Apr 16, 2024  
Undergraduate Catalog ARCHIVED 2015-16 
    
Undergraduate Catalog ARCHIVED 2015-16 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

General Education: Associate Degrees


Graduation requirements for Associate of Science degrees are grouped into two categories, with identified goals and a list of courses that meet designated goals in each category:

System-wide General Education Requirement (SGE)
18 Credits
Institutional Graduation Requirement (IGR)
6 Credits
Total 24 Credits

System-wide General Education Requirement (18 Credits)


The system-wide general education curriculum of the university is intended to provide opportunities for the student to develop the breadth and depth of understanding and appreciation which characterizes the educated and responsible adult. Courses which deal with language and symbolic thought, literature and aesthetic values, natural sciences and the social sciences are an integral dimension of one’s personal, community, and professional life. All degree programs of the university include system-wide general education requirements. Students should check major-field requirements before selecting courses to meet the system-wide general education requirements. A course that counts toward a general education requirement at one campus will count towards the same general education requirement at other campuses regardless of whether the campus offers the course.

Goals of System-wide General Education Requirement

Students will:

  1. Write effectively and responsibly and understand and interpret the written expression of others.
  2. Communicate effectively and responsibly through listening and speaking.
  3. Understand the organization, potential, and diversity of the human community through study of the social sciences.
  4. Understand the diversity and complexity of human experience through the study of arts and humanities.
  5. Understand and apply fundamental mathematical processes and reasoning.
  6. Understand the fundamental principles of the natural sciences and apply scientific methods of inquiry to investigate the natural world.

GOAL 1: Written Communication (3 Credits)


Students will write effectively and responsibly and understand and interpret the written expression of others.

Student Learning Outcomes: As a result of taking courses meeting this goal, students will:

  1. Write using standard American English, including correct punctuation, grammar, and sentence structure.
  2. Write logically.
  3. Write persuasively, with a variety of rhetorical strategies (e.g., expository, argumentative, descriptive).
  4. Incorporate formal research and documentation into their writing, including research obtained through modern, technology-based tools.

Each course meeting this goal includes the following student learning objective outcomes: Required: #1, #2, #3, and #4

Note


Students enrollment in the initial English course is determined by the Board of Regents placement policy (2:7:6).

GOAL 2: Oral Communication (3 Credits)


Students will communicate effectively and responsibly through listening and speaking.

Student Learning Outcomes: As a result of taking courses meeting this goal, students will:

  1. Prepare and deliver speeches for a variety of audiences and settings.
  2. Demonstrate speaking competencies including choice and use of topic, supporting materials, organizational pattern, language usage, presentational aids, and delivery.
  3. Demonstrate listening competencies by summarizing, analyzing, and paraphrasing ideas, perspectives and emotional content.

Each course meeting this goal includes the following student learning outcomes: Required: #1, #2, and #3

GOAL 3: Social Sciences (3 Credits)


Students will understand the organization, potential, and diversity of the human community through study of the social studies.

Student Learning Outcomes: As a result of taking courses meeting this goal, students will be able to demonstrate a basic understanding of at least one of the following:

  1. Identify and explain basic concepts, terminology and theories of the selected social science disciplines from different spatial, temporal, cultural and/or instructional contexts.
  2. Apply selected social science concepts and theories to contemporary issues.
  3. Identify and explain the social or aesthetic values of different cultures.

In addition, as a result of taking courses meeting this goal, students will be able to demonstrate a basic understanding of at least one of the following:

  1. The origin and evolution of human institutions.
  2. The allocation of human or natural resources within societies.
  3. The impact of diverse philosophical, ethical or religious views.

Each course meeting this goal includes the following student learning outcomes:

Required: #1, #2 and #3 and at least one of the following: #4, #5, or #6

GOAL 4: Arts and Humanities (3 Credits)


Students will understand the diversity and complexity of the human experience through study of the arts and humanities.

Student Learning Outcomes: As a result of taking courses meeting this goal, students will:

  1. Demonstrate knowledge of the diversity of values, beliefs, and ideas embodied in the human experience.
  2. Identify and explain basic concepts of the selected disciplines within the arts and humanities.

In addition, as a result of taking courses meeting this goal, students will be able to do at least one of the following:

  1. Identify and explain the contributions of other cultures from the perspective of the selected disciplines within the arts and humanities.
  2. Demonstrate creative and aesthetic understanding.
  3. Explain and interpret formal and stylistic elements of the literary or fine arts.
  4. Demonstrate foundational competency in reading, writing, and speaking a non-English language.

Each course meeting this goal includes the following student learning outcomes:

Required: #1, #2, and at least one of the following: #3, #4, #5, or #6

GOAL 5: Mathematics (3 Credits)


Students will understand and apply fundamental mathematical processes and reasoning.

Student Learning Outcomes: As a result of taking courses meeting this goal, students will:

  1. Use mathematical symbols and mathematical structure to model and solve real world problems.
  2. Demonstrate appropriate communication skills related to mathematical terms and concepts.
  3. Demonstrate the correct use of quantifiable measurements of real world situations.

Each course meeting this goal includes the following student learning outcomes:

Required: #1, #2, and #3

Note


Student enrollment in the initial Math course is determined by the Board of Regents placement policy (2:7:6)

GOAL 6: Natural Sciences (3 Credits)


Students will understand the fundamental principles of the natural sciences and apply scientific methods of inquiry to investigate the natural world.

Student Learning Outcomes: As a result of taking courses meeting this goal, students will:

  1. Demonstrate the scientific method in a laboratory experience.
  2. Gather and critically evaluate data using the scientific method.
  3. Identify and explain the basic concepts, terminology and theories of the selected natural sciences.
  4. Apply selected natural science concepts and theories to contemporary issues.

Each course meeting this goal includes the following student learning outcomes:

Required: #1, #2, #3 and #4

Note:


Combinations not permitted because of excessive duplication are BIOL 101 and BIOL 151; CHEM 106 and CHEM 112; CHEM 108 and CHEM 114; PHYS 111 and PHYS 211; PHYS 113 and PHYS 213.

GOAL 7: Information Literacy (0 Credits)


Students will recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, organize, critically evaluate, and effectively use information from a variety of sources with intellectual integrity.

Student Learning Outcomes: As a result of taking courses meeting this goal, students will:

  1. Determine the extent of information needed.
  2. Access the needed information effectively and efficiently.
  3. Evaluate information and its sources critically.
  4. Use information effectively to accomplish a specific purpose.
  5. Use information in an ethical and legal manner.

Students will have met this Goal when they complete Goal 1 Written Communication and Goal 2 Oral Communication.

Institutional Graduation Requirements (6 Credits)


GOAL 1: Information Systems & Computer Technology (6 Credits)


Students will demonstrate competence in information systems and computer technology through software and programming classes.

Student Learning Outcomes: As a result of taking courses meeting this goal, students will:

  1. Demonstrate competence in use of computer application software;
  2. Demonstrate competence in programming concepts;
  3. Demonstrate knowledge of computer technology.

Each course meeting this goal includes the following student learning outcomes:

Required: #1, #2, and #3