CORE courses
<p>The core of the General Education program is a series of five multi-disciplinary courses, each of which brings together material and perspectives from several disciplines so that students may understand both a common body of knowledge and its interconnections:</p>
CORE 110 - The World of the Arts
<p>This course introduces students to “The Arts” including music, theater, dance, and visual art. Students will gain insight into the basic components of the arts, the role of the arts in society, the interrelationship of the arts, and the historical contexts of the arts. Students will engage with performing arts events and art exhibits. Arts from all over the world will be considered.</p>
<p><strong>Course Learning Objectives</strong>:<br />This course will enhance students' ability to do the following:</p>
<ol>
<li>Understand and articulate the role and value of the arts and how the arts relate to history and culture.</li>
<li>Compare and contrast arts, histories, and cultures; analyze historical, conceptual, and cultural contexts to gain a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world.</li>
<li>Interpret, analyze, and evaluate arts performances, including live performances, using appropriate arts-related terminology, ideas, and theories.</li>
<li>Build a foundation for future participation in, and enjoyment of, theatre, dance, music, and the visual arts through attendance of live events, and through learning arts specific interpretive skills.</li>
</ol>
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CORE 120 - Historical Perspectives
<p>This course examines major events, conflicts, and figures in world history during the long 20th century. Students will address global issues from a variety of perspectives, to better understand the movements, ideas, and people that shape the present day.</p>
<p><strong>Course Learning Objectives</strong>:<br />This course will enhance students' ability to do the following:</p>
<ol>
<li>Think critically and analytically, integrate and synthesize knowledge, and draw conclusions from complex material.</li>
<li>Understand and appreciate American and other cultures, both contemporary and historical, appreciate diversity, and live responsibly in an interdependent world.</li>
<li>Acquire a base of knowledge common to educated persons, and the capacity to expand that base over their lifetime.</li>
<li>Understand the gatherings of peoples and cultures from many countries that have contributed to the American heritage and to contemporary American society.</li>
<li>Understand the origins of international problems and the changing role of the U.S. in the world.</li>
<li>Compare political and economic systems and their effects on international relations and U.S. foreign policy.</li>
</ol>
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CORE 130 - Individual and Society
<p>This course serves as an introduction to the social sciences and interdisciplinary fields including anthropology, psychology, race and ethnic studies, sociology, and women's and gender studies. Using these academic perspectives and scientific approaches, this course critically examines social problems in US society. The course focuses on how we experience life as individuals and members of cultural and societal systems that shape our identities, behaviors, and perceptions.</p>
<p><strong>Course Learning Objectives</strong>:<br />This course will enhance students' ability to do the following:</p>
<ol>
<li>Demonstrate introductory knowledge of major concepts shared or overlapping in anthropology, psychology, race and ethnic studies, sociology, and women’s and gender studies</li>
<li>Integrate multiple social science and interdisciplinary perspectives to analyze social problems</li>
<li>Understand the process of scientific and systematic inquiry in the social sciences</li>
<li>Critically evaluate sources of social science and interdisciplinary information and draw valid conclusions</li>
<li>Understand the concept of the social construction of identity</li>
<li>Apply an intersectional lens to describe how social structures contribute to differences in privilege, oppression, and access to opportunities</li>
<li>Apply an intersectional lens to describe how social groups and individuals experience discrepancies in privilege, oppression, and access to opportunities</li>
<li>Articulate the perspectives of people from various social groups</li>
<li>Demonstrate effective strategies for collaborative learning</li>
</ol>
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CORE 140 - Global Perspectives
<p>This course introduces students to key terms, concepts, issues and relationships in economics, geography and political science. The course investigates how increasing globalization impacts issues such as the authority and competence of the nation-state, population growth and migration, economic development and trade and patterns of international cooperation and conflict.</p>
<p><strong>Course Learning Objectives</strong>:<br />This course will enhance students' ability to do the following:</p>
<ol>
<li>Apply knowledge across various disciplinary approaches (Geography, Political Science, and Economics) in the exploration of global issues and challenges, both contemporary and historical, associated with an increasingly interconnected world.</li>
<li>Explain and analyze relevant ideas, draw conclusions from complex information, and craft logical and persuasive arguments supported by relevant and compelling evidence.</li>
<li>Develop analytical communication skills, with a focus on argumentation, reflection, and appropriate citation of sources. Students will incorporate core course ideas and content in their written and verbal communication, with consideration for audience, purpose, and context.</li>
<li>Identify appropriate information sources; to evaluate, analyze, and integrate relevant information; and to use and cite sources correctly.</li>
<li>Explain, interpret, summarize, and utilize numerical information presented in various forms, including maps, graphs, diagrams, and tables.</li>
<li>Identify and understand multiple perspectives on the implications of global processes and events. Students will draw connections between an individual’s personal decision-making and global, national, and local issues that will help them to become more informed, engaged, and reflective citizens.</li>
</ol>
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CORE 390 - The World of Ideas
<p>This course examines themes and issues that have had a significant impact upon the world's civilizations. Readings will focus on primary texts representing major historical periods, world cultures, and diverse perspectives. This course will stress critical and analytical thought, drawing upon knowledge obtained in this and earlier core courses.</p>
<p><strong>Course Learning Objectives</strong>:<br />This course will enhance students' ability to do the following:</p>
<ol>
<li>Understand the ways ideas shape their perception of the world.</li>
<li>Recognize the ways ideas were formed historically and to understand the ways in which the world is still shaped by ideas advanced hundreds of years ago.</li>
<li>Appreciate intellectual traditions of diverse cultures and perspectives.</li>
<li>Recognize commonalities and differences among diverse intellectual traditions.</li>
<li>Refine their critical and analytical thinking skills in oral and written forms.</li>
<li>Deal intelligently with questions and issues concerning ethics and values.</li>
<li>Recognize and understand issues, questions, and problems that have been subject to continued human reflection.</li>
<li>Appreciate the role of the humanities in students' educational experiences.</li>
<li>Interpret different literary works.</li>
<li>Develop a meaningful philosophy of life.</li>
</ol>
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General Education Learning Outcomes
1. Knowledge of Human Cultures and the Natural World
<p>Students will demonstrate breadth and integration of knowledge through:</p>
<ol>
<li>Exploration of enduring issues, questions, and problems of human experience across the core areas of knowledge, including engagement with:
<ul>
<li>Fine and performing arts</li>
<li>Natural sciences and mathematics</li>
<li>Cultural, social, and humanistic studies</li>
<li>Global Issues and challenges, both historical and contemporary</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Ability to contextualize knowledge through various disciplinary approaches</li>
<li>Capacity to apply learning and think in interdisciplinary and integrative ways about the complexity and interconnectedness of the world</li>
</ol>
<p><em>Rationale: A broad knowledge of human cultures and of the natural world provides students with a solid foundation to be successful in their major and as informed members of society. In all fields of study, the exposure to multiple perspectives, historical context, and contemporary debates helps prepare students to engage with the “big questions” that face our world today.</em></p>
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2. Critical and Creative Thinking
<p>Students will demonstrate their critical and creative thinking by the ability to:</p>
<ol>
<li>Explain and analyze relevant ideas, arguments, and problems</li>
<li>Evaluate the quality of ideas, evidence, materials, and arguments using appropriate criteria</li>
<li>Recognize and engage multiple perspectives and alternatives</li>
<li>Draw conclusions from complex information</li>
<li>Synthesize existing information to produce new insights or approaches</li>
<li>Craft logical and persuasive arguments supported by relevant and compelling evidence</li>
<li>Design, evaluate, and implement strategies to solve problems or answer open-ended questions</li>
</ol>
<p><em>Rationale: Thinking critically and creatively means the ability to analyze and evaluate complex information and to come up with new ideas and solutions to pressing problems. In an information-rich world, students need to be able to make informed decisions and develop arguments, based on relevant evidence from a variety of different sources and perspectives. Critical and creative thinking helps students develop their own perspectives in both their personal and professional lives.</em></p>
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3. Effective Communication Skills
<p>Students will demonstrate their communication skills by the ability to:</p>
<ol>
<li>Read and listen closely and critically to interpret, analyze and evaluate written texts, images, speech, performances and multimedia communications</li>
<li>Communicate in a focused, coherent, and organized manner with appropriate attention to audience, purpose and context</li>
<li>Write effective analytical, reflective and expository essays and research papers</li>
<li>Speak effectively in public, small group, and interpersonal settings</li>
<li>Use clear and precise language as well as appropriate conventions, tools, and technology</li>
<li>Implement the process of drafting, revising and editing</li>
</ol>
<p><em>Rationale: Strong communication skills, both speaking and writing to a variety of audiences and across a range of media and contexts, contribute to success in and out of the classroom. In addition, critical reading and listening skills are also key components in developing effective communication skills. </em></p>
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4. Information Literacy
<p>Students will demonstrate their information literacy by the ability to:</p>
<ol>
<li>Identify and articulate information needs by precisely defining a question, topic of inquiry or problem</li>
<li>Select appropriate resources for finding information and formulate effective search strategies</li>
<li>Critically evaluate, analyze and integrate relevant sources using appropriate criteria</li>
<li>Use and cite information sources correctly and ethically</li>
<li>Choose and effectively use appropriate tools and technologies for these tasks</li>
</ol>
<p><em>Rationale: Information literacy refers to the ability to determine what information is necessary for a particular purpose, and to the skills needed to gather, evaluate, understand, and use that information ethically and effectively. Information may take a variety of forms and media, including textual, visual, and quantitative. In an environment of proliferating and diverse information, information literacy skills help students make informed choices in their personal, professional, and academic lives.</em></p>
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5. Quantitative Reasoning
<p>Students will demonstrate their quantitative reasoning by the ability to:</p>
<ol>
<li>Explain information presented in mathematical forms (e.g., equations, graphs, diagrams, tables, words)</li>
<li>Convert relevant information into various mathematical forms (e.g., equations, graphs, diagrams, tables, words)</li>
<li>Efficiently and accurately carry out calculations to solve problems using appropriate tools and technology</li>
<li>Make judgments and draw appropriate conclusions based on the quantitative analysis of data</li>
<li>Support arguments with quantitative information in narrative and other appropriate forms</li>
</ol>
<p><em>Rationale: Quantitative reasoning refers to the use of numbers and measurable data to understand and interpret the world. But quantitative reasoning encompasses much more than simply mathematics and calculation skills. It reflects a habit of mind and a range of capacities that can explain, interpret, evaluate, and communicate quantitative information. Students need to be able to use quantitative reasoning skills to solve problems from a variety of domains and in everyday life.</em></p>
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6. Personal and Civic Responsibility
<p>Students will demonstrate their personal and civic responsibility through:</p>
<ol>
<li>Self-awareness
<ul>
<li>Recognize and examine their own values, perspectives and biases</li>
<li>Understand their own roles and responsibilities as members of multiple diverse communities</li>
<li>Understand the impact of their own actions on the community, the environment, and the world</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Understanding of others
<ul>
<li>Understand the cultures and diversity of the United States and other countries, both historical and contemporary</li>
<li>Recognize the existence and impact of discrepancies in power, privilege and access between individuals, groups and societies</li>
<li>Articulate and respect the multiple perspectives that arise from differing experiences</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Responsible action
<ul>
<li>Interact effectively and conscientiously with diverse people in diverse contexts including in campus, professional, and community settings</li>
<li>Make informed ethical decisions that respect the social and environmental contexts</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ol>
<p><em>Rationale: Personal and civic responsibility refers to skills and knowledge that help students take their place in a multi-cultural and always-changing world. To become informed, engaged, reflective, and responsible citizens, students need to engage with a range of ethical questions, from social issues to environmental concerns. </em></p>
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7. Foundations for life-long learning including personal health and well-being
<p>Students will demonstrate foundations for life-long learning by the ability to: </p>
<ol>
<li>Implement strategies and skills needed for collaborative and self-directed learning</li>
<li>Monitor and reflect on their own learning</li>
<li>Integrate, transfer and apply learning in new contexts</li>
<li>Recognize and apply the factors and habits that are essential for personal health and well-being</li>
</ol>
<p><em>Rationale: Learning is a never-ending process that requires curiosity and openness to learning. By cultivating a set of skills and dispositions associated with life-long learning, students will be able to adapt, monitor and direct their own growth and well-being throughout college and beyond.</em></p>
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