DESCRIPTION OF COURSES INCLUDED IN THIS COLUMN: By taking courses in this area students learn to explore specific approaches to critical and creative thinking. They use varied tools and methodologies as ways of knowing, evaluate sources of information to draw conclusions and communicate effectively, and engage in arts practice.
Rhetoric and Inquiry
DESCRIPTION OF COURSES IN THIS AREA: This area introduces students to writing as a process-based approach to producing texts for different rhetorical occasions that emerge in academic and public contexts. Students learn to situate an original argument within the framework of other speakers, practice critical inquiry, and understand conventions associated with a range of genres. A major goal of this area is to help students understand how their prior writing knowledge informs their work and how to transfer the writing knowledge and skills they’ve learned to future writing projects.
BY THE END OF TAKING A COURSE IN THIS AREA:
Writing Process: Students learn and practice the various stages of the writing process, including brainstorming prewriting; posing effective research questions; researching; drafting; providing, receiving, and implementing feedback; enacting substantial revision; editing; and proofreading.
Rhetorical Occasion: Students develop an understanding of rhetorical occasions both as readers and creators of texts and practice composing for a variety of purposes, in a variety of genres and modes, while appealing to a variety of audiences.
Metacognitive Reflection: Students develop metacognitive reflection abilities that work to promote transfer of writing knowledge, skills, and the process of producing and accessing information.
Reflective Discovery and Analysis of Information: Students locate, generate, identify, interpret, and critically evaluate information, evidence, arguments and ideas, recognizing that authority is constructed and contextual. Students analyze their own and others' assumptions and incorporate reliable and valid information effectively and ethically for an intended purpose.
Inquiry into Patterns, Data and Reasoning
DESCRIPTION OF COURSES IN THIS AREA: Students will discover how and why logical, mathematical, and computational ideas, concepts, and reasoning empower them to use and understand pattern, structure, data, shape and form in the world around us. In order to meet the commonwealth’s equity agenda this will be a college level math class designated by course identifier MATH01XX.
BY THE END OF TAKING A COURSE IN THIS AREA:
Active Sense-Making: Students (a) demonstrate the mathematical skills and abilities to solve problems, collect and analyze data, model, compute, reason, and (b) explain why the tools, methods and ways of thinking they use make sense.
Critical Thinking: Students identify problems, questions and beliefs; create and gather relevant information, data and evidence; use inquiry, observation and innovation to generate solutions, arguments and explanations which provide meaningful conclusions, decisions and evaluations which are based on logical, causal, inferential or other appropriate forms of reasoning.
Mathematical Structures: Students (a) use mathematical methods of inquiry and analysis; (b) structure logical, mathematical, and/or computational arguments and proofs; and, (c) build, test, and evaluate mathematical models.
Perceptions: Students reflect on mathematics’ role in society, its place in their educational programs and its potential to provide them with access and agency in their personal, professional, financial, creative and/or civic lives.
Communication: Students disseminate knowledge and share results using effective and appropriate communication, technical, qualitative, and quantitative skills.
Creative Arts Practice
DESCRIPTION OF COURSES IN THIS AREA: Students will engage in the arts and the practice of creative arts with the goals of understanding the discipline, developing their unique voice, and becoming active citizens of the arts community on campus and beyond. Through course selection students will have the opportunity to select from the many ways to participate in an artistic experience.
BY THE END OF TAKING A COURSE IN THIS AREA:
Engagement: Students engage in arts or creative practice, drawing on models from the discipline and/or historical and genre contexts.
Creative Expression: Students engage with others in the arts/creative expression through group endeavors, audience participation, public presentations and/or exchange of feedback on work in development.
Creativity: Students demonstrate innovative thought, and imagine new or alternative concepts and expressions in original ways.
Critique: Students critically evaluate artistic and creative expressions, learn to look with attention to study the connections between the creative process and the creation of a piece of artwork, and learn to professionally give and receive feedback.
Artistic Process: Students practice the technical skill, process, and improvement involved in the generation of creative work.
Inquiry into the Natural Sciences
DESCRIPTION OF COURSES IN THIS AREA: Students will explore scientific inquiry as a way of knowing the natural world, which includes but is not limited to fields such as, physics, biology, chemistry, ecology, geology, astronomy, geography, and their interrelationships.(additional terms requested by Professors Rees 5/21 & Braun 9/25)
BY THE END OF TAKING A COURSE IN THIS AREA:
Process of Science: Students use the methods employed by scientists to explore natural phenomena. They make observations, develop hypotheses, propose experiments, measure and collect data, and evaluate evidence.
Disciplinary Concepts: Students describe the major concepts, methods, and theories of the discipline, make connections among concepts, and use disciplinary concepts and models to explain natural phenomena.
Roles of Science in Society: Students examine the potential contributions and limits of scientific endeavors in human society, critique science-related content in popular discourse and daily life, and evaluate the influence of society on science.
Reflective Discovery and Analysis of Information: Students locate, generate, identify, interpret, and critically evaluate information, evidence, arguments and ideas, recognizing that authority is constructed and contextual. Students analyze their own and others' assumptions and incorporate reliable and valid information effectively and ethically for an intended purpose.
Communication: Students disseminate knowledge and share results using effective and appropriate communication, technical, qualitative, and quantitative skills.
Exploring Writing in the Major
(credits and learning outcomes determined by major)
DESCRIPTION OF COURSES IN THIS AREA: Students will be introduced to the discourse of the discipline/field either in English 204 or a course offered by the major department. This course will build on the skills students learn in Rhetoric and Composition and in Writing Infused courses. Students learn strategies to locate, analyze, synthesize and generate research in rhetorically effective, genre- or discipline-specific ways.
OTHER NOTES ABOUT this area:
*This can be part of an existing course in the major that provides writing instruction or a course such as the current ENGL 204: Composition II
As a university curriculum requirement this will appear on students’ degree audit.