2017-2018 Catalog

General Education Courses

I. INSTITUTIONAL ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS

FRESHMAN SEMINAR COURSE

(UNIV 100 = Freshman Seminar - 1 credit)

Who is required to take this course?

This course is required for all incoming freshman (including transfer students) with 23 hours or less who have not completed an equivalent course at another institution.

When must this course be taken?

This course must be taken during the first semester of the freshman year at Dickinson State University unless the student is a mid-year transfer, then the course will be taken during the second semester of the freshman year.

What is the purpose of this course?

The skills and knowledge imparted through this course will help students survive the freshman year successfully and provide a firm foundation for their future academic career.

The course will help students adjust to college in their academic, personal, and social lives.

The course will help develop and strengthen decision - making, problem solving, critical thinking, and career exploration skills.

II. NORTH DAKOTA UNIVERSITY SYSTEM GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENT TRANSFER AGREEMENT (GERTA)

Please review the following Dickinson State University General Education courses in section III. GERTA approved courses are specified in each area below. Only those courses will count toward either Phase I or Phase II of the North Dakota University System General Education Requirement Transfer Agreement (GERTA). Be aware any course identified below an exception to GERTA will not count toward meeting the GERTA regulations.

GERTA-approved general education courses in the areas of communications, arts and humanities, social sciences, mathematics, science, and technology taken at any North Dakota University System (NDUS) institution count upon transfer toward the general education requirements at all NDUS institutions in one of the following two ways:

If the general education course work includes courses from each of these areas totaling at least 36 semester hours and completes the general education requirements of the institution from which the student transfers then the student is deemed to have completed the lower division general education requirements of the institution to which the courses are transferred.

In all other cases the general education courses from the indicated areas are applicable to an appropriate general education requirement of the institution to which they are transferred. In these cases the number of credits required to complete the general education requirement in each area is determined by the policies of the institution to which the courses are transferred.

Within the stipulated areas, each institution shall indicate in its catalog and other student advisement materials its courses which are approved for general education. NDUS institutions may establish program/institute specific requirements. A student should consult the institution to which he/she intends to transfer relative to these program/institution requirements.

III. GENERAL EDUCATION CURRICULUM

In alignment with Dickinson State University's mission, the General Education Program both complements and transcends individual academic emphases. Through the General Education curriculum, students demonstrate the following proficiencies: effective communication, critical and creative thinking, citizenship, and integrative learning. In meeting these proficiencies, students mature into independent life-long learners.    

In addition to major and minor requirements, all four-year degree students are required to complete a minimum 39 credits of general education course work within the six curriculum groups outlined below. Selected lower division courses numbered 100 and 200 are used to fulfill general education requirements. Exceptions to this rule are the upper division courses numbered at the 300 level approved in the general education curriculum.

Note: Students seeking a degree from Dickinson State University, who have already earned a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university, will be considered complete with respect to their general education requirements. However, specific general education classes which are also considered program requirements with respect to specific majors for licensure or certification program requirements will need to be completed before the degree will be granted.

Any course substitutions/waivers related to general education requirements must be approved by the Department Chair that controls the specific class or group.

General Education Learning Outcomes

Communication

Definition: Communication is the sharing of ideas through written, oral, and symbolic language. It involves the active expression and reception of ideas through multiple technologies, physical and spoken language, mixed texts, data, and images.

Goal Statement: Students will apply multiple conventions of expression to achieve shared understanding of meaning.

Student Outcomes:

 Written Communication

  • Adapt modes and styles of writing to different purposes, audiences, media, and contexts
  • Develop effective pre-writing, researching, drafting, revising, proofreading, and editing processes
  • Utilize writing technologies crucial to performance in today’s writing-intensive professions

Oral Communication

  • Organize and convey a central message via oral communication, using supporting evidence and adapting language and delivery for audience
  • Initiate and negotiate in a collaborative setting by listening to, building upon, verifying, or challenging others’ ideas and conclusions.

Symbolic Communication

  • Use symbolic expression for problem solving, presenting, and/or critically evaluating. Relay and interpret information in terms of the given symbolic system;
  • Utilize symbolic manipulation to understand the relationship between symbols and situations

Critical and Creative Thinking

Definition:  Critical and creative thinking are intellectual skills in which knowledge and literacy are used to process information, construct understanding, apply knowledge, solve problems, and conduct inquiry. 

Goal Statement:  Upon completion of the General Education curriculum, students will consciously and correctly use critical and creative thinking skills while gaining knowledge of the Arts and Humanities, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences.

Student Outcomes:

  • Process information by collecting, generating, organizing, retrieving, recognizing underlying assumptions, or validating evidence.
  • Construct understanding by analyzing, synthesizing, revealing meaning, or validating knowledge.
  • Apply knowledge by performing, modeling, being creative in a new context, or validating results.
  • Solve problems by identifying components, structuring information, anticipating consequences, or creating and improving solutions.
  • Conduct inquiry by formulating research questions, obtaining evidence, explaining knowledge, depicting knowledge, validating or evaluating scholarship.

Citizenship

Definition: Citizenship involves individuals attuned to the multiple perspectives inherent in our socially and culturally diverse world. Citizens are cognizant of their own health and well-being, demonstrate an understanding of the impact one has on the arenas outside of the self, and engage with complex, authentic issues both locally and globally.

Goal Statement: Students will progressively maintain their personal health and well-being and consider diverse social-cultural perspectives as they navigate and evaluate approaches to local and global issues.

Student Outcomes:

  • Identify and incorporate strategies leading to individual health and well-being
  • Predict and analyze the effects that one’s decisions have on the well-being of others
  • Navigate political, social, and cultural structures, utilizing multiple viewpoints, to contribute to a community’s values and practices
  • Apply technology effectively, safely and ethically in an evolving society

Integrative Learning Category

Definition: Integrative Learning is the awareness and application of skills in multiple contexts, which lead to new insights, as well as personal, social, and intellectual development.

Goal Statement: Students will understand the broader implications of discipline-based knowledge and demonstrate an ability to connect ideas and methods across contexts and apply them to new problems.

Student Outcomes

  • Integrate concepts and analytical frameworks from multiple perspectives to develop one or more of the following: more comprehensive descriptions, multi-causal explanations, new interpretations, or deeper explorations of issues.

  • Analyze and reflect upon insights gained from integrating multiple perspectives in a project or experience.

  • Describe, evaluate, or interpret problems using concepts and methods from at least two diverse disciplines. 

Courses that are listed both as general education requirements/selections and as requirements for a MAJOR or MINOR will satisfy both requirements but will not reduce the total credit requirements for graduation.

Group I - Communication and Technology

Students must complete the following:

A.

ENGL 110College Composition I

3

Or

ENGL 111HHonors Composition I

3

B.

ENGL 120College Composition II

3

Or

ENGL 121HHonors Composition II

3

C.

COMM 110Fundamentals Of Public Speaking

3

Or

COMM 111HHonors Public Speaking

3

D.

CSCI 101Introduction To Computers

3

Total Credit Hours:12

All courses above except COMM 111H are GERTA approved courses.

Group II - Natural Sciences

Students must complete the following:

A. Any natural science course and the corresponding laboratory totaling four or more credits.

Examples:
BIOL 111Concepts of Biology

3

BIOL 111LConcepts of Biology Lab

1

BIOL 112Exploring Human Health in Our Environment

4

BIOL 150General Biology I

3

BIOL 150LGeneral Biology I Lab

1

BIOL 151General Biology II

3

BIOL 151LGeneral Biology II Lab

1

CHEM 115Introductory Chemistry

3

CHEM 115LIntroductory Chemistry Lab

1

CHEM 116Introduction to Organic and Biochemistry

3

CHEM 116LIntroduction to Organic & Biochemistry Lab

1

CHEM 121General Chemistry I

4

CHEM 121LGeneral Chemistry Lab I

1

GEOL 105Physical Geology

3

GEOL 105LPhysical Geology Lab

1

GEOL 106The Earth Through Time

3

GEOL 106LThe Earth Through Time Lab

1

PHYS 110Introductory Astronomy

3

PHYS 110LIntroductory Astronomy Lab

1

PHYS 211College Physics I

3

PHYS 211LCollege Physics I Lab

1

SCNC 105Physical Science

3

SCNC 105LPhysical Science Lab

1

Total Credit Hours:4

All courses above are GERTA approved courses.

B. Any math course of three or more credits numbered 103 or higher (except MATH 277 and MATH 377):

Examples:
MATH 103College Algebra

4

MATH 107Pre-Calculus

4

MATH 110Liberal Arts Mathematics

3

MATH 146Applied Calculus I

3

MATH 165Calculus I

4

MATH 305Probability and Statistics

4

Total Credit Hours:4

All courses above except MATH 110 are GERTA approved courses.

Group III - Expressions of Human Civilization

Students must complete the following:

Students must complete one course from AREA A, one course from AREA B, and three credits from AREA C or complete one additional course from either AREA A or AREA B.

A. Foundational Expressions

ART 110Introduction To The Visual Arts

3

ART 122Two-Dimensional Design

3

COMM 216Intercultural Communication(M/C)

3

COMM 280Understanding Film and Television

3

ENGL 211Introduction to Creative Writing

3

MUSC 100Music Appreciation

3

MUSC 102American Popular Music

3

MUSC 110Foundations of Music

3

MUSC 201World Music

3

PHIL 101Introduction To Philosophy

3

THEA 110Introduction to Theatre Arts

3

Total Credit Hours:3

ART 122 (Elementary Education, Art, Art Education, and Art Entrepreneurship Majors, Art and Graphic Design Minors Only)

MUSC 110 (Elementary Education Majors Only)

ART 110, COMM 216, MUSC 100, MUSC 102, MUSC 201, THEA 110: Courses satisfy Group V requirement

All courses above are GERTA approved courses. 

B. Literary Expressions

ENGL 220Introduction to Literature

3

ENGL 232Mythology

3

ENGL 236Women And Literature

3

ENGL 240Masterpieces of World Literature

3

ENGL 250Masterpieces of British Literature

3

ENGL 260Masterpieces of American Literature

3

ENGL 265Native American Literature

3

Total Credit Hours:3

All courses satisfy Group V requirement.

All courses are GERTA approved courses.

C. Applied Expressions

ART 130Drawing I

3

ART 250Ceramics I

3

ART 281Introduction to Digital Photography

3

COMM 211Oral Interpretation

3

MUSC 140-440(A&B) Chorale

1

MUSC 141-441(A&B) Concert Band

1

THEA 161Acting I

3

THEA 201-301Theatre Practicum

1

Foreign Language 101 or higher

4

Total Credit Hours:3

MUSC 140 - MUSC 440 (A&B), MUSC 141 - MUSC 441 (A&B), THEA 201 and THEA 301: courses may be repeated for credit

Foreign language courses satisfy Group V requirement

All courses above are GERTA approved courses.

Group IV - Understanding Human Civilization

Students must choose at least one course from each of the following three groups:

A. Historical Perspectives:

HIST 103United States To 1877

3

HIST 104United States Since 1877

3

HIST 211World Civilizations To 1500

3

HIST 212World Civilizations Since 1500

3

Total Credit Hours:3

HIST 211, HIST 212: courses satisfy Group V requirement

All courses above are GERTA approved courses.

B. Human Behavior:

PSYC 111Introduction to Psychology

3

SOC 110Introduction to Sociology

3

SOC 115Social Problems

3

Total Credit Hours:3

SOC 110, SOC 115: courses satisfy Group V requirement

All courses above are GERTA approved courses. 

C. Social Interaction:

ECON 105Elements Of Economics

3

ECON 106Global Economics

3

ECON 201Principles Of Microeconomics

3

EDUC 300Teaching For Diversity

3

GEOG 121Physical Geography

3

GEOG 161World Regional Geography

3

GEOG 361Geography of Latin America

3

LEAD 100H21st Century Leadership

3

POLS 115American Government

3

Total Credit Hours:3

ECON 106, EDUC 300, GEOG 161, GEOG 361, LEAD 100H, POLS 115: Courses satisfy Group V requirement

All courses above except ECON 106, EDUC 300, GEOG 361, and LEAD 100H are GERTA approved courses.

EDUC 300 (Education Majors Only)

LEAD 100H (TR Scholars Only)

Group V - Multi-Cultural Studies

Multi-cultural courses will provide an opportunity for developing an awareness of the histories, cultures and contributions of diverse groups beyond the regional and ethnic boundaries of Dickinson State University. The purpose of these courses is to expand students’ horizons and to make them into globally informed citizens.

In order to fulfill Group V requirements, students must select a minimum of three courses from those courses above identified as meeting Group V requirements in Groups III and IV. By doing so, students will meet the requirements of the multi-cultural component of Dickinson State University’s General Education program.

Group VI - Health and Wellness

Students must complete the following:

HPER 100Concepts of Fitness and Wellness

2

Total Credit Hours:2

HPER 100 does not satisfy Group V requirement and is not a GERTA approved course.