General Education Credit Course List

Analytical and Quantitative Thought (A)
Diversity (D)
Humanities (H)
International Dimension (I)
Scientific Investigation (L)
Natural Sciences (N)
Social and Behavioral Sciences (S)

Analytical and Quantitative Thought (A)
Analytical and quantitative thought courses incorporate the study of systems of logic and the mathematical sciences and place primary emphasis on the development of the intellect through inductive and/or deductive processes. Their aim is broader than proficiency in techniques and includes appreciation of how the processes can supplement intuition and provide ways to analyze concrete problems. Goals of “A” courses are to prepare students to critically analyze and solve problems using quantitative, geometric or logical models; form inferences using logical systems and mathematical information and communicate them in writing; give appropriate multiple representations (symbolical, visual, graphical, numerical or verbal) of logical or mathematical information; and estimate, analyze, or check solutions to problems to determine reasonableness, alternative solutions, or to determine optimal methods or results.

Diversity (D)
Diversity courses emphasize one or more socially constructed groups (e.g., racial, ethnic, religious, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation) in the United States. Goals of “D” courses are to prepare students to critically analyze historical and contemporary examples of socially constructed groups in American society or culture and the distribution of political, economic, and/or cultural benefits and opportunities afforded to these groups; to understand how these groups relate to the student’s academic discipline and American culture; and demonstrate their understanding through written work that provides them the opportunity to enhance their writing skills.

Humanities (H)
Humanities courses concentrate on the expression, analysis and interpretation of ideas and aesthetics or values that have formed and informed individuals and societies; and emphasize diversity in the expression of human ideas and aesthetic or cultural values. Goals of “H” courses are to prepare students to critically analyze the relationships of aesthetics, ideas or cultural values to historic and contemporary cultures; develop an understanding of how ideas, events, arts or texts shape diverse individual identities; and demonstrate their understanding through written work that provides them the opportunity to enhance their writing skills.

International Dimension (I)
Contemporary international culture courses emphasize contemporary cultures outside the United States. Goals of “I” courses are to prepare students to critically analyze one or more contemporary cultures external to the United States; understand how contemporary international cultures relate to complex, modern world systems; and demonstrate their understanding through written work that provides them the opportunity to enhance their writing skills.

Scientific Investigation (L)
Scientific investigation courses include the equivalent of at least one semester credit hour of laboratory experience aimed at interpreting scientific hypotheses and emphasize scientific inquiry and experimental methodology. Goals of “L” courses are to prepare students to critically analyze scientific problems, formulate hypotheses, conduct appropriate experiments, and interpret results; solve problems using scientific inquiry and experimental methodology; communicate procedures, results and conclusions to others; and demonstrate their understanding through written work appropriate to the discipline that provides them the opportunity to enhance their writing skills.

Natural Sciences (N)
Natural science courses feature the systematic study of natural processes, and the mechanisms and consequences of human intervention in those processes; and place primary emphasis on the subject matter of one or more basic physical or biological sciences in a broadly integrative fashion. Goals of “N” courses are to prepare students to understand the scientific inquiry process; critically analyze the physical world using the language and concepts of science; use the methodologies and models of science to select, define, solve, and evaluate problems in biological and physical sciences; evaluate evidence, interpretations, results, and solutions related to the physical and biological sciences; understand the consequences of human intervention in natural processes and mechanisms; and demonstrate their understanding through written work appropriate to the discipline that provides them the opportunity to enhance their writing skills.

Social and Behavioral Sciences (S)
Social and behavioral sciences courses propose theoretical constructs to explain human behavior and society in social and/or physical environments; and are based on empirical observation of human behavior rather than the study of aesthetics, ideas or cultural values. Goals of “S” courses are to prepare students to critically analyze generalizations about society and explore theoretical structures; understand the role of empirical observation in the social and behavioral structures; and demonstrate their understanding through written work that provides them the opportunity to enhance their writing skills.