General Studies Core
Overview
One of the purposes for higher education is the broadening and deepening of a person’s understanding of the world. Emmaus not only acknowledges this but embraces it since we subscribe to the view that “all truth is God’s truth.” Students at Emmaus University are required, in addition to their major area of study, to participate in a program of general studies that is designed to provide the knowledge and learning experiences preparatory to the assumption of their role as productive, educated citizens.
Emmaus University graduates should possess the general knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary to successfully function in contemporary society. This is accomplished through foundational skills courses as well as coursework in the humanities, social and behavioral sciences, and natural sciences. The Emmaus faculty has established a General Studies core curriculum for all bachelor degree programs. The core is designed to support student achievement of the General Studies outcomes, and yet allow students, within program guidelines, to make personal, elective choices in their programs of study. Therefore, the university does not assert that there is a uniform set of course work that imparts a common set of knowledge to all students in all programs. Rather we subscribe to the position that, within the guidelines of each program, the General Studies core provides sufficient breadth and depth to allow graduates to acquire the characteristics of educated persons. A broad goal of the Emmaus General Studies program is to expose students to the arts and sciences and promote appreciation for their aesthetic worth and their role in shaping the worldviews and values of a culture.
The General Studies program is planned and presented to assist bachelor degree graduates to:
- Write effectively with precision and detail to communicate the intended message.
- Understand and apply mathematical and scientific principles.
- Use current technology for educational and work-related purposes.
- Compose and deliver speeches which clearly and effectively communicate the intended message.
- Demonstrate critical thinking skills through integration of Christian theology and worldview with other academic disciplines.
- Identify informational needs, search effectively for resources, evaluate sources, and ethically integrate information to accomplish academic goals.
The General Studies core requires the following coursework for bachelor degree programs:
- Transitions Seminar (FND 101)
- English Composition(ENG 101)
- Fundamentals of Speech (COM 112)
- Fundamental Computer Literacy (CS 101) or Educational Technology (CS 240)
- Senior Seminar (FND 410)
- Introduction to Literature (ENG 102)
- Christian Life and Worldview Humanities (HUM 111)
- Elective (100-300 level courses in COM, ENG, ESL, FL, MUS, PHI, REL)
- Western Civilization 1 or 2 (HIS 131/132) or American History 1 or 2 (HIS 235/236)
- Social Science Elective (100-300 level courses in ARC, ECN, GEO, HIS, PSY, SOC)
- University Mathematics (MAT 140), Pre-Calculus (MAT 162), or Number Operations and Algebra in the Elementary School (MAT 270)
- Introduction to Human Biology and Lab (SCI 241/242) or Introduction to Earth Science and Lab (SCI 230/231)
- 100-300 level courses in ARC, COM, ECN, ENG, ESL, FL, GEO, HIS, HUM, MAT, MUS, PHI, PSY, REL, SCI, SOC
The General Studies core requires the following coursework for associate degree programs:
- Transitions Seminar (FND 101)
- English Composition (ENG 101)
- Fundamentals of Speech (COM 112)
- Fundamental Computer Literacy (CS 101) or Educational Technology (CS 240)
- Introduction to Literature (ENG 102)
- Christian Life and Worldview (HUM 111)
- Western Civilization 1 or 2 (HIS 131/132) or American History 1 or 2 (HIS 235/236)
- Introduction to Human Biology and Lab (SCI 241/242) or Introduction to Earth Science and Lab (SCI 230/231)
- Mathematics Elective