesis development, measurement and data collection, experimentation, evaluation of evidence, and employment of mathematical analysis; and

• application of scientific data, concepts, and models in one of the natural (or physical) sciences.

3. SOCIAL SCIENCES Students will demonstrate: • understanding of the methods social scientists use to explore social phenomena, including observation, hypothesis development, measurement and data collection, experimentation, evaluation of evidence, and employment of mathematical and interpretive analysis; and

• knowledge of major concepts, models and issues of at least one discipline in the social sciences.

4. AMERICAN HISTORY Students will demonstrate:

• knowledge of a basic narrative of American history: political, economic, social, and cultural, including knowledge of unity and diversity in American society;

• knowledge of common institutions in American society and how they have affected different groups; and

• understanding of America's evolving relationship with the rest of the world.

5. WESTERN CIVILIZATION Students will:

• demonstrate knowledge of the development of the distinctive features of the history, institutions, economy, society, culture, etc., of Western civilization; and

• relate the development of Western civilization to that of other regions of the world.

6. OTHER WORLD CIVILIZATIONS Students will demonstrate:

• knowledge of either a broad outline of world history, or

• the distinctive features of the history, institutions, economy, society, culture, etc., of one nonwestern civilization.

7. HUMANITIES Students will demonstrate:

• knowledge of the conventions and methods of at least one of the humanities in addition to those encompassed by other knowledge areas required by the General Education program.

8. THE ARTS Students will demonstrate:

• understanding of at least one principal form of artistic expression and the creative process inherent therein.

9. FOREIGN LANGUAGE Students will demonstrate:

• basic proficiency in the understanding and use of a foreign language; and knowledge of the distinctive features of culture(s) associated with the language they are studying.


10. BASIC COMMUNICATION Students will:
• produce coherent texts within common college-level written forms;

• demonstrate the ability to revise and improve such texts;

• research a topic, develop an argument, and organize supporting details;

• develop proficiency in oral discourse; and

• evaluate an oral presentation according to established criteria.


II. COMPETENCIES The following two competencies should be infused throughout the General Education program:

1. CRITICAL THINKING (REASONING) Students will:
• identify, analyze, and evaluate arguments as they occur in their own or others' work; and

• develop well-reasoned arguments. 2. INFORMATION MANAGEMENT Students will:

• perform the basic operations of personal computer use;

• understand and use basic research techniques; and

• locate, evaluate and synthesize information from a variety of sources.

Responsible Office

Office of the Provost