General Studies Program
Overview

Goals:
The General Studies program is an interdisciplinary program that educates and empowers students to become effective communicators and critical thinkers. The first goal of the General Studies program involves Effective Communication, and this goal contains two Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs):  Speaking and Writing.  The second goal of the General Studies program involves Critical Thinking, and this goal contains three SLOs:  Reading, Critical Thinking, and Mathematics. 

Student Learning Outcomes and Assessments:
Speaking:
The Speaking element is designed to assess whether a student can deliver an original informative speech using the extemporaneous style of delivery.  This SLO is measured by an oral presentation in SPH 2241, Fundamentals of Speech, graded using a standard rubric adopted by the speech faculty. 
           
Additionally, the Speaking element is designed to assess whether a student can identify the major elements of a speech outline. This SLO is measured by a standard final exam component developed by speech faculty administered in SPH 2241, Fundamental of Speech.

Writing:
Writing, the second SLO involved in Effective Communication, assesses whether a student can identify the conventions of standard written English using prose passages.  This SLO is measured by two nationally normed standardized writing exams:  the CAAP (usually taken in a student’s freshman year); and the MAPP (which is usually taken in a student’s Junior year).  Students must score at or above the 50th percentile to achieve the minimum proficiency level.

Critical Thinking:
The Critical Thinking SLO assesses whether students can draw valid conclusions from arguments presented in written passages.  It is measured by both the CAAP (usually in the freshman year) and the MAPP (usually in the junior year).  Students must score at or above the 50th percentile to achieve the minimum proficiency level.

Reading:
The Reading SLO is designed to assess whether students can assess the contextual meaning of written text. This SLO is measured using reading passages on two nationally normed standardized reading exams:  The CAAP (which is usually administered in a student’s freshman year, and the MAPP (generally administered in a student’s junior year).  Students must score at or above the 50th percentile to achieve the minimum proficiency level.

Math:
Finally, the Mathematics SLO is designed to assess how well students can solve mathematical problems using properties of numbers. The Math SLO is assessed twice, both by the CAAP (generally in the freshman year) and the MAPP (generally in the junior year).  Students must score at or above the 50th percentile to achieve the minimum proficiency level.