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General Education is the common educational experience for all undergraduates at UW-La Crosse. It is uniquely concerned with the broad education of the whole person, and plays a vital role in preparing students for life beyond the university. The primary purpose of General Education is to cultivate knowledge, skills, and dispositions essential for independent learning and thinking. As a result of General Education, students will be more knowledgeable in a wide variety of subject matter areas, and also better able and more willing to ask significant questions, seek appropriate solutions to complex problems, make sound judgments and formulate rational beliefs.
To these ends, the goals of General Education at UW-La Crosse are to develop:
The General Education program places special emphasis on helping students to become more intellectually skilled through inquiry-based teaching and learning. Inquiry-based General Education engages students actively in learning and thinking about essential knowledge, issues and questions. Each General Education course enhances students' intellectual growth in some way. As students gain knowledge they also learn to use knowledge more effectively, to ask and answer questions, solve problems, develop ideas and make sound judgments.
The UW-La Crosse General Education program consists of two major components: skills and liberal studies. Skills courses improve students' abilities to learn, think, and communicate effectively. Liberal studies courses engage students in the study of important areas of knowledge and experience and focus on central questions, issues, and problems we share as people and as members of the same society.
I. THE SKILLS COMPONENT
Fundamental skills are those central to learning, analyzing, evaluating, integrating and communicating information and knowledge. These skills are essential in all fields of study and their development should be enhanced and refined throughout the college years.
A. Literacy: Tools for Skilled Communication
Reading, writing, speaking and listening are the tools by which a person becomes educated.
General Education skills courses improve students' abilities to read, write, speak and
listen with clarity, precision and depth of understanding. Courses in this area include
writing, composition and oral communication. In addition, the program includes writing
emphasis courses which enhance students' abilities to communicate and learn through
writing.
B. Mathematical/Logical Systems and Foreign Languages: Tools for Structured Analysis
and Communication
General Education enhances students' abilities to think, reason and solve problems with
precision and clarity. Study in this area helps students to understand that words and
symbols can have exact definitions and usage, analyses of some problems require strict use
of structured rules, and that discoveries, results and ideas must be communicated clearly
to others who may be unfamiliar with such rules or language. This area of study includes
courses in mathematics, computer science, logic and foreign languages. Although these
fields differ in many respects, each emphasizes the skilled use of symbols or language to
analyze, evaluate or communicate more effectively.
II. THE LIBERAL STUDIES COMPONENT
The liberal studies component of General Education engages students in the study of major areas of knowledge and experience. Liberal studies courses afford opportunities for students to evaluate critically their heritage and see beyond the boundaries of their culture, to think scientifically in both the natural and social spheres, to explore texts thoroughly and imaginatively, to respond sensitively to the expressive arts, and to plan a life which makes the best possible use of work and leisure time. The thematic categories and inquiry-based teaching and learning in liberal studies courses help students to see connections among fields of knowledge, and to understand different perspectives and ways of thinking about important questions.
A. Minority Cultures or Multiracial Women's Studies
An essential goal of General Education is to improve students' understanding of and
sensitivity to cultural diversity in the United States. All students take at least one
course that focuses on minority cultures in the United States or women in the United
States from a multiracial perspective.
B. International and Multicultural Studies: Becoming World Citizens
Knowledge about the variety of human experience is an integral part of liberal education.
Moreover, the international dimensions of politics, commerce, economics, and culture touch
our lives every day. We live in an interdependent world in which understanding of other
cultures and societies is essential. These General Education courses include world history
and global studies courses that focus on the peoples, cultures and societies of the world.
C. Science: Understanding the Natural World
As the health and prosperity of our society becomes more dependent on science and
technology, our future becomes increasingly dependent upon a scientifically literate
population. Individuals in our society must be sufficiently knowledgeable about scientific
facts and applications to make skilled decisions concerning their use in addressing
society's problems. Courses in this area include the study of basic scientific knowledge,
the role of applied science and tech-nology as agents of change in society, and a
laboratory component to develop an understanding of scientific inquiry.
D. Self and Society: Understanding Oneself and the Social World
Each person, although unique, lives in a social world that exerts profound influence upon
his or her attitudes, values and behavior. It is important to gain a sound understanding
of oneself in relation to others and an under-standing of the social institutions that
people create and which serve to influence our lives. Courses in this area focus on the
study of human behavior and social institutions.
E. Humanistic Studies: The Search for Values and Meaning
Academic study of the humanities involves the study of language as a medium for recording
human experience and of the major forms of such records: philosophical, historical,
literary. Students have the opportunity to test specialized knowledge and personal
experience of humanity. These courses focus on what it means to be human, and what was,
is, and should be valued by human beings.
F. Arts: The Aesthetic Experience
The arts represent a fusion of the emotional, spiritual and intellectual realities of the
human condition. Study of the arts leads to heightened aesthetic experiences and deepens
cultural understanding. These include courses that focus on understanding, appre-ciating
and experiencing the fine and performing arts.
G. Health and Physical Well-Being: Learning to Create Healthy Lives
The miracles of modern medicine exist side by side with many kinds of limiting physical
conditions such as heart disease and obesity. Many health problems could be prevented or
ameliorated by alterations in the ways that people live. The course in this area focuses
on knowledge and skills necessary for the appreciation and enhancement of a healthful
lifestyle. It emphasizes health and physical well-being throughout the life span and
explores major health issues, physical fitness and effective use of leisure.
GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
I. Skills
(Proficiency tests are available in skills courses. Contact appropriate department for
information.)
A. Literacy: Tools for Skilled Communication
(6 credits required)
ENG 110: College Writing I.
CST 110: Essentials of Speech Communication
Note: Students receiving less than a grade of "C" in CST 110 must repeat the course.
Students receiving a grade lower than "BC" in their initial enrollment in ENG
110 must also take one of the following:
ENG 303: College Writing II.
ENG 304: Writing in the Arts and Humanities
ENG 305: Creative Writing
ENG 306: Writing for Teachers
ENG 307: Writing for Management, Public Relations and the Professions
ENG 308: Technical Writing
ENG 309: Writing in the Sciences
Note: Second writing course does not count toward General Education.
Writing Emphasis Courses
(2 courses required)
All students must also complete two writing emphasis courses at the 200 level or above,
one of which must be at the 300 level or above. One course must be in the major, (not
core.) Many departments offer writing emphasis courses. See the class schedule for
information on offerings each semester.
Note: Writing emphasis courses do not count toward the 48 credit General Education requirement unless identified in one of the General Education categories.
B. Mathematical/Logical Systems and Foreign Languages: Tools for Structured Analysis
and Communication
(Minimum of 7 credits required, maximum of 9 credits applicable. A minimum of 3 credits
must be taken in mathematics from List 1.)
Note: Non-native speakers of English may satisfy foreign language option by exhibiting proficiency (a score of 70 or above) on the La Crosse Battery of exams for non-native speakers of English. (Contact the English as a Second Language Institute for eligibility and regulations.)
II. LIBERAL STUDIES
A. Minority Cultures or Multiracial Women's Studies
(Minimum of 3 credits required, maximum of 3 credits applicable.)
ENG/MNS 207: Multicultural Literature of the U.S. ENG/MNS 210: Literature of Black
America
ENG/MNS 215: African American Authors
EFN 205: Understanding Human Differences
GHR 220: Global Roots of U.S. Literature
HST 299: History of Ethnic America
MNS 100: Introduction to Minority Cultures in the U.S.
SOC 225: Racial and Ethnic Minorities
ECO 336: Women in the U.S. Economy
POL 205: Women and Politics
PSY 318: Psychology of Women
W-S 100: Introduction to Women's Studies W-S 210: Women's Voices/ Women's Culture
W-S 230: Women's Diversity: Race, Class and Culture
B. International and Multicultural Studies: Becoming World Citizens
(Minimum of 6 credits required, maximum of 9 credits applicable. Must take HST 151.)
C. Science: Understanding the Natural World
(Minimum of 4 credits required, maximum of 8 credits applicable. One course must be a
Natural Laboratory Science from List 1.)
D. Self and Society: Understanding Oneself and the Social World
(Minimum of 3 credits required, maximum of 6 credits applicable.)
ECO 110: Microeconomics and Public Policy
HST 206: Life in Twentieth Century America
POL 101: American National Government
POL 102: State and Local Government
PSY 100: General Psychology
SOC 110: The Social World
SOC 120: Social Problems
ARC 100: Archaeology: Discovering our Past
ANT 101: Human Nature/ Human Culture
GHR 206: Human Nature and Political Life
E. Humanistic Studies: The Search For Values and Meaning
(Minimum of 3 credits required, maximum of 6 credits applicable. One course must be a
literature course from List 1.)
F. Arts: The Aesthetic Experience
(Minimum of 4 credits required, maximum of 4 credits applicable.)
ART 102: Art Appreciation
GHR 215: The Florentine Renaissance
MUS 105: Music Appreciation
ESS 104: Dance Appreciation
THA 110: Theatre Appreciation
G. Health and Physical Well-Being: Learning to Create Healthy Lives
(3 credits required.)
HPR 105: Creating a Healthy, Active Lifestyle
This catalog is a record of undergraduate programs, courses, policies, staff and facilities as of April 1, 1997. The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse reserves the right to change any of the information in this catalog at any time and without giving prior notice. This catalog does not establish a contractural relationship. For a further explanation of your rights and responsibilities as a student please see the Welcome and Note to Students section.
