General Education Outcomes

What are Leeward’s General Education Outcomes?

Rationale for General Education Requirements

General education provides students the opportunity to develop understandings, abilities, values, and attributes which enable them to apply their knowledge, skills, and talents to make judicious decisions and to analyze and solve human problems within a multi-cultural community.

General education is that part of education which encompasses the common knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed by each individual to be effective as a person, a family member, a worker, and a citizen. General education is integrated with, but different in emphasis and approach from special training for a job or a profession. Further, general education for the vocational-technical associate degree student should not be confused with liberal education for a baccalaureate student. General education should allow a student to gain a more integrated view of knowledge, a more realistic view of life and a more defined sense of community and social responsibility. Because of the belief that knowledge leads to actions, students should be actively engaged in learning. This holistic point of view provides the student a foundation of lifelong learning in a changing world.

General Education Outcomes

The following outcomes and academic skill standards represent the minimum outcomes expected of students who have completed their general education experiences. Each course included in the general education curriculum should address at least one of these academic skill standards.

Critical Thinking

Make critical judgments and apply critical reasoning to address challenges and solve problems.

1.   Identify and state problems, issues, arguments and questions contained in a body of information.
2.   Identify and analyze assumptions and underlying points of view relating to an issue or problem.
3.   Evaluate a problem, distinguishing between relevant and irrelevant facts, opinions and assumptions through the use of appropriate evidence.
4.   Synthesize information from various sources, drawing appropriate conclusions.
5.   Demonstrate fundamental concepts intrinsic to aesthetic appreciation.
6.   Demonstrate the understanding of the relationship between cause and effect.

Technology and Information Literacy

Make informed choices about uses of technology and information literacy for specific purposes.

1.   Identify and define an information need.
2.   Access information effectively and efficiently.
3.   Make informed choices about technology.
4.   Evaluate information and its sources for accuracy and authenticity.
5.   Incorporate information into their knowledge base to accomplish a specific purpose.
6.   Collect and present information ethically and legally, with an understanding of socio-economic issues.

Oral Communication

Gather information appropriately and communicate clearly both orally and in writing.

1.   Identify and analyze the audience and purpose of any intended communication.
2.   Gather, evaluate, select, and organize information for the communication.
3.   Use language, techniques, and strategies appropriate to the audience and occasion.
4.   Speak clearly and confidently, using the voice, volume, tone, and articulation appropriate to the audience and occasion.
5.   Summarize, analyze, and evaluate oral communications and ask coherent questions as needed.
6.   Use competent oral expression to initiate and sustain discussions.

Quantitative Reasoning

Use numerical, symbolic, or graphical reasoning to interpret information, draw valid conclusions, and communicate results.

1.   Apply numeric, graphic, and symbolic skills and other forms of quantitative reasoning accurately and appropriately.
2.   Demonstrate mastery of mathematical concepts, skills, and applications, using technology when appropriate.
3.   Communicate clearly and concisely the methods and results of quantitative problem solving.
4.   Formulate and test hypotheses using numerical experimentation.
5.   Define quantitative issues and problems, gather relevant information, analyze that information, and present results.
6.   Assess the validity of statistical conclusions.

Written Communication

Use writing to discover, develop, and communicate ideas appropriately.

1.   Use writing to discover and articulate ideas.
2.   Identify and analyze the audience and purpose for any intended communication.
3.   Choose language, style, and organization appropriate to particular purposes and audiences.
4.   Gather information and document sources appropriately.
5.   Express a main idea as a thesis, hypothesis, or other appropriate statement.
6.   Develop a main idea clearly and concisely with appropriate content.
7.   Demonstrate mastery of the conventions of writing, including grammar, spelling, and mechanics.
8.   Demonstrate proficiency in revision and editing.
9.   Develop a personal voice in written communication.

Arts, Humanities, and Sciences

Understand the content and use the methodology of the major areas of knowledge: arts, humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences.

1.   Participate in intellectual and aesthetic pursuits which encourage a creative and self-fulfilling existence.
2.   Understand the humanities as a collection of disciplines that study human nature, culture, attitudes, and accomplishments.
3.   Analyze the various attempts to explore the ethical and fundamental questions of life.
4.   Understand basic, general scientific laws, theories, concepts, and terminology from the biological and physical sciences, including their origins and universality.
5.   Use scientific laws, theories, concepts, mathematics, and data sufficiently well to determine the validity of experimental procedures, devise experiments to test hypotheses, and interpret results of experimentation.
6.   Understand the scientific method, and that experimental results used to support theories, concepts, and laws must be repeatable.
7.   Possess the knowledge and ability to use the tools of science.
8.   Understand the scientific nature of the social sciences.
9.   Describe the alternative theoretical frameworks used to explain social phenomena.
10. Analyze select units of the social sciences using various analytical or theoretical models: social interactions, individuals, families, organizations, communities, spatial relations, (geography), economies, governments, cultures, or societies.

Cultural Diversity and Civics:

Appreciate the values and beliefs of diverse cultures and recognize responsibility for local, national, and global issues.

1.   Enhance diversity and promote cross-cultural understanding.
2.   Examine critically and appreciate the values and attitudes of one’s own culture and of other cultures.
3.   Evaluate the ethics of select issues in relation to various groups and cultures.
4.   Make informed and principled decisions with respect to individual conduct, the community, and theenvironment.
5.   Appreciate common human bonds that encourage a sense of civic purpose and responsible citizenship.
6.   Assume responsibility for one’s own creations, assertions, decisions, and values.