08 General Education

//08 General Education
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General Education Purpose Statement

At the root of a liberal arts education is a group of courses that are usually referenced as general education requirements. To define this group of courses at McPherson College the faculty first identified qualities that would demonstrate the “ideal McPherson College graduate.” McPherson College’s general education program provides an opportunity for the development of a life-long learner who…

  • Speaks and writes clearly and effectively;
  • Acquires and evaluates information;
  • Understands and is able to use mathematical properties, processes, and symbols;
  • Understands religion and spiritual traditions as a quest for human identity and has examined his/her own beliefs;
  • Understands the concept of holistic health and is conscious of his/her physical, emotional and spiritual well-being;
  • Understands the cultural diversity of our global community;
  • Assesses value conflicts in issues and makes informed ethical decisions;
  • Understands the role of service and peace-making in the historical context of McPherson College and the Church of the Brethren;
  • Integrates knowledge and experience with exploration and choice of career;
  • Appreciates the arts and literature and is able to make informed aesthetic responses;
  • Understands his/her relationship to the physical and biological world and the methods of science;
  • Understands the economics, social, and historical contexts of society;
  • Thinks critically and creatively;
  • Demonstrates the appropriate use of technology within his/her academic discipline.

To this end, all students at McPherson College are expected to complete a common set of general education requirements, defined in terms of foundations, seminars, and distribution courses. Students must complete all the general education requirements as outlined below in order to graduate.

 

2023|08 General Education, Catalog 23-24|

General Education Foundation Courses

 

A. Oral Communication:

Student Learning Outcome: Students should be able to deliver messages appropriate to their audience, purpose, and context.

Performance Indicators – Students should be able to:

  1. Perform verbal and nonverbal communication behaviors that illustrate the competency of an effective communicator.
  2. Support and organize their ideas in a coherent manner.

Required: 1 Course
G-CM 130 Interpersonal Communication
G-CM 140 Public Speaking
G-CM 218 Business and Professional Communication

B. Written Communication & Information Literacy

Student Learning Outcome for Written Communication: Students should be able to write with skill and clarity.

Performance Indicators – Students should be able to:

  1. Produce writing that shows an awareness of audience.
  2. Support their ideas with appropriate details and examples.
  3. Coherently organize their writing.
  4. Produce writing that shows careful attention to craft.

Student Learning Outcome for Information Literacy: Students should be able to demonstrate ethical and efficient use of information.

Performance Indicators – Students should be able to:

  1. Show that they can find appropriate sources.
  2. Show that they can evaluate the reliability of sources.
  3. Use information from sources appropriately in their work.

Required: 4 Courses
G-EN 110 College Composition I
G-EN 111 College Composition II
and:
Students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts are required to take Spanish and one Language Intensive (LI) course in their major department.  Students pursuing a Bachelor of Science are required to take two Language Intensive courses with at least one LI course in the student’s major department.

Language Intensive – Oral and Written Communication

Student Learning Outcome for Oral Communication: Students should be able to clearly voice a coherent message.

Performance Indicators – Students should be able to:

  1. Show that they can speak clearly and audibly.
  2. Support their ideas with appropriate research.

Speaking Component

(1) Informal oral communication exercises should be used frequently in the LI classroom. Most often, these will consist of required participation in small-group and class discussions. LI instructors can make even routine student participation in class discussions and activities into helpful oral communication exercises simply by (a) raising students’ consciousness about the variety of signals they send when they speak informally in class, and (b) helping students eliminate their careless habits in speech and delivery.

(2) At least one formal oral presentation should be included in the LI course. The presentation, probably brief, may be delivered to part or all of the class, or some other audience. It may derive from a formal writing assignment, recast for oral delivery.

Student Learning Outcome for Written Communication: Students should be able to write with skill and clarity.

Performance Indicators – Students should be able to:

  1. Produce writing that shows an awareness of audience.
  2. Demonstrate effective participation in the writing process.
  3. Coherently organize their writing.
  4. Produce writing that shows careful attention to craft.

Writing Component

(1) Informal writing assignments should be frequent, perhaps one per class session, but certainly one per week. Most informal writing activities are in the “writing to learn” mode; that is, they are intended to push students to read, think about, and interpret course material more carefully and deeply than they otherwise might do. From a handful of basic, informal writing models, such as journals and microthemes, LI instructors can improvise an almost endless array of specific informal writing activities.

(2) Formal writing assignments should be substantial (but the meaning of “substantial” depends upon the course and the exact nature of the assignment). There should be at least one formal, polished piece of writing. Whenever possible, LI instructors should give formal assignments in stages, confer with students over drafts, and allow ample time for revision(s).

Courses designated as Language Intensive:

G-AR 310 Art History I
G-AR 311 Art History II
BA 475 Business Strategy & Policy
CI 455 Teaching-Learning Process
G-CM 130 Interpersonal Communication
G-CM 218 Business & Professional Communication
G-CM 221 Intercultural Communication
CM 220 Special Topics in Popular Culture
CM 475A Senior Seminar in Service in the Community
CM 475B Senior Seminar in Career Exploration
EE 303 Reading/Language Arts I
G-EN 210L Masterpieces of World Literature (4 hours)
G-EN 220L Contemporary World Literature (4 hours)
G-EN 255L American Literature II (4 hours)
G-EN 270L Fiction (4 hours)
EN 313 Expository Writing
G-EN 370L Poetry (4 hours)
EN 475B  Senior Project in English
G-HI/TE 333 Technology & Society
HI 475  Senior Thesis
MA 475 Senior Project in Mathematics
ML 385 Advanced Level Composition and Conversation
NS 300 Research Methods
NS 475 Senior Research
G-TH 265 Topics in Dramatic Literature
G-TH 385 Theatre History & Dramatic Literature I
TH 475 Senior Theatre Capstone
PE 304 Theories, Principles, and Leadership of Coaching
PE 445  Readings and Research for Health Science
G-PR 104L Ethics (4 hours)
G-PR 106L Spiritual Pathways
G-PS 215  Global Peace Studies
PS 475  Senior Thesis
PY 450 History and Systems of Psychology
PY 475 Senior Thesis
SO 475 Senior Thesis
TE 475 Senior Project

C. Mathematics

Student Learning Outcome: Students will be able to reason about and solve quantitative problems from a wide array of contexts.

Performance Indicators – Students should be able to:

    1. Identify a quantitative problem (Understand the problem.)
    2. Use mathematical processes to solve the problem (Devise and implement a plan.)
    3. Evaluate the solution for reasonableness and/or implications for further study. (Look back at your solution.)

Required: 3-4 hours chosen from the following:
G-MA 105 College Algebra
G-MA 106 Pre-Calculus
G-MA 111 Calculus I
G-MA 123 Discrete Mathematics
G-MA 153 Principles of Geometry
G-MA 201 Survey of Mathematics
G-BA 220 Business Applied Statistics
G-MA 221 Elementary Applied Statistics

D. Religion/Beliefs/Values

Student Learning Outcome: Students should be able to answer fundamental religious or philosophical questions.

Performance Indicators – Students should be able to:

  1. Develop answers relative to alternative religious/philosophical perspectives.
  2. Explain their position on religious or philosophical issues.

Required: 3-4 hours chosen from the following:
G-PR 101 God and People in Ancient Israel: Hebrew Bible Foundations
G-PR 102 Jesus: New Testament Foundations
G-PR 104 Ethics
*G-PR 104L Ethics (LI if taken as G-PR104L for 4 hours)
*G-PR 106L Spiritual Pathways: Transformation, Compassion, and Vocation
G-PR 107 Critical Thinking
G-PR 201 Introduction to Philosophy
G-PR 202 Christian Traditions
G-PR 203 Science and Religion
G-PR 204 Peacemaking: Religious Perspectives
G-PR 215 History of Philosophy
G-PR 302 Religion and Politics
G-PR 306 World Religions
G-PR 310 Religion and Law
G-PR 350 Philosophy of Religion
G-PR 360 Modern Logic

E. Wholeness/Health/Fitness

Student Learning Outcome: Students should be able to identify optimal behaviors that promote lifelong personal health.

Performance Indicators – Students should be able to:

  1. Develop a personal strategy for health and fitness emphasizing the physical domain.
  2. Illustrate the relationship between personal behaviors and lifelong health and wellness.

Required: 1 course 
G-PE 150 Concepts in Holistic Health
G-HS/PE 190 Social & Behavioral Determinants of Health

F. Global/Intercultural Experience

Student Learning Outcome: Students should be able to understand they live in a world of diverse cultures.

Performance Indicators – Students should be able to:

  1. Identify social, cultural, religious, or linguistic differences.
  2. Explain how values and contributions of diverse societies affect individual experiences.

Required: 3 hours+ chosen from the following:
G-BA 342IT International Business (Travel required)
G-CI 251
Introduction to Education Practicum
G-CI 333 Intercultural Education
*G-CM 221 Intercultural Communication
G-EN 210 Masterpieces of World Literature
*G-EN 210L Masterpieces of World Literature (LI if taken as G-EN 210L for four hours)
G-EN 220 Contemporary World Literature
*G-EN 220L Contemporary World Literature (LI if taken as G-EN 220L for four hours)
*G-HI/TE 333 Technology and Society
G-ML 108 Spanish Level I
G-ML 109 Spanish Level II
G-ML 208 Spanish Level III
G-ML 209 Spanish Level IV
G-ML 350 Junior Year Abroad
G-MU 210 Introduction to World Music
G-PR 306 World Religions
G-PS 130 Principles of Geography
*G-PS 215 Global Peace Studies
G-SO 202 Minorities in the U.S.

+Students completing a Bachelor of Arts degree must take G-ML 108 Level I Spanish for three hours as well as three additional hours in the Global/Intercultural Experience Foundation. These students will be required to take only one Language Intensive (LI) course.

College Seminars

In the seminar series, students will demonstrate (1) that they have explored traditional Church of the Brethren values; (2) that they understand service-learning and can complete a service project; (3) that they can make informed ethical decisions in personal and professional situations; and (4) that they have investigated career options in the fields of study. In addition, the various seminars address the following goals.

  1. G-ID 101 Academic Community Essentials (ACE) Seminar: Students will show that they have learned about college life, create a degree plan, and practice good study skills, critical thinking, and conflict resolution.
  2. G-ID 201 Sophomore Seminar: Students will complete a service project, develop a career plan, and show that they have explored internship options.
  3. Senior Capstone Experience: Students will complete a senior project, as designed by department faculty.
2023|08 General Education, Catalog 23-24|

General Education Distribution Courses

Humanities:

Required: 6 hours, with a course of at least 2 hours from each category: the arts and literature

Student Learning Outcome for Fine Arts: Students should be able to demonstrate an understanding of the process by which art is created.

Performance Indicators – Students should be able to:

  1. Demonstrate an understanding of the process by which art is created.
  2. Experience art through theory or practice.
  3. Demonstrate skill and control of the elements appropriate to the medium chosen.

G-AR 101 Drawing I
G-AR 102 Painting I
G-AR 131 Ceramics I
G-AR 220 Graphic Design for Non-Art Majors
*G-AR 310 Art History I
*G-AR 311 Art History II
G-AR 350 Sculpture
G-MU 132 College Choir
G-MU 134 College Band
G-MU 161 Music Appreciation
G-MU 210 Introduction to World Music
G-TH 100 Theatre as a Social Art
G-TH 110 The Business of Professional Entertainment (requires travel)
G-TH 125 Film and Culture
G-TH 160 Acting I
G-TH 170 Technical Theatre I
G-TH 270 Technical Theatre II

Student Learning Outcome for Literature: Students should be able to demonstrate an understanding of the functions and purposes of literature.

Performance Indicators – Students should be able to:

  1. Demonstrate knowledge of literary terms and genre.
  2. Demonstrate an ability to think analytically about texts.
  3. Articulate ways in which literature is shaped by culture.

G-EE 210 Children’s Literature (3 credits)
G-EN 210 Masterpieces of World Literature (3 credits)
*G-EN 210L Masterpieces of World Literature (4 credits)
G-EN 220 Contemporary World Literature (3 credits)
*G-EN 220L Contemporary World Literature (4 credits)
G-EN 235 Selected Topics in Literature (3 credits)
G-EN 255 American Literature II (3 credits)
*G-EN 255L American Literature II (4 credits)
G-EN 270 Fiction (3 credits)
*G-EN 270L Fiction (4 credits)
G-EN 370 Poetry (3 credits)
*G-EN 370L Poetry (4 credits)
G-TH 265 Topics in Dramatic Literature (3 credits)
G-TH 385 Theatre History and Dramatic Literature I (3 credits; 4 credits if taken as language intensive)

Natural Sciences:

Student Learning Outcome: Students should be able to demonstrate an understanding of how the natural sciences construct knowledge of the world.

Performance Indicators – Students should be able to:

  1. Summarize the current consensus of the scientific community with regard to the structure and function of some aspect of the physical or biological world.
  2. Illustrate their knowledge of the changing nature of the consensus of the scientific community with regard to the structure and function of some aspect of the physical or biological world, by outlining the historical changes in that consensus.
  3. Report on their experiences with those methods and processes of the natural sciences which they conducted in the laboratory.

Required: 7 hours, one lab, one course from life and one course from physical sciences

Life Sciences
G-BI 101 Principles of Biology
G-BI 103 Food and Fitness
G-BI 111 College Biology I
G-BI 201 Biodiversity
G-BI 210 Principles of Nutrition
G-NS 100 Science & Society
G-NS 106 Sensational: Physics, Chemistry & Biology of the Senses
G-NS 141 Environmental Science

Physical Sciences
G-CH 101 Principles of Chemistry
G-CH 105 GOB Chemistry for Life
G-CH 111 College Chemistry I
G-NS 100 Science & Society
G-NS 106 Sensational: Physics, Chemistry & Biology of the Senses
G-NS 141 Environmental Science
G-NS 245 Climatology
G-PC 251 Geology
G-PC 275 Astronomy
G-PH 201 Principles of Physics
G-PH205 College Physics I
G-PH 215 General Physics I

Social Sciences:

Required: 9 hours, one each from behavioral sciences, social institutions, and history

Student Learning Outcome for Behavioral Sciences: Students should be able to illustrate the relationship between the self and the social world.

Performance Indicators – Students should be able to:

  1. Describe the ways in which social world shapes the self.
  2. Describe the ways in which the self alters the social world.

G-CM 120 Introduction to Human Communication
G-PY 101 Introduction to Psychology
G-SO 101 Introduction to Sociology
G-SO 246 Marriage and Family

Student Learning Outcome for Social Institutions: Students should be able to understand the basic concepts of social institutions.

Performance Indicators – Students should be able to:

  1. Identify a social institution at work in human affairs.
  2. Explain how social institutions influence peoples’ lives.

G-BA 130 Principles of Business Management
G-BA 230 Personal Finance
G-CI 150 Introduction to Education
G-ET 201 Social  Entrepreneurship
G-PS/HI 101 Historical Introduction to Politics
G-PS 102 U.S. Government
G-PS 125 International Relations
G-SO 246 Marriage and Family

Student Learning Outcome for History: Students should be able to demonstrate knowledge of the historical method.

Performance Indicators – Students should be able to:

  1. Compose a historical question.
  2. Apply that question to historical evidence to interpret the past.

G-HI/PS 101  Historical Introduction to Politics
G-HI 110 World Civilization to 1500
G-HI 120 World Civilization since 1500
G-HI 130 Introductory Methods for Historical Analysis
G-HI 140 American History to 1877
G-HI 150 American History since 1877
G-HI 205 Social History of the Automobile
G-HI 210 International Travel Study in History
G-HI 220 Modern Europe
G-HI 235 Topics in World History
G-HI 236 Topics in Social History
G-HI 237 Topics in Political History
G-HI 261 Kansas History

2023|08 General Education, Catalog 23-24|