Faculty Resources for General Education

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) for the program include the following:

1. Students read college-level texts for comprehension.
2. Students write effectively for a targeted college-level audience using the conventions of standard American English.
3. Students speak effectively in a variety of contexts.
4. Students effectively apply quantitative reasoning in a variety of different contexts.
5. Students employ current research technologies in the process of locating, analyzing, evaluating, and using information.
6. Students effectively identify how important concepts, events, or people have significantly impacted forms of creative expression.
7. Students effectively examine aspects of human cultures, past or present, from a variety of perspectives.
8. Students effectively study the natural world through the use of scientific principles.
9. Students effectively examine the complex ethical/social responsibilities of American citizenship.
10. Students utilize critical thinking skills to address human problems.

COURSES IN THE GENERAL EDUCATION PROGRAM

The program faculty will cultivate its SLOs through instruction in general education courses. Students complete the program by taking courses in three areas known as Foundations, Level 2, and Level 3.

The Foundations area, the core of our general education program, includes courses in public speaking (3 hours), mathematics/quantitative reasoning (3-4 hours), writing (6 hours), and first-year experience (3 hours). These courses reinforce fundamental skills needed for success in college and beyond, including critical thinking, reading, writing, reasoning, and preparedness for success. All degree-seeking students must complete the Foundations requirements.

The Level 2 courses introduce students to the major areas of study through a broad survey of critical knowledge areas (i.e., categories) such as natural sciences, social and behavioral sciences, and arts and humanities. Students in associate degree programs must complete one social and behavioral science course at this level. Students in baccalaureate degree programs must complete one social and behavioral science course, one arts and humanities course, and two natural science courses at this level.

The Level 3 courses encourage students to appreciate global diversity and the importance of civil and just society. The courses in Level 3 are more specialized survey courses in the social and behavioral sciences and arts and humanities categories. Students in associate degree programs must complete one (non-literature) arts and humanities course at this level. Students in baccalaureate degree programs must complete one (non-literature) arts and humanities course and one social and behavioral science course at this level.

The program courses by area and category can be found here for each degree level:

• General education requirements for associate degree programs
• General education requirements for bachelor's degree programs

To view course descriptions for courses, refer to the Academic Catalog.

COURSE ALIGNMENT TO STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

General education faculty design their courses in the program to foster the SLOs that are assigned to them. Each category is aligned with two student learning outcomes, and each course within a given category is expected to meet these common goals.

All courses in a particular category should work toward development of the assigned SLOs, but faculty have broad latitude to exercise their discipline expertise and academic freedom in how they do so.

View SLO Alignment Map

ASSESSMENT

Student attainment of the course SLOs will be assessed regularly, and faculty will submit their assessment results to the institution for review. The goal is to use the assessment results not only to determine the extent to which students have achieved the outcomes set for them by the program but also to determine where improvements in the program are needed to foster attainment better. Course-level, category-level, and program-level improvements in general education may be necessary to better prepare students for success, so the faculty will work together in groups to review their assessment results and propose/implement changes.

View Assessment Schedule

RUBRICS

For each course in the general education program, the faculty who teach it will work together to develop common assignments to measure student attainment of the course SLOs. All sections of the course will use the same assignments, and common rubrics will be applied to them to determine the extent to which students have attained the SLO(s). The rubrics that faculty will use to assess student attainment of each SLO are below:

• Rubric for SLO #1
• Rubric for SLO #2
• Rubric for SLO #3
• Rubric for SLO #4
• Rubric for SLO #5
• Rubric for SLO #6
• Rubric for SLO #7
• Rubric for SLO #8
• Rubric for SLO #9
• Rubric for SLO #10

Departments offering a course that is slated to be in the 2021+ general education program should verify the assessment strategies that they plan to use for each SLO by describing the common assignments (i.e., assessment measures) that will be used by all sections of the course to the General Education Council for review. Departments should use the Verification of Assessment Strategies form at the outset of the program and at any point where assessment strategies for the course change.

MANAGEMENT OF GENERAL EDUCATION

The general education program is managed by the General Education Council, a standing committee populated by the Faculty Senate.  

Departments or faculty who wish to propose a new general education course should contact the Office of Undergraduate Education & Student Success for more information at uess@moreheadstate.edu or 606-783-2003.