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VSU GENERAL EDUCATION OUTCOMES

  1. Students will demonstrate understanding of the society of the United States and its ideals.  They will possess the requisite knowledge of the society of the United States, its ideals, and its functions to enable them to become informed and responsible citizens. They will understand the connections between the individual and society and the roles of social institutions. They will understand the structure and operational principles of the United States government and economic system. They will understand United States history and both the historical and present role of the United States in the world.
  2. Students will demonstrate cross-cultural perspectives and knowledge of other societies.  They will possess sufficient knowledge of various aspects of another culture, including the language, social and religious customs, aesthetic expression, geography, and intellectual and political history, to enable them to interact with individuals within that society from an informed perspective. They will possess an international viewpoint that will allow them to examine critically the culture of their own nation and to participate in global society.
  3. Students will use computer and information technology when appropriate. They will demonstrate knowledge of computer concepts and terminology. They will possess basic working knowledge of a computer operating system. They will be able to use at least two software tools, such as word processors, spreadsheets, database management systems, or statistical packages. They will be able to find information using computer searching tools.
  4. Students will express themselves clearly, logically. and precisely in writing and in speaking, and they will demonstrate competence in reading and listening. They will display the ability to write coherently in standard English; to speak well; to read, to understand, and to interpret the content of written materials in various disciplines; and to listen effectively and to understand different modes of communication.
  5. Students will demonstrate knowledge of scientific and mathematical principles and proficiency in laboratory practices.  They will understand the basic concepts and principles underlying scientific methodology and be able to collect, analyze, and interpret data. They will learn a body of scientific knowledge and be able to judge the merits of arguments about scientific issues. They will be able to perform basic algebraic manipulations and to use fundamental algebraic concepts to solve word problems and equations. They will be able to use basic knowledge of statistics to interpret and to analyze data. They will be able to evaluate arguments based on quantitative data.
  6. Students will demonstrate knowledge of diverse cultural heritages in the arts, the humanities, and the social sciences. They will develop understanding of the relationships among the visual and performing arts, literature and languages, and history and the social sciences. Students will be versed in approaches appropriate to the study of those disciplines; they will identify and respond to a variety of aesthetic experiences and engage in critical thinking about diverse issues. They will be able to identify the components of and respond to aesthetic experiences in the visual and performing arts. They will develop knowledge of world literature within its historical and cultural frameworks. They will understand modem issues within a historical context and the role of the individual in various forms of societies and governments.
  7. Students will demonstrate the ability to analyze, to evaluate, and to make inferences from oral, written. and visual materials.  They will be skilled in inquiry, logical reasoning, and critical analysis. They will be able to acquire and evaluate relevant information, analyze arguments, synthesize facts and information, and offer logical arguments leading to creative solutions to problems.
  8. Students will demonstrate knowledge of principles of ethics and their employment in the analysis and resolution of moral problems. They will recognize and understand issues in applied ethics. They will understand their own value systems in relation to other value systems. They will judge values and practices in a variety of disciplines.