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Council Document 95-4
Approved 5/1/95GENERAL EDUCATION OBJECTIVES
The general education philosophy statement invokes seven general skills or areas of competence upon which a university education is built: (1) the skill to communicate in English in both oral and written forms; (2) the skill to form and solve abstract problems; (3) the skill to gather, organize and present information; (4) a knowledge of basic scientific principles and contemporary technologies; (5) a knowledge of human societies, including their historical development, and the modes of inquiry used in their study; (6) the knowledge of issues related to wellness; and (7) the critical sense to appreciate the arts and works of human expression.
Mastery of these skills and areas of knowledge promotes the ability to value ideas and opinions intelligently. Such valuing, in its most capable sense, is the ability to make informed decisions after considering ethical, moral, aesthetic and practical implications. General education promotes this capability and develops in students a perspective which facilitates life-long learning.
Objective No. 1 Demonstrate effective communication skills in English.
Successful communication involves skills in listening, speaking, and writing: These abilities are crucial to an individual’s success in a society that depends on the free exchange of ideas and information. Functional skills are not sufficient; rather, students must attain a level commensurate with those needed in professional workplaces, both nationally and internationally.
Objective No. 2 Demonstrate effective problem-solving skills.
Active roles in public and professional duties, including those required of an educated private citizen, demand analytical skills which can be used to investigate the causes of issues, including causes arising in the natural world. The ability to reason symbolically, using abstract representations, is an essential skill.
Objective No. 3 Demonstrate effective computer utilization skills.
Contemporary society operates within a matrix of computer-based technologies and electronic networks which provide ever-increasing access to information on a global scale. The ability to gather, organize, and present information using a computer is an important skill in modern life, both private and professional.
Objective No. 4 Demonstrate knowledge of basic scientific principles.
An understanding of the natural world is required if we are to comprehend the opportunities and constraints which figure in the solutions to many social problems. This requires a general knowledge of physical phenomena and natural processes sufficient to enable the individual to follow the public debates on scientific and technological policy.
Objective No. 5 Demonstrate an understanding of various cultures and their
interrelationships.The ability to respond positively to social pressures in the modern world requires a general knowledge of the diversity in human societies, including historical, political, economic, and cultural aspects. Understanding how other people live and think provides a broad cache of knowledge to draw from in making and supporting constructive social policies.
Objective No. 6 Develop a critical appreciation for the arts and works of human expression.
Historical, philosophical, ethical, and aesthetic issues pervade all areas of inquiry, and studies in the arts and humanities add valuable depth and coherence to general education. Studies in the humanities or arts typically develop outwards from personal perspectives, and it is such perspectives which often add color and brilliancy to our intellectual lives.
Objective No. 7 Demonstrate an understanding of the relationships between technology and
society.Technology affects every aspect of modern life and is in turn affected by it. Knowledge in this area can be gained through an understanding of technological applications and their effects on society, or through an understanding of the social stimulants to technological development. An understanding of these relationships strengthens our ability to learn and helps give a voice to the individual in modern society.
Objective No. 8 Demonstrate a knowledge of wellness issues.
Physical and mental wellness form a foundation for success in all of life's endeavors. Wellness information includes knowledge of the physiological, psychological, and social aspects of health. Wellness information can include knowledge related to nutrition, physical fitness, stress management, and lifestyle choices.
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