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Area Requirements
To become educated, a student needs to experience a wide range of disciplines within the Liberal Arts and to develop physical, communication, and reasoning skills. Each course in the area requirements contains the following common characteristics: the assumptions of the discipline; how the discipline approaches knowing; the basic concepts, methodology, and terminology of the discipline; the instructor's approach to the discipline; how to access information in the discipline; how to evaluate information in the discipline; and how to apply the discipline to daily life.
Humanities. Students must demonstrate a breadth of understanding in the Humanities through study in literature, philosophical/religious thought, or mass media. This study develops an appreciation for the philosophical, aesthetic, and cultural systems that have influenced Western thought and, to a lesser degree, the major systems that affected other civilizations. Undergirding this study is an appreciation for the value systems that have infused these various cultures.
Fine Arts. Students must be exposed to the history and aesthetics of art, music, or theater as well as engaging in an artistic process. This study fosters appreciation of aesthetic form and understanding of basic theory in both the historical and the contemporary contexts, and provides the experience of artistic creation.
Social Science. Students must demonstrate a basic understanding of the economic, historical, and political forces that have impacted civilization and the conditions that have influenced human behavior, collectively and individually.
Natural Sciences. Students must demonstrate an understanding of the fundamental physical and biological principles in nature and the methodology used in applying them, as well as develop a philosophical and historical perspective of nature from the viewpoint of science. This study provides information necessary for the critical analysis of issues facing individuals and societies, with emphasis on the relationships between the human species and environment.
Mathematics. Students must show sufficient ability in algebraic formulation, basic computation, and problem-solving to understand the purpose and function of mathematics in a social context. This study enhances the student's grasp of complex systems and abstract thought processes. English Language Skills. Students must show satisfactory proficiency in English composition, including standard grammar, usage, and rhetorical approaches. They are required to analyze effective writing and learn the process of preparing investigative, research-based papers with documentation that is intellectually honest and in correct form. Students must also show that they can speak effectively before small groups and larger audiences.
Movement and Sports Science. Students need to learn how to make fitness a part of their lifelong activities by participating in a multifaceted fitness course. This participation provides a basis for appreciating the value of physical exercise and its relationship to lifelong social, physical, and psychological development. Intercollegiate athletic participation does not satisfy this general education requirement.
