General Education

Overview

The General Education program at Old Dominion University represents the common core of the baccalaureate degree. It prepares students for pursuing a major, for broadening their views of life, and for understanding an increasingly global and diverse world. It provides students with the basic skills and intellectual perspectives to engage in the search for knowledge. The General Education program develops analytical and critical thinking skills and the ability to make reasoned judgments. Students will also discover that learning is a complex, multifaceted, and lifelong endeavor.

General Education course requirements and descriptions can be found in the .

Outcomes

Develop and demonstrate effective uses of language.Ìý

Develop mathematical and information literacy.Ìý

Develop an understanding of the natural sciences and technology and their contributions to human cultureÌý

Develop an understanding of human behavior, society and culture, with specific attention to technology, international perspectives and issues related to ethnicity, race and gender.Ìý

Integrate knowledge at the advanced level.Ìý

Skills: Completion of course work in the skills areas ensures that all students possess the basic tools with which to pursue their major interests.Ìý

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Requirement (credit hours)Ìý

Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)Ìý

Upon completing these courses, students will be able to:Ìý

Written Communication (6)Ìý

100-LEVELÌý

  • Develop rhetorical knowledgeÌý

  • Develop critical thinking, reading, and information literacy skillsÌý

  • Develop transferable strategies for writing processesÌý

  • Develop knowledge of writing conventionsÌý

  • Develop the rhetorical skills for reflection and future successÌý

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200-LEVELÌý

  • Demonstrate rhetorical knowledge in the analysis and development of textsÌýÌýÌý

  • Apply critical thinking, research, reading, and information literacy skillsÌýÌý

  • Practice and integrate transferable strategies for writing processesÌý

  • Further develop and exercise knowledge of linguistic, genre, and citation conventionsÌýÌý

  • Explore rhetorical skills for advanced study and professional communicationÌý

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Oral Communication (3)Ìý

  • Relate the principles of oral communication to a variety of interpersonal, professional, and extemporaneous situations.Ìý

  • Analyze and adapt communication styles to diverse audiences and contexts.Ìý

  • Prepare, research, and organize the content of a message for a specific audience.Ìý

  • Use effective verbal and non-verbal language in conveying a message.Ìý

  • Apply listening skills to provide a critical analysis of interpersonal and professional messages.Ìý

Mathematics (3)Ìý

  • Logical Reasoning: Students will be able to interpret sentences to contain the logical connectives "and," "or," "some," "all," and "none." They will be able to use deductive reasoning to draw conclusions from a series of statements and to identify appropriate generalizations or trendsÌý

  • Computational Skills: Students will develop facility in the language and symbols of mathematics and will be able to perform basic calculations and operations related to the application of mathematics or statistics.Ìý

  • Data Interpretation: Students will be able to read and interpret visual displays of quantitative information such as bar graphs, line graphs, pie charts, pictographs, and tables. They will be able to use them to make predictions and draw inferences from the data.Ìý

  • Problem Solving: Students will be able to read a word problem, set up the necessary equations that describe the problem, solve these equations using basic quantitative techniques, and interpret or draw a conclusion from the solution.Ìý

  • Quantitative Modeling: Students will be able to model physical and natural phenomena and assess validity of a model, make predictions from the model, and draw conclusions based on the model.Ìý

Language and Culture (6)ÌýÌý

Upon completing the lower division language and culture courses, students will be able to:Ìý

  • Interpret a language other than English through listening and readingÌý

  • Apply a language other than English through speaking and writingÌý

  • Distinguish the similarities and differences among cultures that are different from their ownÌý

Information Literacy and Research (3)Ìý

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  • Articulate and contextualize information needs, considering possible gaps in personal or existing knowledge and resourcesÌý

  • Search strategically in systems appropriate to the information needs.Ìý

  • Demonstrate that research is an ongoing, non- linear processÌý

  • Demonstrate an ability to evaluate and identify misinformation and disinformation and demonstrate an understanding of how they are circulated, perpetuated, challenged, and resisted.Ìý

  • Critically examine multiple sources of information on a topic to enhance understanding or critique arguments.Ìý

  • Demonstrate an understanding of ethical and legal practices to employ when using, creating, and sharing information in changing technological environmentsÌý

Courses in the Ways of Knowing develop the students’ critical and analytical thinking abilities. They also develop understanding of the various approaches to knowledge, the contributions various academic disciplines can make to solving specific problems, and the effective use of the English language. Courses in the Ways of Knowing also develop and reinforce written communication skills and include relevant insights into technology. In addition, courses within each Way of Knowing focus on objectives unique to that way of knowing.Ìý

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Requirement (credit hours)Ìý

Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)Ìý

Upon completing these courses, students will be able to:Ìý

Human Behavior (3)ÌýÌý

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  • Compare basic theories and models and identify their strengths and weaknessesÌý

  • Define key disciplinary vocabulary and termsÌý

  • Apply disciplinary concepts to professional, personal, and/or civic contextsÌý

  • Describe approaches to the way data are collected, measured, and analyzed to address research questions and hypothesesÌý

  • Explain how the social sciences have contributed to our understanding of human societiesÌý

  • Identify perspectives on the challenges, concerns, and contributions of diverse and/or marginalized groupsÌý

Human Creativity (3)ÌýÌý

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Upon completing the lower division human creativity course(s), students will be able to:Ìý

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  • Identify a variety of historical and contemporary examples of creative expression.Ìý

  • Critically analyze the components of a work of art.Ìý

  • Write about aesthetic experiences utilizing terminology appropriate to the chosen discipline.Ìý

  • Critically assess traditions reflected in works outside of the classroom setting.Ìý

  • Explain the value, impact, and function of art in today's world.Ìý

Interpreting the Past (3)ÌýÌý

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  • Learn how historians interpret major events, people, processes, and ideas from the pastÌý

  • Explain the importance of key historical concepts such as change and continuity over time, chronology, causation, historical context, and the difference between primary and secondary sourcesÌý

  • Assess and analyze historical sources to construct an argumentÌý

Literature (3)ÌýÌý

  • Read literary texts from an eclectic selection of works written in a variety of genres and styles by writers who reflect diversity in race, gender, sexuality, class, region, religion, historical culture etc.Ìý

  • Interpret literary textsÌý

  • Analyze literary textsÌý

  • Evaluate and apply critical thinking to literary textsÌý

The Nature of Science (8)ÌýÌý

  • Demonstrate their comprehension of a body of scientific knowledgeÌý

  • Recognize how scientific knowledge evolves based on observation of the natural worldÌý

  • Apply principles and techniques of scientific inquiry to solve problemsÌý

  • Evaluate the credibility of conclusions drawn from scientific foundationsÌý

  • Relate scientific concepts to everyday lifeÌý

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Philosophy and Ethics (3)ÌýÌý

LOWER DIVISIONÌý

  • Explain major theories or concepts in one or more of the major areas of philosophy, e.g., metaphysics, epistemology, logic, or value theoryÌý

  • Use analytical tools, such as reflection, comparison, or argumentation, to engage in critical thinkingÌý

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UPPER DIVISIONÌý

  • Describe the differences between ethical and metaethical questions and conceptsÌý

  • Identify and evaluate theories about what constitutes ethically acceptable conduct and an ethically good character in diverse contextsÌý

  • Identify and evaluate how ethical theories are applied in diverse contextsÌý

Impact of Technology (3)Ìý

  • Describe the use and development of a given technology within the context of a specified fieldÌý

  • Describe the components, mechanisms, and function of a technological systemÌý

  • Analyze the potential impacts, both intended and unintended, of a given technology on individuals, society, or the environmentÌý

  • Interpret the cost and/or benefit of a given technology on individuals, society, or the environmentÌý

Requirement (credit hours)Ìý

Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)Ìý

Upon completing these courses, students will be able to:Ìý

Writing Intensive Course in the Major (3)Ìý

  • Differentiate among data sources those that are pertinent and legitimate to the scholarship of the disciplineÌý

  • Produce discipline specific written communication reflecting scrutiny in content and free from mechanical errorsÌý

  • Execute the discourse conventions most commonly used in the student's major disciplinesÌý

  • Creatively adapt their writing process to the kinds of knowledge and the purposes most fundamental to their major disciplines Ìý

Upper-Division Studies Outside the MajorÌýÌý

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Complete one of the following:ÌýÌý

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Option A: Any University-approved minor (minimum of 12 hours determined by the department), second degree, or second majorÌýÌý

Option B: Any University-approved interdisciplinary minor (specifically 12 hours, three of which may be in the major)ÌýÌý

Option C: Approved Certification Program such as Teaching LicensureÌýÌý

Option D: Upper-Division Course Work from Another College Outside of and not Required by the MajorÌý

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Gen Ed Reform

(Re)Imagining the Future of General Education Together. Click button below to get more information about our reform plan.