General Education
{Please note: students enrolling prior to Fall 2018 should consult the 2017-2019 catalog for their General Education requirements.}
The Shippensburg University General Education Program is the university curriculum that is shared by all undergraduate students. Drawing on the liberal arts tradition, it provides a framework for lifelong learning and the development of skills necessary for career readiness and informed citizenship in a democratic society. Students are given the opportunity to develop the intellectual, personal, and social capabilities they need to thrive as effective citizens prepared to embark on a career immediately upon graduation or after advanced study.
Depth of knowledge is provided by the academic major which a student chooses and which prepares students for a useful vocation; breadth of knowledge is the concern and aim of the general education curriculum. General education serves a vital function by helping students to develop the capacity to think in an integrative way, while preparing them to effectively navigate the increasingly complex career pathways that they will face after graduation. Our general education program makes sure that students are equipped with fundamental skills for oral and written communication, quantitative analysis, and critical thinking, as well as providing many opportunities to develop competencies across multiple disciplines. This fosters the knowledge integration, innovation, and adaptability necessary to solve complex interdisciplinary problems, creates awareness of the interdependence among people and ideas, and develops openness to the perspectives and needs of others in a diverse world.
Our new general education program took effect with the Fall 2018 entering class. The courses which make up the curriculum are organized around a series of broad themes and focused learning goals. Our new general education curriculum is designed to keep up with changing times through a continuous review process. This process may result in some changes to the program that may affect the sequencing and delivery of the program within the current course requirements and will broaden the general education experience. Should such changes occur, they will be announced to the university community in a timely manner and added as a supplement to this catalog.
Please Note: All students are prohibited from counting more than two (2) courses from the same participating academic program toward their General Education requirements.
Foundations
We want our students to build solid Foundations - 15 credits
Foundational courses coupled with other experiences provide students with their core First Year Experience, providing opportunities to develop the requisite quantitative, analytical, written communication, and oral communication skills needed to succeed while in college and throughout life after college. Five program goals express the purpose of these foundational courses and how they support student success, with students completing one course for each goal.
First Year Seminar (U)
Guide and prompt students to develop skills in support of scholarly and academic success, engage with the university community, foster personal development and wellness, and promote understanding of diversity and social responsibility through a first year seminar.
- UNIV 101 Shippensburg University First Year Seminar
- HONR 113 Honors: Shippensburg University First Year Seminar
Writing (W)
Guide and prompt students to locate and organize information with appropriate evidence and language for clear written communication.
Oral Communication (O)
Guide and prompt students to develop oral communication skills necessary to organize and deliver a clear message with appropriate supporting material.
- COST 100 Introduction to Human Communication
- HONR 100 Honors: Introduction to Human Communication
History (H)
Guide and prompt students to understand major historical themes, applying critical analysis to generate arguments based on appropriate evidence.
- HIST 105 Historical Foundations of Global Cultures
- HONR 122 Honors: Historical Foundations of Global Cultures
Quantitative (Q)
Guide and prompt students to interpret mathematical forms, analyze through calculations, and communicate quantitative reasoning.
Placement Testing
The mission of the Placement Testing Program is to ensure that undergraduate students are sufficiently prepared to succeed in the courses required by Shippensburg University’s General Education Program. Student proficiency is ascertained by administering surveys and tests to assist in placing students in the proper writing (English), mathematics, and reading classes. Transfer students who need further coursework in mathematics and/or writing may be required to test. Students who must take these tests will be notified. Visit our Placement Testing website for details regarding placement testing.
Interconnections
We want our students to recognize Interconnections - 9 credits
This curriculum will provide students with opportunities to explore human behavior, social interactions, and global communities through humanities and the social and behavioral sciences. Open discourse about the causes and consequences of human behavior and thought, and the interconnectedness of societies revealed by examining traditions and structures, provides a pathway to mutual respect and tolerance in a diverse world. Three program goals express what we will do for students. Each goal has an associated rubric that outlines what we expect students to learn or accomplish.
Students must complete three (3) courses in this curriculum, with at least one (1) course being a diversity course (‘D’ rubric) and at least one (1) course being a global perspectives course (‘G’ rubric).
Diversity (D)
Guide and prompt students to understand how racism and other forms of discrimination form institutional systems of oppression that characterize and shape the human experience and are fundamental to the development of individual identity. Students will learn how diversity is expressed by intersecting identities (including, but not limited to age, caste, class, color, culture, disability and ability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity and expression, generational status, immigration status, legal status, marital status, political ideology, race, nationality, religion/spirituality, sex, sexual orientation, and tribal sovereign status) that operate within broader systems of power. They will explore ways to promote social justice and develop allyship through movements for equality.
Global Perspectives (G)
Guide and prompt students to develop global perspectives by analyzing systems, and evaluating interrelationships.
Foreign Languages (F)
Guide and prompt students to understand and demonstrate oral and written communication in a foreign language as well as awareness of a foreign culture.
Citizenship and Responsibility
We want our students to consider the importance of Citizenship & Responsibility - 6 credits
This curriculum will provide students with opportunities to consider the function and development of institutions, as well as their own responsibilities in society. Tools for development of students as informed and responsible citizens can include study of principles and research in social science, analysis of the development of social and political systems and practices, application of critical analysis and reasoning, and contemplation of ethics and values. Each goal has an associated rubric that outlines what we expect students to learn or accomplish.
Students are required to complete two (2) courses (or their equivalents) in this curriculum, with no more than one (1) course being attributed with the same program goal.
Citizenship (S)
Guide and prompt students to understand responsible citizenship through the development of ideas of citizenship and rights, how society protect or fails to protect basic rights, and avenues for individual or collective action.
- COMM 111 Media Literacy
- ESSC 108 Introduction to Environmental Sustainability
- HIST 201 Early History of the United States
- HIST 202 Recent History of the United States
- HONR 279 Honors: U.S. Government and Politics
- POLI 100 U.S. Government and Politics
- POLI 359 European Political Culture & Identity
Ethical Reasoning (E)
Guide and prompt students to identify ethical theories or guidelines and apply appropriate ethical reasoning to reach conclusions and support moral judgments.
- HONR 105 Honors: Ethical Theories and Problems
- PHIL 105 Ethical Theories and Problems
Critical Reasoning (R)
Guide and prompt students to use appropriate critical analysis and reasoning to explain and analyze concepts, and apply concepts to issues to determine significance or value.
Natural World and Technology
We want our students to better understand the Natural World and the Technologies that surround them - 9 credits
This curriculum will provide students the opportunity to learn how new knowledge is created by applying scientific principles and technology to address historical and contemporary questions. Two program goals express what we will do for students. Each goal has an associated rubric that outlines what we expect students to learn or accomplish.
Students must complete three (3) courses in this curriculum, with at least two (2) courses (or their equivalents) involving the natural world (‘N’ rubric).
Natural World (N)
Guide and prompt students to understand the scientific method and resulting principles and theories, critically evaluating data to answer questions about the natural world.
Technology (T)
Guide and prompt students to acquire knowledge, skills, and competencies regarding a broad range of computer technologies and software, and to use them responsibly.
Creativity and Expression
We want our students to appreciate Creativity & Expression - 6 credits
This part of the curriculum will provide students with opportunities to explore artistic and literary disciplines and their modes of expression, considering the processes by which artistic works are imagined and created as well as the analytical tools for describing and appraising works of art and literature. Each goal has an associated rubric that outlines what we expect students to learn or accomplish.
Students must complete two (2) courses (or their equivalents) in this curriculum, with one (1) course being a literature course (‘L’ rubric) and one course in either the arts or creativity (‘A’ or ‘C’ rubrics).
Literature (L)
Guide and prompt students to comprehend, analyze, and determine the significance for works of literature.
- ENGL 243 The Art of the Film
- ENGL 248 Introduction to Culturally Diverse Literature of the U.S.
- ENGL 250 Literature and Society
- FREN 330 Masterpieces of French Literature
- FREN 331 Masterpieces of Francophone Literature
- GERM 151 German Cinema
- HONR 101 Honors: Introduction to the Theatre
- HONR 224 Honors: The Art of the Film
- HONR 249 Honors: Introduction to Literature
- SPAN 152 Latino Literature
- SPAN 360 Masterpieces of Spanish Literature
- SPAN 361 Masterpieces of Spanish-American Literature
- THAR 121 Introduction to the Theatre
Arts (A)
Guide and prompt students to describe, analyze, and respond to the scope of works in the arts.
Creative (C)
Guide and prompt students to demonstrate and apply creative competencies, problem solving and preparation in the realization of a creative work.
Transfer Students
Transfer students enter the university under the requirements of the New General Education program enacted in December 2017. However, the Admissions Office staff responsible for reviewing and evaluating transfer student transcripts will have the discretion of bringing in students under an earlier catalog year. A student can enter under the degree requirements of an earlier catalog year if doing so will enable the student to enter the university having fulfilled more of the requirements for their program of study, or it will enable the student to transfer additional credits from other accredited institutions where they have studied before arriving at Shippensburg University.
All transfer students will be required to take UNIV 101 with the following exceptions:
- Students who have completed a Bachelor’s degree at an accredited institution are automatically exempt from Shippensburg University’s general education requirements, and thus would not be required to take UNIV 101 .
- Students who successfully completed an Associate’s degree at an accredited institution would be exempt from taking UNIV 101 at Shippensburg University.
- Students who transferred a minimum of 45 credits from one or more other accredited institutions that will be applied towards their program of study at Shippensburg University would be exempt from taking UNIV 101 at Shippensburg University.
- Students who have completed a first-year seminar at an accredited institution that is determined to have comparable learning objectives to UNIV 101 will be able to use that course to fulfill the requirement for UNIV 101 . The Office of Admissions and the Faculty Coordinator(s) of the First Year Experience will work together to develop a list of courses at other institutions deemed equivalent to Shippensburg’s UNIV 101 .
Appeals Process
Transfer students who are able to apply at least fifteen credits of coursework completed at another accredited institution towards their Shippensburg University degree requirements and who do not meet the criteria listed above may appeal to have the requirement for UNIV 101 waived. Waivers will be granted to students who can determine that they have met the learning outcomes for UNIV 101 in other ways, such as through college coursework, employment, or professional experiences. An application process and criteria developed jointly by the Office of Admissions and the Faculty Coordinator(s) of the First Year Experience will be used to determine the circumstances that would permit a student to have the UNIV 101 requirement waived. Students who clearly meet the criteria will have the requirement waived as part of the Admissions process. They will substitute UNIV 101 with a free elective. For cases requiring further consideration, the Faculty Coordinators of the First Year Experience in consultation with Admissions staff will review the applications to determine whether or not students will be exempt from taking UNIV 101 .
Library/Information Skills
An integral aspect of the General Education Program is the development of research and information skills. Information literacy is embedded in ENGL 114 Academic Writing and information literacy sessions are taught in many other first year classes. The partnership between the library and the writing program provides students with an introduction to the research skills they will need to succeed in their other courses. This information literacy component is a foundation for appropriately leveled instruction in classes meeting the Writing (W) requirement, and subject oriented information literacy provided within the context of other courses.
Additional Study
With advisement, students entering Shippensburg as first year students may complete many of the requirements of the general education program within their first two years at the university. However, Shippensburg University believes general education is a process and not just a series of defined courses taken early in the academic experience. The need for and the value of a liberal education extends beyond the first and second years and the university strongly encourages students to elect to take courses in the general education curriculum and in areas outside of their majors as juniors and seniors. Carefully selected, these courses can help not only to enrich and to continue the search for breadth of knowledge, but also to integrate a student’s entire academic study, further demonstrating the basic interdisciplinary connectedness of human understanding.
Summary of Requirements
Foundations - 15 credits - 5 courses
Interconnections - 9 credits - 3 courses, with at least 1 diversity course (D) and at least one (1) global perspectives course (G)
Citizenship and Responsibility - 6 credits - 2 courses, with no more than 1 course from the same program goal (S, E, R)
Natural World and Technology - 9 credits, 3 courses, with at least two (2) courses involving the natural world (N)
Creativity and Expression - 6 credits - 2 courses, with 1 literature course (L) and one course in either the arts (A) or creativity (C)
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