General Education
About the Program
Situating students in a critical context is paramount if they are to grasp the complex nature of social, political and psychological issues in the twenty-first century. Without adequate grounding in the liberal arts, students cannot develop the abstract thinking skills to grapple with issues like the problematic nature of economic growth and development, cultural studies and the arts, the contemporary nature of the nation-state, the relevance of the human genome project for the development of drug therapies, the impact of laboratory information systems in chemistry, and the changing hegemony of psychological theories.
Both the College and the larger social context have been altered during the past two decades. The nature of technology, the organization of the economy (locally, nationally and globally) and academic discourse (to name just a few examples) have been transformed during this period. These changes are reflected in the general education curriculum.
All students are obligated to fulfill a basic program in General Education. The courses in the program are distributed throughout the four years of study.
The list below shows the distribution of the required General Education Core courses and categories. Courses which fulfill the General Education categories are listed each semester on the web for students.
| GENERAL EDUCATION PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS (10 COURSES) | |
|---|---|
| FIRST YEAR | |
100 |
INTD 101 First-Year Seminar (FYS) (Also AIID 101 and CNTP 101)
|
100 |
ENGL 180 College English |
100 |
SOSC 101 Social Issues ORBADM 115 Perspectives in Business and Society |
100 |
History Category |
100 |
Mathematical Reasoning Category |
100 |
Science with Experiential Component Category |
| SECOND YEAR | |
200 |
AIID 201 Readings in the Humanities
This course is an introduction to major texts by authors who have produced distinctive statements about the human experience. The common core of readings will include selections from the Bible, Greek literature and philosophy, Shakespearean literature, and modern literature. The course will enhance students' appreciation of the ways historical and philosophical narratives, fiction, poetry, and drama have helped enrich our understanding of human experience through extensive reading and reflective and analytical writing. |
| SECOND-THIRD YEAR | |
200-300 |
Intercultural North America Category Students will gain an understanding of different cultures and the relationships among cultures and peoples within North America (i.e., the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean.) Students will reflect upon and analyze texts and products which illustrate the symbolic nature of culture and the exchange of meaning. Courses will examine cultural and artistic productions, everyday life, material culture, and other manifestations of culture, as well as how these are linked to heritages and peoples beyond North American boundaries. |
200-300 |
International Issues Category The objective of courses in this category is to provide a context through which students learn to interpret and critically analyze recent world events, focusing on the coordination of economic, cultural, social, and political activities. Courses will examine the increasing interconnectedness of nations and peoples throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. |
200-300 |
Topics Category courses:
This requirement will be fulfilled by taking one Topics Category courseoutside of the student's major: For arts/humanities majors - Topics: Social Science For business majors - Topics: Arts and Humanities For science majors - Topics: Arts and Humanities For social science majors - Topics: Arts and Humanities
Topics: Arts and Humanities Category
Topics: Social Sciences Category |
Writing Intensive Requirement
Four writing intensive courses are required. College English, Readings in the Humanities, and two other courses. These two courses will consist of any 200/300 level Writing Intensive course, and a Disciplinary or Interdisciplinary capstone course.
