General Education

General Education Program

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Purpose

The General Education program at Palm Beach Atlantic University is the unifying educational experience for all undergraduate students. By initiating students into the liberal arts and sciences, the General Education program promotes the Guiding Principles of the university and provides a shared intellectual and spiritual frame of reference that unites the campus. By fostering the love of learning, creative expression, critical inquiry, and vibrant faith, the General Education program plays a vital role in the formation of virtuous citizens.

The General Education program at PBA promotes the development of contemplative and active citizens. To this end, the General Education curriculum cultivates the mind, develops moral character, and introduces the rewards of a lifetime of learning. Thus, it is both a sacred duty and a worthy investment.

Overview and Requirements

The General Education program prepares students to be:
 
A citizen of the professional community - The General Education curriculum supports the student's major program of study by developing skills in critical thinking, oral and written communication, and servant leadership. This General Education curriculum gives students an appreciation of the larger intellectual and cultural context and provides foundational knowledge to pursue academic inquiry in all majors. The General Education Curriculum bridges the arts and sciences to the professional disciplines, broadening the basis of intellectual activities and interests and developing the capacity for critical inquiry and understanding in a culturally diverse society.
 
The overarching goals for this citizenship are:
 
  1. Demonstrate proficiency in basic communication methods, which may include written, oral, electronic, and emerging techniques.
  2. Apply communication methods, logic, methods of intellectual inquiry and experience to evaluate and construct arguments, make decisions, and/or solve problems.
A citizen of the civic community - The General Education curriculum assists students in appreciating the origins and traditions of their civic community. Emphasizing literacy of the Western tradition, civic-mindedness, and aesthetic appreciation, the General Education curriculum provides students with the foundation necessary to serve their communities as critical, insightful, and responsible citizens who make a valuable contribution to society.
 
The overarching goals for this citizenship are:
 
  1. Explain the Western tradition (culture, history, art, literature, philosophy, etc.) and the origin and nature of democratic society and free enterprise.
  2. Articulate awareness of diverse cultures, viewpoints, and perspectives and their influences on contemporary issues.
A citizen of the faith community - The General Education program explores the interconnectedness of faith and life. By introducing students to the traditions, values, and worldview perspectives of the Christian faith as expressed in the Bible and throughout history, the General Education curriculum equips students to become informed participants and leaders in their faith communities.
 
The overarching goals for this citizenship are:
 
  1. Integrate the biblical metanarrative into one's professional, civic, and global communities.
  2. Describe Christian worldview and its relationship to the Western tradition and biblical metanarrative in order to develop and demonstrate Christian character. 

Artifact Collection

Many General Education courses include assignments that are relevant to the course-level learning outcomes but that also serve as measures of General Education learning outcomes. All students taking courses that contain embedded assignments used for General Education assessment complete these assignments, but only a select number of sections of each course submit their data for evaluation in any given term. Acting upon recommendations from the Undergraduate Programs Committee, the General Education Coordinator selects this sampling of courses, communicates the selections with the appropriate instructors and deans, and provides additional instruction to facilitate the collection process.