Legacy Curriculum Requirements

Legacy General Education Program

The aim of Millersville’s general education curriculum is to cultivate the intellect by educating students to reason logically, to think critically, to express themselves clearly, and to foster an understanding of the human condition.  In recognition of the fact that the world’s issues and opportunities come in complex forms, we leverage general education as a platform to assist our students in cultivating an interdisciplinary understanding of the culture, politics, and science of our rapidly changing world.  

We accomplish general education objectives through a collective set of courses and experiences that allow students to identify, solve, and communicate problems. Courses are broken into three blocks: Critical Thinking across the Liberal Arts, Foundations for Lifelong Learning, and Connections and Exploration.

 

CRITICAL THINKING ACROSS LIBERAL ARTS

Objective: Students will demonstrate foundational knowledge of the important ideas and methods of different ways of knowing while selecting courses from the following three core areas:

REQUIRED COURSES (27 CREDITS)

Arts & Humanities courses (G1) challenge students to examine, analyze and critically evaluate artifacts of the human intellect and imagination to illuminate the complexity of the human experience. Through exposure to multiple voices, insights, objects, and other creative works, students explore and interpret questions of meaning, fact and value. Ultimately, this engagement expands knowledge, deepens empathy and encourages collaboration between diverse individuals and communities. Students select three courses (9 credits total) from related department offerings.

Sciences and Mathematics courses (G2) develop students' understanding and knowledge of scientific and mathematical reasoning and of strategies for logical problem-solving. Students are challenged to recognize that scientific explanations offer falsifiable predictions, that claims must be supported by evidence and logical reasoning, and that the nature of scientific discovery and knowledge is fluid. Courses emphasize that the scientific meaning of fact, theory, and law are not a hierarchy, and give students an appreciation of essential creative aspects of scientific process and discovery. Students select three courses (9 credits total) from related department offerings.

Social Sciences courses (G3) focus on the intricate relationship between human behavior and social institutions. Through qualitative and/or quantitative methods of inquiry, students discover and ascertain how human beings behave and are expected to behave, within certain contexts. This interaction allows students to comprehend and articulate the relationship between behavior and context across people, cultures, time, and place. Students select three courses (9 credits total) from related department offerings.

When selecting your courses in this category with the assistance of your academic advisor, please keep the following guidelines and requirements in mind!

Student Requirements:

• You must choose a total of 3 courses or 9 credits in each category (G1, G2, and G3.)
• You may only take 2 courses from the same department within each category of G1, G2, and G3.
• In Science and Mathematics, 2 of the 3 courses must come from Biology, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, and/or Physics.
• One Science and Mathematics course must include a Laboratory (L) component.
• At least 3 courses taken throughout blocks G1, G2 and G3 must be at the 200 level or above.
• Courses in a student's primary major discipline cannot fulfill this requirement, but courses from the minor or second major can.

For more information on any of these courses, click HERE.

 

FOUNDATIONS FOR LIFELONG LEARNING

Objective: Students will think, speak, and write clearly. Courses in the Foundations category establish strong baseline knowledge and skills in effective communication (both written and oral) and in mathematics applications. Each of the courses listed below are required for graduation. English 110 and COMM 100 are often pre-requisites for other required courses in General Education and major-based programs; therefore, students should pursue early completion of these courses for timely progress to graduation. 

Required Courses (12-13 credits)

ENGL 110: Introduction to College Writing (3 credits): Generally taken in the first-year, ENGL 110 prepares students for effective college-level writing. 

COMM 100: Fundamentals of Speech (3 credits):  Generally taken in the first-year, COMM 100 prepares students to meet the needs of effective oral communication.

Approved MATH Course (3-4 credits): Students choose from an approved list based on their Math Placement Test (MPT) scores and program requirements.

Advanced Writing (3 credits):  Students choose from an approved list of courses after they have successfully accomplished 60 credits of coursework. 

For more information on any of these courses, click HERE.

 

CONNECTIONS AND EXPLORATION

Objective: Students will connect important ideas and methods of inquiry from different disciplines as a means of becoming holistic and responsible citizens in a diverse and technologically complex, global community.  

Required Courses (21 credits)

FYEX 100: First-Year seminar: (3 credits) FYEX courses are designed to support students’ successful transition to university life. Each seminar focuses on a different topic/theme of strong interest to faculty and students to develop and foster skills that lead to success in college, career, and personal life.  Taken in the first year.

Wellness/Health education: (3 credits) Students select a three-credit course from approved offerings in Wellness and Sport Sciences to learn and apply the many dimensions of personal wellness to their lifestyle choices.

Cultural Diversity and community (D): (3 credits) Cultural Diversity or “D” courses focus on diversity as it refers to the differences among people in terms of beliefs, customs, values, politics, and experiences. In essence, culture is a worldview; it is both learned and evolved. A Cultural Diversity and Community course is more than a mere survey or exposure of the students to different cultures; rather it teaches students to think critically about the basis for intercultural differences.  *Courses with the D label may be taken in the major, minor, General Education requirements, or elective courses.

Perspectives (P): (3 credits) Perspectives courses are those that integrate perspectives from multiple disciplines. A major function of these courses is to apply analytical and critical thinking abilities in resolving major social, cultural, scientific/technological, and/or aesthetic problems. Perspectives courses encourage undergraduate students to make independent and responsible value judgments and decisions.  Because P courses are interdisciplinary in content and require a high level of educational maturity, knowledge, and thinking, they are to be taken after 60 credits. *Courses with the P label may be taken in the major, minor, General Education requirements or elective courses.

writing intensive courses (w): (9 credits) Successful completion of ENGL 110 is a requirement for W courses. Students select 3 three-credit courses from courses that use writing as an essential tool for learning. While not courses on writing, W courses include a significant writing task (2500 words) as a formal assessment that is subject to a draft/feedback/revision cycle to assist students in their growth as writers in different domains. *Courses with the W label may be selected from major, minor, General Education requirements, or elective courses. Work with your advisor to select “W” courses that fulfill other requirements.

 For more information on any of these courses, click HERE.