General Education Information

Goals and Objectives

The General Education Program is a set of requirements for all students seeking the baccalaureate degree at Western Kentucky University. It is an integral part of the undergraduate curriculum that both complements and supports the students' preparation in their major field or specialization.

The General Education Program helps students maximize their individual potential. Students develop understanding, appreciation, and acceptance of multiple "ways of knowing" (i.e., artistic, literary, philosophical, historical, scientific) through the acquisition, organization, and analysis of specific bodies of knowledge. They are encouraged to acquire aesthetic and appreciative faculties, to explore and test their own values and ethical frameworks, and to demonstrate sensitivity to diverse perspectives and cultures.

The General Education Program provides a foundation for professional success. Students learn to think critically, make rational decisions, and communicate effectively. These skills support their ability to acquire, evaluate, and use the specific knowledge in their major field or specialization and also ensure that they will be adaptable and flexible in the face of changing career plans and requirements. Students' explorations of their own values and perspectives and those of other social groups and cultures prepare them to live in a culturally diverse, globally competitive, and technologically complex world.

The General Education Program prepares students for active membership in society. It is a broadening experience that helps them acquire the shared skills, knowledge, and values that promote the well-being of society. This experience nurtures their capacity for leadership and service and helps them learn to adapt their skills and knowledge to changing societal needs.

In sum, the General Education Program gives meaning to the motto of "Life, More Life" by promoting intellectual growth, lifelong learning, and informed citizenship for all Western graduates.

A student completing the general education program at Western Kentucky University will have:

A student completing the general education program at Western Kentucky University will have:

ACADEMIC SKILLS

1. The capacity for critical and logical thinking;

uses investigative, analytical, and critical thinking skills to acquire information, evaluate alternatives, and make decisions
evaluates the accuracy, authority, bias, and relevance of information sources

2. Proficiency in reading, writing, and speaking;

derives meaning from various texts, evaluates arguments, recognizes explicit statements and inferences, reaches conclusions, and makes generalizations
uses oral and written language to create a text with a clear and significant thesis, adequate and relevant supporting evidence, appropriate documentation, and clear and valid assumptions and conclusions
demonstrates mastery of such essential practices as planning, invention, arrangement, revision, and editing
develops clear and effective prose through attention to style and grammar
uses rhetorical strategies appropriate to purpose, audience, and content

3. Competence in a language other than the native language;

demonstrates basic facility of the vocabulary and grammar of a second language
demonstrates basic communication skills in a second language
comprehends the various forms of communication in a second language

4. The ability to understand and apply mathematical skills and concepts;

uses the fundamental principles of reasoning that are involved in mathematics
uses graphical, symbolic, and numeric methods to solve practical problems
interprets data presented in tables and graphical displays

KNOWLEDGE, PERSPECTIVES, AND CRITICAL ANALYSIS

5. An informed acquaintance with major achievements in the arts and the humanities;

uses appropriate vocabulary and concepts for the description and critical analysis of literary and artistic works
identifies important ideas and achievements in philosophy, literature, and the arts
identifies various forms of literature and artistic expression
identifies and analyzes similarities, differences, and interrelationships among the arts
evaluates the contributions of philosophical, ethical, or religious systems to human life
attends cultural events and visits sites of historical significance

6. A historical perspective and an understanding of connections between past and present;

analyzes historical patterns and their contemporary significance
identifies interrelationships between historical events and artistic, literary, philosophical, religious and scientific works and movements
identifies historical developments and cultural traditions in western civilization
demonstrates a critical perspective on one's own culture by studying other historical periods and other cultural traditions

7. An appreciation of the complexity and variety in the world's cultures;

recognizes the contributions of the various world cultures to humanity and identifies the ways in which these cultures are interrelated and interdependent
identifies differences and similarities among the world's cultural traditions and social organizations

8. An understanding of the scientific method and a knowledge of natural science and its relevance in our lives;

explains how scientific knowledge is created, developed, and changed through experimentation and reasoning
demonstrates knowledge in one or more of the sciences, including theories, concepts, and principles that explain observations and make predictions
locates and evaluates reliable resources to acquire information about scientific developments
outlines the reciprocal relationship between humans and the rest of the ecosystem

9. An understanding of society and human behavior;

describes methods of inquiry appropriate to the scientific study of societal institutions and human behavior
identifies social processes and structures from local to global levels
explains how cultural, political, and economic forces affect society and individuals
describes basic social problems and issues, potential solutions, and their impact on people and institutions
identifies and evaluates the behaviors that contribute to effective political participation in the United States
recognizes the contributions of the diverse cultures in the United States and identifies how these cultures are interdependent
examines patterns of interaction pertaining to race, gender, ethnic identity, class, community, and other forms of social grouping
evaluates the impact of heredity and environment on human development and individual behavior

10. An understanding of factors that enhance health, well-being, and quality of life.

General Education Map (download Excel File)

General Education Course Form (download Word document)

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Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys
Category: General

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

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Capitol Arts Theatre, Downtown Bowling Green

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