General Education

Definition
Philosophy
Goals
General Education Courses

Definition

General education is the foundation of a student’s education. It is intended to impart core knowledge, intellectual skills, and attitudes that every educated person should possess and integrate into their personal and professional lives.

Philosophy

While students graduating from North Central State College must be educated within their chosen technical field, they must also have an educational experience that enables them to be conversant and interested in areas beyond the scope of their technical areas.

In addition to sparking an interest in self-directed and lifelong learning, general education should enable students to think about their technical areas in relation to what is going on in the society around them, make them more involved in developing their own sense of self, and think about their role as an educated person in society.

There are three major and equally important components of general education:

Core areas of knowledge – A broad base of concepts outside of the student’s chosen technical field including, but not limited to, the arts, humanities, philosophy, and science.
Intellectual skills – The personal and professional skills required to understand, apply, and communicate general and technical concepts.
Attitudes – Concepts needed for the development of positive, personal perspectives as related to self and others.

General education courses should be introduced as early as possible in the curriculum and in a manner which is educationally sound. They should develop skills and/or knowledge that is common to and permeates all other courses within the degree program.

Goals

General education at North Central State College is designed to provide all students the opportunity to achieve each of the following goals.

Core Knowledge

To understand concepts of ethics, philosophy, history, and aesthetics.
To understand concepts of social science, law, politics, and economics.
To understand concepts of literature, performing arts, and visual arts.
To understand concepts of science and technology.

Intellectual Skills

To develop the ability to read with comprehension, to communicate effectively in writing and speech, and to work effectively in groups.
To develop the ability to comprehend and apply mathematical concepts.
To develop the ability to research a problem or a topic by using library skills, computer skills, and community resources.
To become independent planners, creative problem solvers, effective decision makers, and independent critical thinkers, using mathematics, computers, and communication skills as appropriate.

Attitudes

To develop self‐respect, personal responsibility, and social responsibility.
To develop sensitivity to other people by recognizing the common elements of the human condition.
To develop the desire to be lifelong and self‐directed learners.