The General Education Curriculum

Introduction:

The General Education Curriculum is a coordinated program of courses that provide opportunities for students enrolled in Bethune-Cookman University to demonstrate the general education competencies. The General Education Curriculum is a substantial component of each undergraduate degree, ensures a breadth of knowledge, and is based on a coherent rationale. The required coursework does not narrowly focus on skills, techniques, and procedures specific to a particular occupation or profession; instead, coursework draws from the following areas:  humanities/fine arts, social/behavioral sciences, and natural sciences/mathematics.

Mission for the Program:

Undergirding the General Education Curriculum is the University’s stated mission, “”…to develop global leaders committed to service, life-long learning and diversity by providing a faith-based environment of academic excellence and transformative experiences.” The General Education Curriculum provides all students, regardless of major, with an education grounded in our mission and core values.

Philosophy and Rationale:

The primary goal of the general education program at Bethune-Cookman University is to provide a solid foundation in the areas of the curriculum that supports our Institutional Student learning Outcomes.  The Student Learning Outcomes are:  The African-American Experience, Faith, Reasoning, Moral and Ethical Judgment, Knowledge of Human Cultures, Literacy and Communication, Leadership, Service and Entrepreneurship and Practical Knowledge and Skills.

In addition, the learning outcomes constitute the foundation upon which degree programs build specific knowledge, skills and disposition.  The Institutional Student Learning Outcomes are:

• The African American Experience - Graduates demonstrate an understanding of the foundational social, political, economic, and cultural role African Americans played in the development of the United States.

• Faith - Graduates are able to articulate knowledge of Christian traditions and values, and apply this knowledge to analyze the faith commitments in other world religions.

• Reasoning - Graduates are able to reason, analyze, and think critically to solve complex problems quantitatively and scientifically in their professional and personal life.

• Moral and Ethical Judgment - Graduates are able to clearly articulate and apply their knowledge of ethics and aesthetic values, particularly in terms of a study of social justice, to determine and defend actions which improve our society.

• Knowledge of Human Cultures - Graduates are able to analyze, compare, and assess the values, arts, social structures, and material practices of world cultures.

• Literacy and Communication - Graduates are able to use technology to gather and evaluate information in order to interpret and communicate complex ideas using written, oral, and visual media. Graduates are able to use digital environments to communicate and work collaboratively.

• Leadership, Service and Entrepreneurship - Graduates demonstrate true servant-leadership in keeping with Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune’s imperative that students “enter to learn and depart to serve.” Graduates have vision, strategic planning and collaboration skills to translate ideas into action and to promote the growth and well-being of people and communities to which they belong.

• Practical Knowledge and Skills - When applying discipline-specific principles, graduates are able to discriminate among possible solutions, selecting and supporting those that take into consideration societal impact (e.g., the health, safety, and empowerment of others).

The University’s General Education Curriculum core includes 42 credit Hours of mission-aligned and outcome-driven courses: