Mar 28, 2024  
2013-2014 Undergraduate 
    
2013-2014 Undergraduate [ARCHIVED BULLETIN]

General Education


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Director of General Education
Dr. David Belcastro
Renner Hall 337
Phone: (614) 236-6771
Email: dbelcast@capital.edu

Capital University is committed to the liberal education of whole persons, both in our majors and in our General Education program. A liberal education read- ies the mind and spirit for every arena of life—the workplace, the home, the market, houses of worship and town halls. General Education enhances liberal education by developing intellectual skills, expanding the breadth of learning through the exploration of several modes of enquiry, increasing cultural literacy and challenging students to examine foundational ethical and cultural assumptions. It enables students to think critically and reflect on vocation, citizenship, service, religious and ethical commitments—as well as on the role of play, wonder, travel and life-long learning in a rich and rewarding life.

At Capital we have organized our General Education program around five central themes: Intellectual Skills, Living in the Contemporary World, Modes of Inquiry, Interpreting Texts and Images, and Ethical Thought. Our curriculum is developed and extends throughout the college experience.

General Education Goals:


Intellectual and Academic Skills


Goal 1. Reading and Writing Skills


Students will be able to read critically and express ideas clearly in standard written English.

Objectives:

  • Compose a variety of types of effective essays complete with clearly articulated theses, convincing evidence, effective organization, appropriate paragraphing and acceptable grammatical skills.
  • Demonstrate library and Internet research skills and documentation strategy in researching at least one paper.
  • Engage in writing as a process of critiquing, revising and editing.
  • Comprehend and critically evaluate a variety of written discourse.

Goal 2. Speaking and Listening Skills


Students will be able to speak and listen effectively in a variety of contexts.

Objectives:

  • Analyze and evaluate the principles, processes and functions and modes of oral communication in a variety of contexts.
  • Demonstrate the ability to formulate speech purpose, utilize evidence and assemble and effectively present an oral message.
  • Describe, analyze and develop critical listening skills.
  • Develop strategies for communication in interpersonal, small group and public communication settings.

Goal 3. Quantitative Reasoning


Students will demonstrate the capacity for using quantitative skills, thinking logically and evaluating quantitative information critically.

Objectives:

  • Solve problems arising in everyday life and in a range of fields of enquiry by the application of mathematical tools.
  • Evaluate quantitative description and inference by the application of analytical methods.

Living in the Contemporary World


Goal 4. Global Awareness


Students will demonstrate knowledge of the interdependence of geographic, economic, political, social and cultural realities in the contemporary world.

Objectives:

  • Analyze geographic, economic, political, social and cultural realities in at least two regions of the contemporary world.
  • Identify global interrelationships among those regions and explain some major current world issues and challenges.
  • Critically evaluate current media presentations of global issues and challenges.

Goal 5. Cultural Diversity


Students will demonstrate an understanding of cultural diversity and social responsibility, and explore the historical and contemporary sources of prejudice and discrimination, with primary emphasis on the United States.

Objectives:

  • Explain the historical and contemporary sources of prejudice and discrimination in the United States.
  • Identify the patterns of diversity and issues and problems that emerge in our pluralistic society.
  • Critique one’s own ability to assess personal behaviors, beliefs and attitudes in the development of commitments to social responsibility in our changing society.

Modes of Inquiry


Goal 6. Fine Arts


Students will integrate experience, theory and context through an exploration of at least one of the arts.

Objectives:

  • Demonstrate knowledge of a variety of works in at least one of the arts.
  • Demonstrate the interrelationship of concepts, theory (in the general sense), practice and media in at least one of the arts.
  • Examine the significance of at least one of the arts and its influence in culture and in one’s life.

Goal 7. Religion


Students will demonstrate an understanding of the dimensions of religion in life; including the basic tenets of Christianity or historical-critical approaches to biblical studies.

Objectives:

  • Examine the nature of religion and its role in culture and in one’s life.
  • Articulate the basic tenets of Christianity or a knowledge of the historical approaches to the Bible.

Goal 8. Social Science


Students will demonstrate an understanding of the ways social scientists analyze society, through the study of at least one of the social sciences.

Objectives:

  • Demonstrate a knowledge of the methods of inquiry used in at least one social science.
  • Identify scholar’s hypotheses, assumptions and generalizations, as well as how their research findings are limited.
  • Apply knowledge of a social science to the critical understanding of some contemporary societal issues.

Interpreting Texts and Images


Goal 9. Natural Science


Students will demonstrate an understanding natural sciences, including an awareness of the relationship between the natural sciences and society.

Objectives:

  • Demonstrate an understanding of the natural sciences as a mode of knowing.
  • Explain at least two theories or paradigms of modern science.
  • Explain the relationship between science and society.
  • Experience a laboratory component that includes experimental inquiry, data collection, and analysis.

 

Goal 10. Humanities


Students will demonstrate an understanding of the human experience through studies that integrate history, literature, philosophy, religion and the arts.

Objectives:

  • Examine representative intellectual and artistic works that express the dimensions of human experience.
  • Articulate the relatedness of history, literature, philosophy and the arts.
  • Interpret contemporary cultural activities in light of these integrative studies.

Ethical Thought


Goal 11. Ethical Thought


Students will achieve an understanding of basic moral issues, practice critical and constructive ethical reflection, and consider alternative patterns of moral grounding, including Judeo-Christian tradition.

Objectives:

  • Critically examine moral issues students will be likely to face personally, professionally and as responsible citizens, articulating the grounding and implications of the positions.
  • Interpret the ethical issues raised by contemporary events, examining their sources and interrelatedness.
  • Articulate some of the basic positions and principles embodied in the development of ethical thought, including sources in the Judeo-Christian tradition.

Model General Education Track


Year Goals
Freshman 1-4
Sophomore 5-9
Junior 10
Senior 11

 

Ways of Fulfilling These Goals:


Presently there are four ways in which students may demonstrate that these goals have been met:

A. Course Curriculum


Successful completion of University Core courses (UC) are taken as meeting these goals. Some Goals also have Cognate courses that have also been determined to meet the requirements of these Goals.

Intellectual and Academic Skills (Freshman Year)


Goal 1. Reading and Writing Skills

Goal 2. Speaking and Listening Skills

Note:

 

  • First-Year students must complete UC 110 and UC 120 during their first year. They should not, if possible, take concurrently.
    Students with an English ACT of 28 or higher, or a Verbal SAT of 630, are waived for the UC 110  requirement. These students should enroll in UC 120  in the Fall Term of their first year.
  • Students with an English ACT of 18 or lower, or a Verbal SAT of 470 or lower, are required to take ENGL 100 : Basic Writing prior to UC 110 . These students should enroll in ENGL 100  and UC 120  in the Fall Term of their first year, followed by UC 110  in the Spring Term of their first year.
  • All other students should enroll in either UC 110  or UC 120  in the Fall Term, followed by the other in Spring Term.  
Goal 3. Quantitative Reasoning

Living in the Contemporary World (Freshman/Sophomore Year)


Goal 4. Global Awareness

Cognate courses:

Modes of Inquiry (Sophomore Year)


Interpreting Texts and Images (Junior Year)


Ethical Thought


B. Major Curriculum.


By virtue of a course required for a specific major a student may satisfy both a General Education and major requirement. For example, students majoring in mathematics meet the Quantitative Reasoning goal and satisfy a major requirement by completing Calculus I. What follows is a list of goals met within the following majors:

  Major Goal Fulfilled
  Accounting 3, 8
  Art 6
  Art Therapy 6
  Biochemistry 3, 9
  Biology 3, 9
  Business Administration 3, 8
  Chemistry 3, 9
  Communication 6
  Computer Science 3
  Conservatory majors (BA Majors excluded) 6
  Criminology 3, 8
  Economics 3, 8
  Economics—Political Science 8
  Education 8
  Education (Early Childhood) 3, 8
  Electronic Media and Film 6
  Engineering (Dual Degree program) 3, 9
  English - Creative Writing 6
  Environmental Science 3, 8, 9
  Financial Economics 3, 8
  French 4
  Health and Sports Science 9
  History (only with teacher licensure) 4, 8
  Leadership & Management 3, 8
  Marketing 3, 8
  Mathematics 3
  Music Technology 6
  Nursing 3, 8, 9
  Organizational Communication 6, 8
  Political Science 8
  Political Science (only with teacher licensure) 4, 8
  Psychology 3, 8
  Public Relations 6
  Religion 7
  Social Work 5, 8
  Sociology 3, 8
  Theatre 6

 

C. Transferred Coursework


Capital University has equivalency guides with many Ohio colleges and universities. Courses transferred to Capital that align with the transfer agreements will automatically be taken as having met the appropriate UC learning goal. Please note that some courses listed in the equivalency guides require the submission of a syllabus for acceptance. The articulation agreement is available on the Capital University Web site.

Coursework that is not specified in the equivalency guides may sometimes also be used to meet a general education goal, subject to review of the course syllabus. Transfer students may combine several courses from several different prior universities to petition for a substitution. Please use the General Education Waiver form to petition for this kind of substitution. Attach all syllabi to the General Education Waiver form, and submit the petition to the Academic Success Office, allowing two weeks for the Director of General Education to make a decision. Petitions submitted after April 15 may not be processed until the next academic year. All petitions for transferred coursework should be submitted prior to the last semester before graduation.

Transfer students with completed baccalaureate and/or master’s degrees from regionally accredited colleges or universities are waived from the Capital University general education requirements effective fall term 2004.  Students who earn an associate degree from a regionally accredited institution and complete the general education requirements outlined in the Ohio Transfer Module* are presumed to have met Capital University’s general education goals with the exception of the goals for Religion and Ethical Thought.

*The Ohio Transfer Module contains 54-60 quarter hours or 36-40 semester hours of course credit in English composition (minimum 5-6 quarter hours or 3 semester hours); mathematics, statistics and formal/symbolic logic (minimum of 3 quarter hours or 3 semester hours); arts/humanities (minimum 9 quarter hours or 6 semester hours); social and behavioral sciences (minimum of 9 quarter hours or 6 semester hours); and natural sciences (minimum 9 quarter hours or 6 semester hours). Oral communication and interdisciplinary areas may be included as additional options. Additional elective hours from among these areas make up the total hours for a completed Transfer Module. Courses for the Transfer Module should be 100- and 200-level general education courses commonly completed in the first two years of a student’s residency. Students completing a technical associate degree may complete the transfer module, but will likely have to take additional general education courses beyond those required for the applied associate degree. Alternatively students may transfer individual transfer module courses without completing the entire module (http://regents.ohio.gov/transfer/policy/transfer_policy_d2aa.php).

 

D. Assessment Testing


Students may demonstrate that they already possess the knowledge or skills delineated by a goal. Assessment procedures are available for each goal. Students who are interested in this option should contact Academic Success, prior to enrolling in a course that has been approved to satisfy that particular goal. A waiver indicates that the requirements for a GE Goal have been met and no further courses are needed. Receiving a waiver is not the same as receiving credit for a course. Students should not schedule a GE course until after the waiver process for that GE Goal is completed. Normally students can attempt to waive a GE Goal only once.

1. Automatic Waivers


Students may receive automatic waivers for GE Goal 1 and 3 based on ACT or SAT test scores.

  Goal 1 Reading & Writing Skills
  Goal 3 Quantitative Reasoning
  ACT English 28 minimum   ACT Math 28 minimum
  SAT Verbal 680 minimum   SAT Math 670 minimum

There is no fee for an automatic waiver.

2. Assessment Testing Process


Students will have to complete either: (A) a test developed by Capital Faculty; (B) the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) test; or (C) an assessment interview with a Faculty member.

General Education Goal # Type Minimum Score Contact Person
Fee
 1. Reading & Writing Skills   ACT/SAT only *
 2. Oral Communication A & C Dr. L. Foreman-Wernet        236-6663 *
 3. Quantitative Reasoning B 50 $95
 4. Global Issues A 70% Dr. Suzanne Marilley  236-6195 $20
 5. Cultural Diversity A Dr. T. Maroukis                    236-6447 $20
 6. The Arts C (Art) Professor J. Gress       236-6201 *
  (Theater)   (Theater) Dr. Kennedy        236-6497 *
  (Music)  

(Music) Dr. Reuter               236-6474

*
 7. Religion C Dr. W. Bryant                       236-6192 *
 8. Social Science B 50 $95
 9. Natural Science B 50 $95
 10. Humanities B then, A (B) 50 (A) Pass/Fail $95 (B); $20 (A)
      (A) Dr. D . Belcastro           236-6771  
 11. Ethical Thought A 70% Dr. P. Horn                   236-6153 $20

* All test fees include any administrative costs, and all fees are subject to change.

Oral Communication: A 70% first two sections; 80% average for all; must be administered no later than the first two weeks of the semester prior to the student’s anticipated graduation date.

3. Fees and Credit


Fees must be paid at the time a waiver test is attempted! Credit is not awarded for the A or C waiver process. However, three semester hours of credit is awarded for each CLEP test successfully passed. Credit will be granted in accordance to the policy in effect at the time the exam is administered.

4. Testing Schedule


Tests can be administered 8:30am to 5:00pm Monday through Friday. Students must schedule an appointment for test proctoring with Academic Success.

More information about the waiver process is available in the Academic Success office.

Academic Success Testing Center Rules and Policies for 2013-2014

The Academic Success Testing Center administers and proctors exams in theree main areas:

  • General Education waivers
  • College Level Examination Program (CLEP) tests
  • Regular course exams taken by students with identified disabilities for whom testing accomodations have been approved by the Coordinator for Disability Services

NOTE: No General Education waivers will be reviewed during the month of July.

E. Portfolio Submitted to UCAP.


Students may demonstrate that they have acquired the skills or knowledge delineated in a goal through work or life experience. A student, for example, who has lived abroad for a period may wish to demonstrate that this experience has provided him/her with the knowledge and skills delineated by the Global Issues goal. Students can do this by assembling all the material relevant to demonstrating such things as a file or portfolio to be evaluated by a faculty panel assembled for such purposes. (See the Undergraduate Academic Policies, Regulations and General Information section for more information.)

F. International Students.


International students with transfer credit from an international institution, will be waived from Goal 4.

Liberal Learning


Capital University is a member institution of the Association of American Colleges and Universities. What follows is the AAC&U statement on the role of Liberal Learning in 21st-century higher education:

STATEMENT ON LIBERAL LEARNING

A truly liberal education is one that prepares us to live responsible, productive and creative lives in a dramatically changing world. It is an education that fosters a well-grounded intellectual resilience, a disposition toward lifelong learning, and an acceptance of responsibility for the ethical consequences of our ideas and actions. Liberal education requires that we understand the foundations of knowledge and inquiry about nature, culture and society; that we master core skills of perception, analysis and expression; that we cultivate a respect for truth; that we recognize the importance of historical and cultural context; and that we explore connections among formal learning, citizenship, and service to our communities.

We experience the benefits of liberal learning by pursuing intellectual work that is honest, challenging and significant, and by preparing ourselves to use knowledge and power in responsible ways. Liberal learning is not confined to particular fields of study. What matters in liberal education is substantial content, rigorous methodology and an active engagement with the societal, ethical, and practical implications of our learning. The spirit and value of liberal learning are equally relevant to all forms of higher education and to all students.

Because liberal learning aims to free us from the constraints of ignorance, sectarianism, and myopia, it prizes curiosity and seeks to expand the boundaries of human knowledge. By its nature, therefore, liberal learning is global and pluralistic. It embraces the diversity of ideas and experiences that characterize the social, natural, and intellectual world. To acknowledge such diversity in all its forms is both an intellectual commitment and a social responsibility, for nothing less will equip us to understand our world and to pursue fruitful lives.

The ability to think, to learn, and to express oneself both rigorously and creatively, the capacity to understand ideas and issues in context, the commitment to live in society, and the yearning for truth are fundamental features of our humanity. In centering education upon these qualities, liberal learning is society’s best investment in our shared future.

Adopted by the Board of Directors of the Association of American Colleges and Universities, October 1998
UPDATED 9/6/01

 

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