Download PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT – GENERAL EDUCATION

PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT – GENERAL EDUCATION
General education is the education which is central to all persons in a society in preparing them
for the responsibilities of citizenship, a more abundant life, and a stronger, freer society. The
elements of general education include the basic skills, a knowledge of the physical and
biological world in which we live, one’s social environment, culture, and heritage. It also
includes a core of knowledge and understanding providing insight into one’s nature and forces
which impact on the individual.
CRITERIA FOR JUDGING COURSES AS ACCEPTABLE FOR GENERAL EDUCATION
A.
Criteria for judging courses in category a, Natural Sciences and Health Education;
category b, Social and Behavioral Sciences; and category c, Humanities and Fine Arts.
1.
Course Integrity
Does the course present its own beginning, middle, and end in contrast to a
course that is primarily a part of a sequence of courses?
2.
Scope
Does the course expose the student to a wide spectrum of principles or beliefs or
knowledge in the general subject matter area?
3.
Critical Thinking
Does the course require the student to make critical comparisons of the
principles or beliefs or knowledge in the general area covered by the course?
4.
Individual Values/Beliefs
Does the course aim, specifically, at developing the ability to examine, to
evaluate, and to express the student’s individual values?
5.
Integration of Knowledge
Does the course aim, specifically, at integrating the course material with
knowledge from other general education areas?
6.
Culture and Heritage
Does the course aim at the transmission and critical examination of the culture
and heritage and consider its implications for the future?
7.
Common Universe of Discourse
Does the course prepare the student to read or to speak about and understand
general audience media presentations in the general area covered by the
course?
XI-1
8.
Continuing Study
Does the course provide a broad base of knowledge and technique from which
the student can continue learning in the general subject matter area?
B.
C.
Criteria for judging oral communication courses for category d, Language and
Rationality.
1.
Does the course provide an opportunity to develop oral communication skills
useful to all students regardless of their educational or occupational goals, or are
the skills useful only to a select group?
2.
Does the course provide the opportunity to develop oral communication skills that
consistently serve students during their academic, occupational and life
experiences, or do the skills serve only in specialized situations?
Criteria for judging written communication courses for category d, Language and
Rationality.
1.
Does the course provide the opportunity to develop written communication skills
useful to all students regardless of their educational or occupational goals, or are
the skills useful only to a select group?
2.
Does the course provide the opportunity to develop written communication skills
that consistently serve students during their academic, occupational and life
experiences, or do the skills serve only in specialized situations?
Revised 7/27/94
XI-2