General Education
General Education Philosophy
Central to Eastern’s vision and mission is the College’s commitment to the development of each student as a well-educated individual. So the college requires a general education core curriculum as an integral part of all degree programs.
The general education course curriculum is intended to provide all students, regardless of major, with the knowledge and skills that serve as the foundation for lifelong learning, professional success, and personal achievement. The general education program promotes the development of independent, critical, and conceptual thinking skills and those skills necessary for effective communication.
The general education curriculum demonstrates the College’s commitment to providing appropriate and relevant education to enhance the growth and development of learners as they face the challenges of the 21st century.
General Education Goals
Students who have completed the general education requirements of an associate degree will develop improved competencies in the following:
Graduates will demonstrate the ability to use critical thinking skills to answer questions, solve problems, and resolve issues by producing work with the following features:
CT1 sufficient valid evidence;
CT2 sufficient breadth and depth of analysis;
CT3 consideration of opposing evidence and alternate points of view;
CT4 conclusions drawn from an accurate assessment of the evidence;
CT5 arguments expressed clearly and precisely.
Graduates will demonstrate the ability to produce written work with the following features:
W1. A controlling idea or thesis;
W2. Supporting evidence;
W3. Accurate, sound analysis or explanation;
W4. A sense of audience;
W5. Minimal mechanical errors;
W6. Presentation of ideas appropriate to the discipline;
W7. Understanding of genre and style conventions appropriate to the discipline;
W8. Correct documentation appropriate to the discipline.
Graduates will demonstrate the ability to engage in effective oral communication by being able to deliver a presentation or engage in a dialogue centered on discipline-specific content illustrating the following features:
O1. Clear purpose;
O2. Content that supports the purpose adapted to the audience/group and discipline;
O3. Structure that supports the purpose:
• In the case of a presentation, structure is an intentional design, with a clear beginning, middle, and end;
• In the case of dialogue, structure involves balancing participation and engaging in active listening;
O4. Information and knowledge used in an accurate and ethical manner;
O5. When applicable, correct documentation appropriate to the discipline.
O6. Delivery that supports purpose.
Graduates will demonstrate the ability to use digital literacy skills to know where there is a need for information by:
DL1. Determining the information needed;
DL2. Accessing the information needed;
DL3. Evaluating the information and its sources;
DL4. Using the information effectively;
DL5. Accessing and using the information ethically and legally.
Quantitative Literacy (Thinking Quantitatively and Empirically)
Graduates will demonstrate the ability to use quantitative literacy skills to answer questions, solve problems, and resolve issues by producing work with the following features:
QL1. Providing explanation of information in mathematical form;
QL2. Representing information in mathematical form;
QL3. Providing calculations;
QL4. Understanding application and analysis;
QL5. Addressing assumptions;
QL6. Communicating quantitative information.
Graduates will demonstrate an understanding of ethical reasoning by answering questions or presenting information (oral or written) with the following features:
E1. Being self-aware;
E2. Understanding different ethical perspectives and concepts;
E3. Recognizing ethical issues
E4. Applying ethical perspectives and concepts;
E5. Evaluating different ethical perspectives and concepts.
Thinking Globally (Diversity)
Graduates will demonstrate an understanding of global diversity by answer questions or presenting information (oral or written) with the following features:
TG1. Being self-aware;
TG2. Understanding multiple perspectives;
TG3. Adapting to cultural diversity;
TG4. Addressing personal and social responsibility;
TG5. Understanding global systems;
TG6. Applying knowledge to contemporary global contexts.
Please Note: Each degree and certificate program contains required general education courses. Students must select general education courses from the approved courses listed in the General Education Courses and Designations in the current catalog, and posted in the semester schedule of courses.