Component Two: Breadth of Knowledge

Breadth of Knowledge learning goals require that students will gain a breadth of knowledge which will help students to develop their intellectual, social, cultural, and creative potential as preparation for a life of continued growth, responsibility and fulfillment. This knowledge is organized across content and ways of knowing with the ultimate goal that students comprehend the interconnected nature of knowledge.

Students must take one or more courses in each of the elements of Breadth of Knowledge, as indicated below, but may not take more than two courses with the same disciplinary prefix. In addition, students must take a minimum of one course in laboratory science, and may take no more than one INS course to meet a Breadth of Knowledge learning goal.

CONTENT

Community and Society 

Learning Goal: Students will demonstrate an understanding of

• the nature and functioning of social structures, institutions and processes and the relationships within and between members of communities,
• the institutions and processes that comprise democratic societies, and
• the obligations of members of communities to one another, and in particular the value of service, leadership and the full participation of citizens in a community.

Cultural Contexts 

Learning Goal: Students will demonstrate an understanding of their own cultural contexts and heritage, as well as cultural contexts beyond their own. In particular, they will demonstrate their understanding of

• the interrelations within and among global and cross-cultural communities, and
• the ways historical processes and conditions shape a culture’s values and behaviors.

Our Cultures learning Objective:  

Students will demonstrate an understanding of important elements of the cultural contexts and historical development of the United States and/or the legacy of Western cultural heritage.

Cross-Cultural Learning Objective

Understanding, adapting to, and thriving in multicultural and international settings is a prerequisite to living responsible, productive, and creative lives in a dramatically changing world. Cross-cultural learning opportunities challenge students to gain knowledge about the world’s people and problems, explore the legacies that have and continue to shape the world, and help them understand the interrelational nature of identity. Students will demonstrate an understanding of cultural institutions, traditions, and ways of looking at the world beyond their own, and an ability to connect, integrate, and act on this understanding in at least one of the following ways:

• Demonstrate proficiency—culturally and/or linguistically—in a language and culture other than English.
• Articulate how knowledge and analysis of global, social, political, and economic systems can help one to embrace and adapt to cultural differences as well as to recognize similarities across cultures.
• Describe how knowledge of others’ cultures, languages, and histories create opportunities for personal and societal improvement.

Physical/Natural World  

Learning Goal: Students will demonstrate an understanding of

• the nature of the physical world that encompasses and supports us all,
• the impact of human activity and decisions on that world, and
• ways of representing and interacting with the natural environment.

Self and Individual 

Learning Goal: Students will demonstrate knowledge that enhances their ability to understand themselves and others as individuals and to act with autonomy as well as responsibility in the world. This component encourages the development of their understanding of the human condition and human functioning as well the ability to appreciate individual differences and individual values.

Interconnectedness

Learning Goal: Students will demonstrate

• an understanding of the fundamental interconnectedness of knowledge and ways of knowing,
• the ability to integrate ideas and information from multiple perspectives and domains of knowledge,
• application of interdisciplinary knowledge to problem solving,
• application of critical and creative thinking skills, and
• competence in oral, written, and other creative modes of expression.

Students choose ONE course identified for this category that also fulfills either a Content or Ways of Knowing requirement.

Ways of Knowing: Creativity, Imagination, and Aesthetics

Learning Goal: Students will demonstrate an understanding of the role of the imagination, creativity, aesthetic response, and artistic expression in human experience. Students will gain direct experience with artistic creation both as a creator and as a responder. In particular, they will demonstrate an understanding of

• different ways of seeing and representing the world and human experience,
• the interactive relationship between creative expression and human cultures and societies,
• the nature and value of aesthetic response to artistic expression, and
• the use of metaphor, symbol, imagery, narrative and an ability to communicate their interpretations of and responses to verbal as well as visual, spatial and/or musical art and expression.

Fine/Performing Arts Learning Objective: 

Students will demonstrate an understanding of the fine and performing arts as means for representing and responding to human experience. In particular, students will demonstrate an understanding of visual, spatial, and/or musical art and expression. Students will gain direct experience with artistic creation both as a creator and as a responder.

Verbal Arts learning Objective  

Students will demonstrate an understanding of the nature and importance of language as a medium for representing and responding to human experience. In particular, students will demonstrate an understanding of narrative, metaphor, symbol, and imagery in literary works and as fundamental elements in all human communication. Students will gain direct experience with artistic creation both as a creator and as a responder.

Empirical Investigation  

Learning Goal: Students will demonstrate an understanding of and an ability to utilize scientific methods of inquiry, including the use of observation and experimentation to investigate, describe and discover knowledge.

Ethical Inquiry  

Learning Goal: Students will demonstrate their ability to

• engage in ethical decision-making in a manner that takes into account the consequences of their actions for themselves and others,
• analyze and evaluate a range of examples of ethical reasoning,
• analyze and evaluate representative examples of moral precepts, and the role of morality and ethics in social and environmental contexts, and
• understand, respect, and evaluate the role(s) that history and cultural diversity play in the formation of cultural and societal norms.

Reasoning and Analytical Thinking

Learning Goal: Students will demonstrate the ability to:

• develop a critical perspective, analyze and evaluate inductive and deductive reasoning and in particular the use of evidence, and utilize arguments to arrive at a rationally justified belief;
• understand logical systems and develop statistical and symbolic reasoning; and
• engage in effective problem-solving.

This student learning goal is met through components of the Written and Oral Communication, the Information Literacy, the Quantitative and Mathematical Reasoning learning goals, and the Interconnectedness requirement.