The core curriculum learning goals describe the attributes and abilities each Illinois Tech graduate should demonstrate. These learning goals align with the skillls most valued by employers in the 21st century. These include the ability to communicate, engage in teamwork, problem-solve, and analyze information. 

To fully prepare Illinois Tech graduates for the workforce, in concert with and complementing core learning objectives within the various degree programs, the core curriculum contributes significantly to IIT's overall goal that its graduates: 

Be committed to positive change in their communities, nations, and the world, able to

• Identify and analyze contemporary issues and problems.

• Compare and contrast different points of view, both within and across cultures.

Think critically, viewing problems as opportunities for innovation, able to

• Appropriately employ multiple quantitative and qualitative methods of analysis and evaluation.

• Employ the best available technology to achieve solutions.

Collaborate professionally and ethically, able to

• Work successfully with others within and across disciplines and cultures.

• Identify and discuss ethical issues.

Communicate effectively, able to

• Establish an objective, and clearly and cohesively support it.

• Speak and write in a manner that does not require significant work by the audience to fill in needed information or to ignore linguistic distractions.

• Speak and write appropriately within and across disciplines and cultures.

Each semester, the Core Curriculum Assessment Committee (CCAC) collaborates with faculty to measure student achievement of the learning objectives in the core designation.  CCAC members reach out to faculty prior to and at the beginning of each semester to outline the process and field questions.  CCAC works with faculty members to 

• identify student work (artifacts) that demonstrate achievement of the learning objectives for the designation.

• create a rubric that aligns with the learning objectives.

• measure student achievement of the learning objectives.

At the conclusion of the assessment cycle, the CCAC aggregates data and submits the report to the Undergraduate Studies Committee.  Strengths, as well as areas of needed improvement, are identified, and the faculty is engaged in suggesting revisions. This enables Illinois Tech to refine its core curriculum in the spirit of continuous improvement.

Natural Science (N)

1. Students will demonstrate an empirical and/or theoretical understanding of the natural world that is based upon observation and the scientific method

2. Students will be able to think critically about the natural world, to offer meaningful explanations of natural phenomena, and develop and test hypotheses about natural phenomena

3. Students will be able to communicate concepts of and contemporary issues in the natural sciences to the general population (i.e., not those educated in the natural sciences) in a way that is accessible to them.

UGSC approved revision 28 March 2023

Computer Science  (CS)

1. Students will be able to use computation to represent problems (i.e. abstraction) and implement solutions using an appropriate programming environment.

2. Students will be able to use computation to demonstrate algorithmic thinking. 

3. Students will be able to utilize computational applications for modeling, simulation or visualization.

4. Students will be able to explain the limitations, assumptions, and trade-offs inherent in computing models.

5. Students will be able to apply a software development process (specification/ requirements, design, programming /documentation, debugging /testing).

Social Science  (S)

1. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the scientific study of individual and group behavior

2. Students will demonstrate an understanding of fundamental concepts, theory or methods
   from one or more of the social/behavioral sciences (e.g., anthropology, economics, sociology, political science or psychology).

3. Students will demonstrate critical thinking about human behavior and society to offer meaningful explanations of social and individual behavior.

4. Students will be able to frame social science problems broadly in a way that is accessible to the general population (i.e., not exclusively for majors within a specific discipline)

Mathematics  (MATH)

1. Students will be able to perform mathematical calculations by applying mathematical rules, symbolic manipulations, definitions, and/or theorems correctly.

2. Students will be able to demonstrate their understanding of mathematical concepts and support their work claims using valid arguments.

UGSC approved 28 March 2023

Interprofessional Projects (IPRO)

1. Students will demonstrate the ability to contribute to solutions to

open-ended problems of community and societal relevance that require an interdisciplinary approach

2. Students will demonstrate effective interdisciplinary teamwork skills

3. Students will demonstrate their ability to effectively communicate across

disciplinary boundaries

4. Students will demonstrate their ability to identify and evaluate the ethical implications of their solutions and actions.

UGSC approved Apr 25, 2023

Introduction to the Profession (ITP)

1. Ethics: Students will demonstrate an understanding of the ethical framework applicable to the discipline. Students will be able to understand the importance of ethics to the profession. Students will be able to recognize ethical issues and propose ethical responses to ethical problems.

2. Communication: Students will be able to understand the standards of professional communication used within the profession. Students will be able to communicate (understand, and respond) in a discipline specific fashion

3. Professionalism: Students will be able to understand the norms of professional behavior within the discipline. Students will be able to discuss and understand how professional conduct reflects on and supports the discipline.

UGSC approved:  24 Feb 2015

Humanities  (HUM)

1.  Students will be able to articulate questions about human expressions and experiences.

2. Students will demonstrate understanding of the language and concepts of the humanities and arts.

3.  Students will produce original work of creative expression (e.g.,creative writing, argumentative research paper, fine arts).

UGSC approved 10 Oct 2023

Communication (COM)

1. Students can critically read and analyze a variety of texts (e.g.,news articles, academic papers, data sets) in order to develop their own claims in writing.

2. Students can craft a text with attention to audience, purpose,context, and conventions.

3. Students can revise their text through participation in multiple phases of the writing process (e.g., pre-writing, drafting,revising, peer-review, editing).

4. Students can appropriately use evidence (e.g., data, cited sources) as part of their argument.

5. Students can present an effective argument in the appropriate medium of communication, which can include written visual, oral, or other emergent forms of

communication.

6. Students can communicate specialized knowledge appropriately for an audience.

UGSC Approved 26 March 2024

MEMBERS

• Edoarda Corradi 

• Nicole Ditchman 

• Diane Fifles

• Erin Hazard

• Mary Jorgenson Sullivan

• Nicolas Menhart

• Georgia Papavasiliou

• Hannah Ringler

• Priyanka Sharma

• Gabe Smith

•  Kathryn Spink

• Joseph Renow

If you are interested in serving on the Core Curriculum Assessment Committee, please contact dfifles@iit.edu.