Undergraduate Bulletin 2010-2011Download

General Education

Purpose

It is the purpose of the General Education Program at Southwestern Adventist University to build a strong foundation for academic and professional programs, and to enrich the intellectual, spiritual, physical and cultural experiences of the student beyond the focus of the specific major.

Objectives

As a result of a planned education process, the General Education Program will achieve the following student learning outcomes:

  1. Expose students to broad areas of knowledge
  2. Encourage the improvement and refinement of students' academic skills
  3. Foster the strengthening and broadening of students' spiritual lives
  4. Encourage the attitudes and practices of healthful living

To demonstrate achievement of those outcomes, students will be able to:

  1.  Expose students to broad areas of knowledge

    1. Evaluate algebraic and numerical expressions
    2. Solve equations and inequalities
    3. Read accurately and critically by asking pertinent questions about a text, by recognizing assumptions and implications, and by evaluating ideas
    4. Read literary texts analytically, seeing relationships between form and content
    5. Understand the various elements of the writing process, including collecting information and formulating ideas, determining relationships, arranging sentences and paragraphs, establishing transitions, and revising written text
    6. Use the conventions of standard written English
    7. Write an organized, coherent, and effective essay
    8. Recognize basic features and concepts of world geography
    9. Recognize basic features and concepts of the world's political and economic structures
    10. Recognize appropriate investigative and interpretive procedures in the social sciences
    11. Understand the fundamental concepts, principles, and theories of the natural sciences
    12. Demonstrate basic computer skills appropriate to information literacy
  2. Utilize interpretive reasoning, strategic reasoning, and adaptive reasoning in all academic subjects.
  3. Demonstrate a sense of harmonious interconnectedness between self, others, nature, and God, which exists throughout and beyond time and space

  4. Encourage the attitudes and practices of healthful living

    1. Acquire skills that enable participation in lifetime physical activity
    2. Understand how individual decision making and behavior impact personal health.

Requirements

Degree completion includes the general education courses listed below. A bachelor's degree from a United States regionally accredited post-secondary institution fulfills, with the exception of the religion requirement, the general education requirements.

Bachelor's Degree

  1. Principles of Active Learning* (1 hour)

  2. English ( 12 hours)

    1. Speech (COMM 111, 113, or 115) (3 hours)
    2. Freshman Composition (3 hours ) To be taken the freshman year.
    3. Research and Professional Writing (3 hours) Recommended to be taken the sophomore year.
    4. Literature (taught in English) (3 hours) Recommended to be taken the junior year.
    5. A required upper division course, with a writing component, in the student's major or minor area of specialization. To be taken the senior year.

  3. Health and Physical Education (4-5 hours) Choose one of these options:

    1. Health and Wellness KINT 111 & P.E. Activity Course
    2. Courtship, Marriage, and Family PSYC 244, Physical Fitness KINA 111, & P.E. Activity Course
    3. Nutrition KINT 216, Physical Fitness KINA 111, & P.E. Activity Course
    4. Physical Fitness KINA 111 & three different P.E. Activity Courses

  4. Math/Natural and Computer Sciences (12-14 hours)

    1. Mathematics (3 hours) Students will complete at least three hours of mathematics. MATH 110, MATH 121, MATH 181, or MATH 241 can satisfy this requirement.
    2. Lab Science (two classes) (8 hours)
    3. Computer Science (1-3 hours)                                                                                                                                                                     Choose one:  CSIS 102, CSIS 105, CSIS 110
  5. Religion (12 hours) The religion courses provide students with a general orientation to Christian life, increase the student's knowledge of the Bible, and provide an avenue for the development of a maturing Christian faith.  It is strongly recommended that students enroll for a minimum of one course each school year in attendance.  Applied religion is not to exceed three credits; three of the religion credits must be upper division. Transfer students from non-SDA schools must have three hours of religion credit per 30 credits taken in residence, with a minimum of six hours. Religion classes taken prior to enrollment at the University will be considered for transfer.  Non-SDA religion classes taken after enrollment will not be transfered.

  6. Social/Behavioral Sciences (12 hours)

    1. History (6-12 hours) (Must include 3 hours in non-American history)
    2. Choose from these (0-6 hours) Economics, History of Western Art, Geography, Modern Language, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, Survey of Music.
  7. Foreign Language (0-6 hours) The Bachelor of Arts degree, and some other degrees, require six hours of an intermediate-level foreign language. (6 hours of Hebrew or 12 hours of Greek will count as meeting the intermediate language level requirement.)

Students seeking a degree in Elementary Education must see the Education section of the Bulletin for specific general education requirements.

\* All freshmen who have taken less than twelve previous college hours, which does not include credits taken while in high school or by examinations, must enroll in the Principles of Active Learning course.

Associate Degree

  1. Principles of Active Learning* (1 hours)

  2. English (6 hours)

    1. Freshman Composition **  (3 hours)
    2. Research and Professional Writing or a Speech elective (COMM 111, 113, or 115) (3 hours)

  3. Health/Physical Education (2-3 hours) Choose one of these options:

    1. Health & Wellness (KINT 111) (3 hours)
    2. Nutrition (KINT 216) and KINA 111 (3 hours)
    3. Physical Fitness KINA 111 and one activity course (2 hours)

  4. Math/Natural and Computer Sciences (6-8 hours)

    1. Mathematics/Lab Science (3-4 hours)
    2. Computer Science (1-3 hours)                                                                                                                                                                     Choose one:  CSIS 102, CSIS 105, CSIS 110
  5. Religion (6 hours) It is strongly recommended that students enroll for a minimum of one course each school year. Applied religion is not to exceed three credits. Religion classes taken prior to enrollment will be considered for transfer.  Non-SDA religion classes taken after enrollment will not be transferred.
  6. Social and Behavioral Sciences (3 hours)

\* All freshmen who have taken less than twelve previous college hours, which does not include credits taken while in high school or by examinations, must enroll in the Principles of Active Learning course.

\\ ENGL 220 is required by some departments.

Academic Progression

A student may register for upper-division classes (numbered 300 and above) provided that she/he has completed a general education mathematics course ENGL 121, and has completed or is currently registered for ENGL 220 and has completed 30 semester credits of university course work.