General Education

Learning Perspectives

In fulfilling the mission of the college, students in the degree programs take general education courses within five major learning perspectives: Communications Systems; Cultural; Analytical; Social Sciences and Global. These perspectives represent areas of learning which develop students' knowledge considered essential for the well educated person.

Communications Systems Perspective
Analytical Perspective
Social Sciences Perspective
Cultural Perspective
Global Perspective

Communications Systems Perspective
Communications courses require extensive student preparation and practice in building the skills needed for written, oral or technological modes of communication and provide built-in application opportunities for students to demonstrate communication competency. These courses provide student experiences, materials and assignments relating to listening skills and to gaining proficiency in using various models of self-expression and rhetoric. Standards in grammatical English, clarity and appropriateness of style are maintained. Technological communication courses focus on developing proficiency in computer skills needed for functioning in today's academic, business and social arenas, and on keeping current on the latest developments in the electronics communication fields. Additionally, all baccalaureate students are required to complete one course designated as a research (R) course.

Analytical Perspective
To develop methods of critical thinking, including the scientific method, inductive and deductive reasoning, comparative analyses, and the application of statistical techniques, science and mathematics courses are required in this perspective. Mathematical processes and general paradigms of logical thinking focus on developing ability to analyze and synthesize data, use quantitative methods to solve problems and draw inferences, recognize sources of errors, prejudices or stereotypes and apply evidence for valid argumentation. Analytical Perspective courses provide opportunity to question, hypothesize, collect data, plan solution strategies, experiment, analyze and draw conclusions.

Social Sciences Perspective
Social Sciences courses include studies in sociology, psychology, anthropology or multiculturalism. These focus on active participation in class discussions regarding social, cultural and cross-cultural norms and sanctions. Courses provide activities such as attending films, lectures or dramatic presentations of social and/or cultural issues to help understand and analyze the importance of human behavior and cultural forces on society.

Emphasis is on analysis of social, political, economic, cultural and cross-cultural factors and their impact upon the individual and society. The impact of these forces as they affect human behavior and mental processes are examined in this perspective.

Cultural Perspective
Cultural Perspective courses encompass the study of the humanities, fine arts, languages or literature; they strongly emphasize reading and analyzing academic, philosophical, and/or literary texts from classical and modern sources. Discussions center on human values, including philosophical inquiry into morals and ethics, religion, life choices, the fine arts and the performing arts, as well as the influence of politics and society on these values. Consideration is given to the historical forces in Western and world-wide cultures that shaped the development of human values and conflicting value systems.

Students participate in class discussions, attend art and music events on their own or as a group, and write extensive essays based on assigned readings, to demonstrate knowledge, awareness of others' opinions, critical thinking, and logical presentations of their reflections.

Global Perspective
Global Perspective courses in history, politics, or economics examine historical events and social, cultural, and political forces that shape societies and individuals. These courses strongly emphasize cause-and-effect relationships of the past and present in national and world politics and economics. Factual information to provide a chronology of significant persons, events, and trends in the periods is covered in these courses. Attention is given to examination of the individual's relationship to history and politics.

Courses engage students in active participation in class discussions and simulations; courses emphasize observation of political and economic trends, provide out-of-classroom course-pertinent activities such as working for a candidate, attending town council meetings, writing appropriate letters to the editor of local newspapers, or visiting museums to observe objects relevant to a historical or political period. Focus of written essays is based on assigned readings in which students demonstrate knowledge, awareness of others' opinions, critical thinking, and logical presentations of their reflections.


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	General Education Learning Perspectives In fulfilling the mission of the college, students in the degree programs take general education courses within five major learning perspectives: Communications Systems; Cultural; Analytical; Social Sciences and Global. These perspectives represent areas of learning which develop students' knowledge considered essential for the well educated person. Communications Systems Perspective Analytical Perspective Social Sciences Perspective Cultural Perspective Global Perspective Communications Systems Perspective Communications courses require extensive student preparation and practice in building the skills needed for written, oral or technological modes of communication and provide built-in application opportunities for students to demonstrate communication competency. These courses provide student experiences, materials and assignments relating to listening skills and to gaining proficiency in using various models of self-expression and rhetoric. Standards in grammatical English, clarity and appropriateness of style are maintained. Technological communication courses focus on developing proficiency in computer skills needed for functioning in today's academic, business and social arenas, and on keeping current on the latest developments in the electronics communication fields. Additionally, all baccalaureate students are required to complete one course designated as a research (R) course. Analytical Perspective To develop methods of critical thinking, including the scientific method, inductive and deductive reasoning, comparative analyses, and the application of statistical techniques, science and mathematics courses are required in this perspective. Mathematical processes and general paradigms of logical thinking focus on developing ability to analyze and synthesize data, use quantitative methods to solve problems and draw inferences, recognize sources of errors, prejudices or stereotypes and apply evidence for valid argumentation. Analytical Perspective courses provide opportunity to question, hypothesize, collect data, plan solution strategies, experiment, analyze and draw conclusions. Social Sciences Perspective Social Sciences courses include studies in sociology, psychology, anthropology or multiculturalism. These focus on active participation in class discussions regarding social, cultural and cross-cultural norms and sanctions. Courses provide activities such as attending films, lectures or dramatic presentations of social and/or cultural issues to help understand and analyze the importance of human behavior and cultural forces on society. Emphasis is on analysis of social, political, economic, cultural and cross-cultural factors and their impact upon the individual and society. The impact of these forces as they affect human behavior and mental processes are examined in this perspective. Cultural Perspective Cultural Perspective courses encompass the study of the humanities, fine arts, languages or literature; they strongly emphasize reading and analyzing academic, philosophical, and/or literary texts from classical and modern sources. Discussions center on human values, including philosophical inquiry into morals and ethics, religion, life choices, the fine arts and the performing arts, as well as the influence of politics and society on these values. Consideration is given to the historical forces in Western and world-wide cultures that shaped the development of human values and conflicting value systems. Students participate in class discussions, attend art and music events on their own or as a group, and write extensive essays based on assigned readings, to demonstrate knowledge, awareness of others' opinions, critical thinking, and logical presentations of their reflections. Global Perspective Global Perspective courses in history, politics, or economics examine historical events and social, cultural, and political forces that shape societies and individuals. These courses strongly emphasize cause-and-effect relationships of the past and present in national and world politics and economics. Factual information to provide a chronology of significant persons, events, and trends in the periods is covered in these courses. Attention is given to examination of the individual's relationship to history and politics. Courses engage students in active participation in class discussions and simulations; courses emphasize observation of political and economic trends, provide out-of-classroom course-pertinent activities such as working for a candidate, attending town council meetings, writing appropriate letters to the editor of local newspapers, or visiting museums to observe objects relevant to a historical or political period. Focus of written essays is based on assigned readings in which students demonstrate knowledge, awareness of others' opinions, critical thinking, and logical presentations of their reflections.