General Education

The purpose of general education at Samford University is to provide students the opportunity to develop broad competencies, knowledge, and skills that will enhance their chosen major. The general education requirement builds on the foundation of the core (Cultural Perspectives, Communication Arts, Biblical Perspectives, and Concepts of Fitness & Health) as it introduces students to individual disciplines. General Education courses strengthen the foundations for understanding human experience, in the hope that students will lead lives characterized by broad vision and independent thinking. Consistent with Christ’s teachings that “the truth shall set you free,” a broad liberal arts foundation echoes the Latin libertas–the freedom–from one’s own limited experiences in favor of an intellectual framework based on awareness of other perspectives and the thinking of past generations.

Thus, each general education-approved course is more than a gateway into the major; it is an initiation into a way of thinking intrinsic to the discipline. Only selected courses are listed for general education credit. These courses, advised by the College Steering Committee and approved by the Arts and Sciences Assembly, will place some emphasis on the history and uniqueness of the discipline, its philosophical assumptions, the strengths and limitations of its methods, and its relation to other disciplines.

Natural Science (Select two courses):

Most general education courses in the natural sciences are designed to introduce students to the basic concepts in a specific area of natural science. Some of these courses serve as the foundation for further coursework in the sciences, while others are intended for students who desire a single survey course. A few natural science general education courses address the methods used in natural science from a broader perspective. These courses explore the historical, philosophical, and sociological aspects of the scientific enterprise. All natural science general education courses emphasize the use of scientific methods to solve problems encountered in the natural world through laboratory or other active, investigative work. The scientific method covered in these courses includes the collection of data, the organization and analysis of data to reveal patterns, the application of statistics to determine the significance of conclusions drawn, the methods used by scientists to communicate their results, and ethical issues pertinent to scientific investigation.

Social Science (Select one course):

Courses in this category introduce students to the fundamental knowledge and skills necessary to understand human behavior individually and within larger social and cultural contexts. Social science courses will address both the regularities and variations of human behavior at individual and group levels. They will focus on major theories and findings regarding human behavior and social institutions, perspectives and methods employed by the social and behavioral sciences, and the social and ethical issues concerning individuals and social institutions.

Mathematics (Select one course, dependent on placement):

Mathematics in general liberal arts education provides the elements of quantitative literacy: a confidence and ease with the applications of quantitative methods; an understanding of the nature and history of mathematics and its importance for comprehending issues in the public domain; the ability to interpret data and mathematical results within a real_world context; the desire and ability to use logical reasoning techniques to analyze arguments, detect fallacies, and evaluate risks; the habit of using mathematics in making decisions and solving problems in everyday life; the accurate intuition about the meaning of numbers in measuring things; an adeptness with algebraic symbols and their proper syntax. Students in general education mathematics courses will have the opportunity to express quantitative literacy as it relates to culture and society, various professions, personal finances, personal health, management, and job related concerns. They will develop and polish skills in algebra, data analysis, deductive and/or statistical inference, model formulation, and problem solving.

Literacy in a Second Language and Culture (Select one to four courses, dependent on placement):

The general education requirement in second language literacy enhances the core experience by providing a depth dimension to the breadth of material covered in both Communication Arts and Cultural Perspectives. Just as UCCA students increase their proficiency in their first language by honing their oral and written communication skills, so World Languages and Classics students develop complementary skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing in their chosen second language. In similar fashion, these students draw on the broad knowledge gained in their Cultural Perspective core classes as they study in depth the civilization and culture of one of the world’s major linguistic zones. In interactive classrooms and integrated audio/video and computer laboratories, these sequences provide students with the standard elements of successful second language acquisition: the ability to communicate effectively in another language, to understand and appreciate the culture it represents, to think critically across disciplines, to view their own language and culture from another perspective, and to acquire the international awareness and cross-cultural understanding that will enable them to participate actively as informed citizens of the linguistically diverse 21st century world. Students are encouraged to do at least a portion of their language study at one of our affiliate centers abroad, where they can live both the language and the culture on a daily basis.

Fine Arts (Select two courses):

Appreciation courses in the Fine Arts seek to enhance aesthetic awareness in order to provide a basis for lifelong experience and enjoyment of the arts. These courses encourage the informed, sensitive appreciation of modes of expression such as visual arts, music, and theatre.

Humanities (Select one course):

The Humanities general education requirement within the Howard College of Arts and Sciences builds upon the foundation of Cultural Perspectives by providing courses at the 200 level that increase the awareness of cultural, historical, literary, philosophical, and religious influences upon the development of civilization. In these courses students will become more acquainted with works concerned with human culture and experience, particularly humanity’s quest for meaning and value. These courses cultivate the arts of reading, writing, speaking, and critical thinking and help engage texts and their contexts with critical comprehension.

Physical Activity (Select two one-credit fitness-based activity courses):

The Physical Activity requirement consists of any two one-credit activity courses to be taken in addition to the Core requirement of UCFH 120, Concepts of Fitness and Health (2 credits). The foundational Concepts of Fitness and Health course places emphasis on exercises that develop cardiorespiratory, muscular, and flexibility fitness and examines related issues of weight control, common fitness injuries, behavior modification, and body composition. The purpose of the two activity courses is to expose the student to a variety of activities to encourage their adoption as lifetime sports.

** Report of the Arts and Sciences committee on the general education requirement of Howard College, approved by the A&S Assembly on May 9, 2002. Committee: Rosemary Fisk, chair; Bruce Atkinson, Myralyn Allgood, Stephen Chew, Morgan Ponder, Randy Todd, and Lowell Vann. The committee drafted this document as a guide for the A&S Steering Committee and Faculty Assembly to use for approval of courses to meet general education requirements.