Upon completion of the LAC at SMSU students will:
v
Understand the techniques and habits of
thought in a variety of liberal arts disciplines, having attained an adequate
foundation of knowledge in those disciplines.
Ø
Summarize major themes and discoveries of these
disciplines and understand how new work is created and evaluated.
Ø
Apply the methods by which practitioners of these
disciplines process information and solve problems.
Ø
Articulate how these disciplines are interconnected and
how they relate to the student’s major areas of study.
v
Communicate effectively.
Ø
Determine the nature and extent of information needed
to formulate and develop a coherent and unified thesis.
Ø
Understand and select the best communication methods
for achieving a given purpose.
Ø
Comprehend and synthesize messages conveyed in both
oral and written contexts.
Ø
Recognize and employ various methods of verbal,
nonverbal, cultural, and emotional communication.
Ø
Consider and account for the nature of audiences when
presenting written and oral arguments.
Ø
Present ideas with comfort and confidence in written
and oral formats.
Ø
Develop an appreciation for the significance and
aesthetics of language.
v
Be creative thinkers able to identify,
formulate, and solve problems using interdisciplinary perspectives.
Ø
Break a complex issue or task into incremental steps.
Ø
Comprehend the differences and similarities among
fields of study, and how these augment our understanding of important issues.
Ø
Employ multiple modes of inquiry and analysis to arrive
at a range of possible solutions to a problem or task.
Ø
Apply a range of methods for producing creative
results.
Ø
Exhibit increasing development of characteristics
essential to being a creative thinker, including:
§
Curiosity
§
Aesthetic appreciation
§
Desire to make things better
§
Enjoyment of challenge
§
Ability to suspend judgment
§
Acceptance of and willingness to learn from mistakes
and failures.
v
Be critical thinkers who evaluate
information wisely and examine how assumptions and positions are shaped.
Ø
Demonstrate information literacy by accessing,
utilizing, formatting, citing, and documenting relevant material accurately and
correctly.
Ø
Interpret arguments by correctly identifying relevant
premises, conclusions, and key assumptions.
Ø
Evaluate the extent to which evidence is reasonable,
relevant, accurate, and sufficient to support intended claims.
Ø
Formulate clear, well-supported arguments.
Ø
Engage in civil discourse, self-reflection, and
consideration of other points of view.
v
Understand both physical and social aspects
of the world and their place in it.
Ø
Demonstrate knowledge of concepts, methods, and
theories designed to enhance understanding of the natural world and human
society.
Ø
Demonstrate the ability to access, comprehend, compare,
and evaluate contemporary scientific and social literature.
Ø
Demonstrate an awareness of multiple worldviews, and
how each is shaped by the interaction of physical and social factors.
Ø
Critically consider the ethical and physical
ramifications of scientific decisions on society and the environment.
v
Embrace the similarities among peoples and
appreciate the diversity that enriches the human experience.
Ø
Demonstrate awareness of personal identity as the
result of a broad set of influences.
Ø
Engage in a variety of cross-cultural interactions.
Ø
View other cultures and social norms from multiple
perspectives.
Ø
Explore one’s biases while developing independent
attitudes regarding the “difficult differences” in society.
Ø
Integrate and apply diverse perspectives to
increasingly challenging questions and real-world problems.
Ø
Develop an informed concern for the greater good.
v
Analyze moral judgments and engage in moral
discourse.
Ø
Demonstrate understanding of the meaning, application,
and justification of a number of core ethical values, including, but not
restricted to:
§
Individual dignity
§
Human rights
§
Honesty
§
Integrity
§
Justice
§
Compassion
§
Personal and social responsibility
Ø
Demonstrate understanding of and respect for a variety
of ethical viewpoints.
Ø
Recognize and critically reflect on one’s own moral
values and their determinants.
Ø
Recognize and address broad moral issues in a variety
of contexts, including coursework, personal life, and global society.
v
Practice responsible citizenship in their local and
global communities.
Ø
Develop the combination of knowledge, skills, values,
and dispositions necessary to make a difference in local and global
communities.
Ø
Recognize themselves as part of a larger social fabric,
with public lives and personal ownership of social problems.
Ø
Explore the nature and use of power and authority in
various contexts.
Ø
Engage in democracy as a life-enhancing, everyday
practice of skills such as:
§
Attentiveness to public affairs and current events
§
Regular volunteering
§
Creative use of conflict
§
Active group membership
§
Collective problem solving
Ø
Express their voices through informed citizenship and
participation in civic and political processes.
Ø
Confidently engage in civic discourse, self-reflection,
and consideration of other points of view.
v
Continue life-long
learning.
Ø
Continuously evaluate their ever-changing environment
across multiple dimensions.
Ø
Engage in self-directed learning with an emphasis on
“learning how to learn.”
Ø
Cultivate curiosity and openness to varied experiences.
Ø
Integrate prior knowledge with newly obtained
information.
Ø
Pursue formal and informal educational opportunities
throughout life.
v
Integrate mind, body,
and spirit, the essential elements of a flourishing life.
Ø
Explore how mind, body, and spirit function in
interconnected ways.
Ø
Reflect on the intellectual, physical, and spiritual
factors that shape personal and social identities.
Ø
Understand their individual wellness from various
disciplinary perspectives.
Ø
Acquire knowledge to pursue their full human potential.