General Education Experience: Learning for Life

In Foundations courses, students sharpen essential skills for upper division course work in the general education and major programs.

• Written Communication (3)

  • Effective writing is an essential component of your skillset, no matter your chosen field of study. Having sharply honed writing skills can help you to communicate about important topics clearly and quickly and enable you to reach your full professional capacity. Effective communication is a highly sought-after skill that gives you the opportunity to present yourself as well-prepared and professional.

• Oral Communication (0 - 3)

  • The ability to logically and clearly present one’s ideas is integral to success in almost any area of life. Oral communication is ubiquitous in our everyday lives: we communicate with classmates and colleagues on Zoom calls, we demonstrate our content knowledge and expertise in oral presentations, and we communicate our career goals to potential employers in job interviews. Courses that help you to develop and reflect on your oral communication skills prepare you for effective interaction in multiple contexts, enabling you to better reach your goals.

• Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning (3)

  • Math is essential for many aspects of your daily life from simple calculations necessary for a range of tasks to lifelong financial literacy and problem solving. Math helps strengthen reasoning skills and critical thinking and improves your investigative skills, resourcefulness, and creativity. Many careers use a wide variety of math concepts and no matter which career path you choose, math skills will open up opportunities.

• World Language (3)

  • Learning a new language will prepare you for the multilingual and multicultural realities of life at home, work, or across national boundaries by introducing you to different cultural frameworks and diverse worldviews. Language learning goes beyond vocabulary and grammar. As the most direct expression of a culture, language immerses you in a different way of life, encouraging cultural humility and the development of empathy for others.

In Critical Perspectives courses, students explore and practice varied approaches and ways of reasoning that foster critical thinking and problem solving.

• Humanities (3)

  • The humanities include the study of history, philosophy and religion, modern and ancient languages and literatures, fine arts, media and cultural studies, and other fields. Humanities research adds to your knowledge of the world, as you investigate differences between cultures and communities around the world and across time, consider the ways art is made and received, or unveil the undercurrents that have shaped history. Humanities education encourages you to think creatively and critically, to reason, and ask questions. Put simply, the humanities help you to understand and interpret the human experience, as individuals and societies. (Adapted from the National Center for the Humanities. “What Are the Humanities?” Humanities in Action, 1 Jan. 2021.)

• Social Sciences (3)

  • Courses in social sciences give you an in-depth look into the human experience, from history, politics, and economics to psychology, sociology, anthropology, and more. You’ll learn how people interact with each other and their environment in different ways worldwide, as well as understand why specific societal and cultural trends exist. Social science courses engage you in thinking critically to interpret and analyze data and solve problems, helping you to develop a broader view of today’s complex world.

• The Arts (3)

  • Arts education can help you to develop skills and ways of working that will benefit you in the future in whatever career you choose. Creativity is essential in a global economy that needs a workforce that is knowledgeable, imaginative, and innovative—skills that employers value alongside qualifications. Making and participating in the arts aids the development of these skills and can also help with understanding, interpreting, and negotiating the complexities and diversity of society.

• Natural Science and Scientific Reasoning with lab (4)

  • In the natural sciences, you can study everything from nanoparticles to living organisms to galaxies to differential equations, with opportunities to participate in innovative research that advances science and technology. Through the natural sciences, we investigate and understand ourselves, our world, and the universe. The natural sciences help you to become a strategic and inquisitive thinker with skills that are applicable in a broad range of careers.

Cultural Engagement courses prepare students for global citizenship in a complex and diverse society while offering more challenging learning contexts for skill development.

• U. S. History and Civic Engagement (3)

  • Courses in US History and Civic Engagement promote civic education by exploring the theoretical, political, historical, and practical aspects of citizenship and democratic governance. You will gain a deeper understanding of the rights and responsibilities of citizens and the changing aspects of citizenship in relation to institutions, civil laws, and practices. Studying US history helps you to understand and grapple with today’s complex questions and dilemmas by examining how the past has shaped (and continues to shape) global, national, and local relationships between societies and people.

• Diversity: Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice (3)
  • Learning about diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice in the classroom gives you the opportunity to think critically about your beliefs and examine the world in fresh ways. Exposure to diversity promotes creativity and innovation, as well as decision-making and problem-solving skills. When you enter the professional world, you join a vast and diverse workforce. Interacting with people of all different backgrounds, mindsets, and social experiences can present a challenge without prior exposure to the principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice. This course will help you to develop the ability to effectively engage in diverse cultural and social situations, skills highly valued by employers.
• World History and Global Awareness (3)

  • World History and Global Awareness courses help you to understand how your nation developed and where it may be headed in an increasingly pluralistic and interconnected world. As you study the interrelationship of people, cultures, and countries over time, you will be able to determine how and when contemporary global issues evolved. The study of global history prepares you for democratic citizenship in a global age as you critically interpret and unify past deeds and new information, enhancing your abilities to understand, react and interact with complex international issues.

• Contemporary Issues (0 - 3)

  • Contemporary issues courses focus on problems that are difficult or impossible to solve because of their complex and interconnected nature. In a contemporary issues course, you will integrate multiple areas of knowledge and multiple modes of inquiry to address problems. This helps you to learn to apply knowledge from across your educational and life experiences to a wide variety of situations that shape a rapidly changing, connected world, contributing to your personal and professional success.

• Perspectives on Gender (0 - 3)

  • Perspectives on gender courses provide a forum for exploring and understanding the ways gender shapes our world within an interdisciplinary context. In a world where gender is so ingrained in everything we do, it is vital to critically analyze our own internalized beliefs and biases around this subject. This makes it easier to identify what needs to change for society to move toward a more inclusive future.