Framework

The purpose of general education at the University of Rhode Island is to lay a foundation for the lifelong enrichment of the human experience and for a thoughtful and active engagement with the world around us. This foundation is built on recognition of the complex nature of the natural and human worlds. The objective of general education is to introduce students to the fundamental dimensions of this complexity and to build an appreciation of different ways of understanding it and different cultural responses to it.

Specifically, courses in the seven (7) core areas of General Education address:

KNOWLEDGE

* Artistic and literary expression and interpretation (Fine Arts/Literature)

*Wisdom and traditions of the past and present in a global setting (Letters)

*Interrelationships of the natural world (Natural Sciences)

*Human behavior in social, economic, cultural, and political contexts (Social Sciences)

SKILLS

*Mathematical and quantitative skills and their applications (Mathematical/Quantitative Reasoning)

*Writing and speaking in English (English Communication)

*Communicating across cultures (Cross-cultural Competence)

In addition, because particular areas of emphasis are essential to a thoughtful engagement with the world, each course in General Education must incorporate a special focus on three (3) or more of the following seven areas:

*Reading complex texts

*Writing logically

* Speaking logically

*Examining human differences

*Using quantitative data

*Using qualitative data

*Using information technology

General Education is only a portion of any undergraduate degree program. Major and minor requirements along with electives contribute significantly to students' education. All programs should include in their curriculums opportunities for students to develop further the skills that this general education program addresses. As a consequence of the interaction between General Education and major programs, the University of Rhode Island expects that all programs will lead students toward:

*the ability to think critically in order to solve problems and question the nature and sources of authority

*the ability to use the methods and materials characteristic of each knowledge area with an understanding of the interrelationship among and the interconnectedness of the core areas

*a commitment to intellectual curiosity and lifelong learning

*an openness to new ideas with the social skills necessary for both teamwork and leadership

*the ability to think independently and be self-directed; to make informed choices and take initiative