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General Education Assessment

The General Education Curriculum at the University of South Alabama helps students succeed academically in college, be prepared for their professional careers, be equipped for life-long learning, and become responsible citizens and leaders. To meet these goals in a dynamic world, General Education provides shared experiences for students to acquire foundational skills and knowledge, along with an appreciation of diverse perspectives and a broad intellectual context in which students can situate their specialized fields of study.

The Alabama Articulation and General Studies Committee (AGSC) established general education requirements that apply to all publicly funded colleges and universities in the State.

The faculty-led, University-level General Education Committee and General Education Competency Committees work to ensure that general education courses are college level, promote intellectual inquiry, and present a breadth of knowledge. Each committee is composed of faculty who teach to the specific competency and usually one outside member. Competency committee members establish the learning outcomes and implement the assessment of student work to determine how to improve achievement of those learning outcomes.

For specific course requirements, please refer to the University Bulletin.

 

Approved General Education Student Learning Outcomes by Alabama General Studies Commission Area

Written Communication (Area I):  Written Communication Competency

Students will demonstrate effective writing skills.

Student learning outcomes

  1. Students will apply correct linguistic conventions (including grammar, diction, punctuation, and spelling.
  2. Students will apply appropriate conventions associated with genres of communication.
  3. Students will respond effectively to the rhetorical situation (audience, purpose, argument, and form).
  4. Students will perform research necessary to satisfy information needed.

Humanities and Fine Arts (Area II): Aesthetic and Critical Interpretations Competency

Students will demonstrate a foundational knowledge of artistic and literary interpretations, and the student will demonstrate a proficiency in basic interpretative skills.

Student learning outcomes

  1. Students will relate creative or analytical works to their genre or their cultural, logical, social, or historical contexts.

Humanities and Fine Arts (Area II):  Oral Communications Competency

Students will demonstrate effective oral presentation skills.

Student learning outcomes

  1. Students will deliver messages with attention to audience, vocal variety, articulation, and nonverbal signals.
  2. Students will appropriately deliver ideas with a compelling central message, clear organization (introduction, body, and conclusion), and appropriate supporting evidence.

Natural Sciences and Mathematics (Area III):  Scientific Reasoning Competency

Students will demonstrate proficiency in scientific reasoning and foundational knowledge of the natural sciences.

Student learning outcomes

  1. Students will explore issues in the natural sciences and collect relevant data.
  2. Students will analyze data based on natural phenomena that result in informed conclusions/judgments.

Natural Sciences and Mathematics (Area III):  Quantitative Reasoning Competency

Students will demonstrate proficiency with quantitative reasoning and use of mathematics and statistics.

Student learning outcomes

  1. Students will demonstrate mathematical literacy through interpretation of mathematical forms and performing calculations.

History, Social, and Behavioral Sciences (Area IV):  Historical Interpretations Competency

Students will demonstrate a foundational knowledge of historical perspectives.

Student learning outcomes

  1. Students will read critically and evaluate primary and secondary sources concerning historical issues and problems.
  2. Students will organize and synthesize evidence to reveal an understanding of the complexity of human experience across time and/or space.

History, Social, and Behavioral Sciences (Area IV):  Social Scientific Literacy Competency

Students will demonstrate a foundational knowledge of the social sciences.

Student learning outcomes

  1. Students will evaluate a claim using social scientific knowledge.
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