Academics

General Studies for Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science and
Bachelor of Science in Education

• Communication
• Composition
• Fine Arts
• Global & Social Awareness
• Government
• Health / Wellness
• History
• Humanities
• Mathematics
• Physical Activities
• Reason & Values
• Science

Note: The General Studies requirements for a Bachelor of Applied Science are listed with Technical Occupations major.

Philosophy of General Studies

The principal educational goal of Chadron State College is students’ intellectual development, which is best achieved through offering high quality educational opportunities. The College endorses a plan of study that promotes depth and proficiency in a single subject area as well as a breadth of knowledge crossing many academic disciplines.

The General Studies Program is designed to encourage broader intellectual development by offering a variety of stimulating courses taught by instructors with expertise in their fields. This structured inquiry into the wider world of knowledge provides each student with avenues for self-discovery. The General Studies Program aims to produce constructively critical, intellectually curious graduates who are informed on global and social issues and who recognize the importance of their individual contributions towards creating a better world.

Candidates for a baccalaureate degree must complete the following General Studies program in addition to either a comprehensive major (48-57 hours) or field endorsement, or a subject major (30-36 hours) and minor (18-21 hours). Transfer students who possess an Associate of Arts degree need only complete six (6) upper division hours, three each in the categories of Global and Social Awareness, and Reason and Values. Students with an Associate of Science or an Associate of Occupational Studies degree should consult a CSC academic advisor for additional courses in general studies that may be required.

Note: Up to nine (9) hours of general studies courses can apply toward any comprehensive major or any minor. No courses required in a subject major (30-36 hours) can be used to meet General Studies Program requirements. Some degree programs specify general studies courses; check the program requirements for the major you are seeking.

Communication

3 Hours, selected from:

Number	Course Title	Hours
B A 331	Business Communications	3
C A 125	Fundamentals of Oral Communication	3
C A 130	Interpersonal Communication	3
C A 225	Communication in Groups & Teams	3
C A 230	Conflict Resolution & Mediation	3
C A 233	Presentation Speaking	3

Student Learning Outcome for Communication: Students will communicate effectively & responsibly through speaking & listening.

Performance Criteria for Communication:

All students will demonstrate the following performance criteria:

• Understanding of the ethical aspects of listening;
• Ability to engage in the six-step process of listening, receiving, understanding, remembering, evaluating and responding.

Students will demonstrate one of the following three performance criteria, depending upon course selection:

• Understanding of creating and delivering an effective speech;
• Knowledge of factors affecting interpersonal interaction including conflict resolution, intercultural issues, nonverbal and verbal communication;
• Understanding of how to effectively communicate in groups.

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Composition

6 Hours, selected from:

Number	Course Title	Hours
ENG 135	Composition I	3
ENG 136	Composition II	3

Students who score 27 and above on the ACT verbal exam may fulfill their Composition requirement by taking only ENG 136.

Transitional writing courses are required for students scoring below 19 on ACT verbal exam. In addition, students who score below 19 on the ACT reading exam must take transitional reading courses before admission to ENG 135. Students may also satisfy these prerequisites with a passing score on an equivalent writing or reading test approved by the College. Consult the Advising Center in Crites Hall or the English Department for more information.

Writing Skills Assessment

ACT	SAT	Course Recommendation
15-18	380-440	ENG 111 Introduction to College Writing
19-36	450-800	ENG 135 English Composition

Reading Skills Assessment

ACT	SAT	Course Recommendation
13-18	620-890	READ 125 College Reading Strategies
19-36	900-1600	ENG 135 English Composition

Student Learning Outcome for Composition: Students will discover, express, and advocate ideas clearly and effectively in Standard Edited English.

Performance Criteria for Composition:

Students should be able to:

• Compose essays that demonstrate proficiency in developing and organizing ideas using language effectively and writing in Standard Edited English;
• Find, evaluate and use sources appropriately;
• Demonstrate continued use and development of effective writing strategies in upper division courses.

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Fine Arts

3 Hours, selected from:

Number	Course Title	Hours
ART 239	Elements of Art	3
MUS 235	Elements of Music	3
ENG 233 *	Elements of Literature	3
TH 235	Elements of Theatre	3

* Students who score below 19 on the ACT reading exam must take developmental reading before admission to ENG 233.

Student Learning Outcome for Fine Arts: Students will experience the fine arts and develop critical understanding and appreciation of those arts.

Performance Criteria for Fine Arts:

Students should be able to:

• Identify the major terms and concepts of art, literature, music, or theatre;
• Critically analyze and evaluate artistic texts, works and/or performances using the terms, concepts and features of the discipline.

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Global & Social Awareness

6 Hours (3 hours MUST be upper division), selected from:

Number	Course Title	Hours
AGRI 431	International Food Policy	3
ANTH 231	Intro to Cultural Anthropology	3
BIOL 448/448L	Ethnob. of the N. Plains & Lab	4
C A 346	Intercultural Communication	3
C A 442	Globalization, Culture and Media	3
DTE 331	Humankind, Society and Tech	3
ECON 130	Survey of Economics	3
ECON 332	International Econ & Societies	3
ENG 346	The Literature of the Bible	3
ENG 436	World Literature	3
FCS 320	Aging and Death	3
FCS 335	Families in Society	3
FCS 436	Global Food Systems	3
GEOS 137	Environmental Geology	3
HUM 335	Comparative Religion	3
HUM 432	World Mythology	3
L S 323	Law and the American Society	3
MUS 330	African-American Popular Music	3
P S 332	International Politics	3
PHIL 235	Classical Chinese Philosophy	3
PHYS 435	World Environmental Issues	3
PSYC 421	Culture & Psychology	3
SOC 230	Society: Global Comparison	3
WLAN 100	Conversational Foreign Language	3

Please Note: International, multicultural, and other special programs which instill global and social awareness may be petitioned to Academic Review to meet the Global and Social Awareness requirements. Written petitions should be submitted to the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Student Learning Outcome for Global & Social Awareness: Students will understand and be sensitive to cultural diversity and attain knowledge of an appreciation for various cultures and societies.

Performance Criteria for Global & Social Awareness: Depending upon the course selected, students will meet one of the following performance criteria.

Students should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• Values and lifestyles of various cultures;
• Contributions of various cultures to the human enterprise;
• Human behavior in different spatial or temporal or institutional contexts.

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Government

3 Hours, selected from:

Number	Course Title	Hours
P S 231	American National Government	3
P S 341	Comparative Politics	3

Student Learning Outcomes for Government:

1. Students will develop a critical knowledge of political ideas central to governance, political institutions, and political processes.
2. Students will develop familiarity with contemporary political leaders, events, and trends.
3. Students will demonstrate an ability to effectively communicate political information and ideas in writing.

Performance Criteria for Government:

Students should be able to:

• 1a.  Demonstrate understanding of major concepts central to governance, such as Madisonian democracy, pluralism, federalism, civil liberties, civil rights, public opinion, political process, institutions, and judicial review;
• 1b.  Identify the causes and consequences of major periods of political development in American and world politics, focusing on varying types of governing systems and philosophies;
• 1c.  Describe the development, purpose, and function of the primary institutions of democratic governance.
• 2a.  Identify major political actors by their interests and programmatic agenda;
• 2b.  Describe major political trends in the United States and/or other countries;
• 3a.  Articulate in writing a political position that expresses ideas in a systematic and coherent fashion such that (a) the position taken is clearly articulated in the first paragraph, and that (b) each subsequent paragraph develops supporting arguments;
• 3b.  Use appropriate word choice, clearly constructed sentences and paragraphs and standard spellings, grammar, and punctuation.

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Health / Wellness

3 Hours, selected from:

Number	Course Title	Hours
FCS 247	Nutrition	3
FCS 417	Lifespan Wellness	3
HPER 233	Health/Wellness	3

Student Learning Outcome for Health / Wellness: Students will gain an understanding of the dimensions of wellness and the impact of healthy practices, including nutrition, on their personal lives.

Performance Criteria for Health/Wellness:

Health / Wellness students should be able to define and apply:

• The physical and emotional dimensions of health into their own lives
• The social and environmental dimensions of health into their own lives
• The spiritual and intellectual dimensions of health into their own lives

Nutrition students should be able to

• Name and describe six types of nutrients.
• Describe the Food Guide Pyramid and the number of servings for each food group in the pyramid.
• Describe the different types of dietary fats and explain their effects on the human body.

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History

6 Hours, selected from:

Number	Course Title	Hours
HIST 231	U.S. History to 1877	3
HIST 232	U.S. History Since 1877	3
HIST 233	Western Civilization I	3
HIST 234	Western Civilization II	3

Student Learning Outcomes for History:

1. Students will acquire an informed, critical, and articulate understanding of historical events, recognize the diversity of the human experience within the Western World, and develop an awareness of the role of tradition, people, and past events in shaping the present. 
2. Students will write effectively and evaluate the written expression of others.

Performance Criteria for History:

Students should be able to:

• 1a.  Identify and relate the causes and consequences of the major turning points in either the History of Western Civilization or United States History, including but not limited to the Rise and Fall of Rome, the Scientific Revolution, the Industrial Revolution, and Great Depression, World Wars I and II, and the Cold War;
• 1b.  Define the major political, economic, and social trends for the course(s) of study;
• 1c.  Describe the interactions of various people with one another, including the short- and long-term consequences of those encounters; and
• 1d. Trace the migration patterns of people across the globe and assess the effects of such movement.
• 2a.  Write logically and persuasively;
• 2b.  Use proper grammar and punctuation;
• 2c.  Read critically the writing of others;
• 2d.  View writing as a process requiring planning, drafting, and revising; and
• 2e.  Use standard English.

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Humanities

3 Hours, selected from:

Number	Course Title	Hours
HUM 231	Humanistic Perspectives	3
HUM 232	The Humanistic Tradition I	3
HUM 233	The Humanistic Tradition II	3
HUM 234	The Humanistic Tradition III	3
HUM 235	The Humanistic Tradition IV	3
PHIL 231	Introduction to Philosophy	3

*Students who score below 19 on the ACT reading exam must take developmental reading before admission to these Humanities courses.

Student Learning Outcome for Humanities: Students will understand and appreciate the human experience through the distinctive characteristics of the humanistic perspective.

Performance Criteria for Humanities:

Students should be able to:

• Demonstrate familiarity with major works (oral, written, and visual) and key figures in the humanities;
• Recognize and analyze significant traditions or important themes that are reflected in or contained in these works;
• Demonstrate the ability to write and think critically about ideas and debates in the Western intellectual tradition and relate these to their historical and cultural contexts.

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Mathematics

3 Hours

The following matrix is designed to aid the student in enrolling in the appropriate Mathematics course. If a student’s ACT Math test score is 1-18, the student must take the ASSET test for proper advising. If the ACT Math test score is 19 or higher, the student should be advised to take a Mathematics course based upon the following matrix:

ACT Math Score	Recommended Math Course
16-18	MATH 100 Pre-college Algebra *
>18	MATH 142 College Algebra or value added

* Developmental course: Does not meet General Studies requirement.

High School Background	Value Added Placement for Mathematic Courses
No Algebra	MATH 133 Intro to Mathematics, 3 hrs.
1 Year Algebra	MATH 132 Applied Mathematics, 3 hrs. (if Elementary Education Major)
	MATH 137 Math Topics for Elem Teachers, 3 hrs. (if Elementary Ed Major)
	MATH 232 Applied Statistics, 3 hrs.
1 Year Algebra and 1 Year Geometry	MATH 142 College Algebra, 4 hrs.
2 Years Algebra	MATH 138 Applied Calculus, 3 hrs.
	MATH 142 College Algebra, 4 hrs.
	MATH 232 Applied Statistics, 3 hrs.
2 Years Algebra and 1 Year Geometry	MATH 134 Plane Trigonometry, 3 hrs.
	MATH 135 Pre-Calculus Mathematics, 3 hrs.
4 Years Math including Trigonometry	MATH 138 Applied Calculus, 3 hrs.
	MATH 232 Applied Statistics, 3 hrs.

Student Learning Outcome for Mathematics: Students will develop quantitative and logical reasoning abilities needed in all disciplines, the workplace, and for informed citizenship.

Performance Criteria for Mathematics:

Students should be able to:

• Communicate quantitative ideas using mathematical terminology;
• Demonstrate skill manipulating mathematical expressions;
• Organize, analyze, and interpret, model and solve problems mathematically.

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Physical Activities

2 Hours, selected from:

HPER 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 110, 111, 112, 117, 118, 119, 202, 203, 205, 206, 210, 212, 213, 214, 215, 216, 217, 218, 219

Student Learning Outcome for Physical Activities: Students will be introduced to and gain knowledge in physical activities enhancing the opportunities for lifelong participation.

Performance Criteria for Physical Activities:

Students should be able to:

• Participate regularly in physical activity;
• Demonstrate the knowledge and understanding of rules and regulations of recreational and/or sport activities;
• Acquire and demonstrate the skills necessary to participate in physical activity.

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Reason & Values

3 Hours, selected from:

Number	Course Title	Hours
B A 431	Professional Ethics	3
PHIL 333	Logic	3
PHIL 432	Ethics	3
PHIL 433	Biomedical Ethics	3
PHIL 435	Environmental Ethics	3

Student Learning Outcome for Reason & Values: Students will develop skills in critical thinking and argumentation.

Performance Criteria for Reason & Values: (Each course will address at least one of the performance criteria):

Students should be able to:

• Identify and understand the structure of various arguments.
• Evaluate arguments, taking different perspectives into account.
• Construct clear and well-structured arguments, anticipating and dealing with various challenges to those arguments that might arise.

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Science

6 Hours, one course from each area, one course must include a lab

1. All students are required to complete 6 hours of science with 3 hours selected from Biological Science and 3 hours selected from Physical Science. At least one laboratory course is required.
2. If a student has selected, or is contemplating, a major in an area of Physical and Life Sciences, then courses under “For Science Majors” are appropriate. Courses in the other category are appropriate for all students.

Biology

For All Students

Number	Course Title	Hours
BIOL 121/121L	Human Biology and Lab	3
BIOL 136/136L	Biological Science and Lab	3
BIOL 138/138L	General Botany and Lab	3
BIOL 331	Human Sexuality	3
BIOL 337	Environmental Management	3
BIOL 431/431L		3

For Science Majors

Number	Course Title	Hours
BIOL 131	Fundamentals of Cellular Biology	3
BIOL 139/139L	General Zoology and Lab	3

Physical Science

For All Students

Number	Course Title	Hours
CHEM 121	Fundamental Chemistry	3
CHEM 140/140L	General Chemistry and Lab	4
GEOS 130	Earth Science	3
GEOS 137	Environmental Geology	3
PHYS 135	Physical Science	3
PHYS 151/151L	College Physics I and Lab	5
PHYS 330	Phys Sci for the Elem & Middle Grades Teach	3
PHYS 333/333L	Astronomy and Lab	3
PHYS 334	Meteorology	3

For Science Majors

Number	Course Title	Hours
CHEM 131/131L	College Chemistry I and Lab	4
GEOS 231/231L	Physical Geology and Lab	4
GEOS 234/243L	History of the Earth System and Lab	4
PHYS 241/241L	University Physics and Lab	5

Student Learning Outcome for Science: Students will acquire an understanding of the fundamental principles of the natural sciences and apply scientific methods of inquiry to investigate the natural world and its connections with culture and society.

Performance Criteria for Science:

Students should be able to:

• Demonstrate basic knowledge of the natural sciences;
• Apply scientific reasoning to one’s environment;
• Describe historical foundations of scientific knowledge and the progressive nature of science.

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