General Education: Goals and Assessment

As a contemporary liberal arts college, Marietta reaffirms a liberal arts foundation as essential preparation for any career. Students will take a breadth of general education courses in the major areas of knowledge within the ever-changing liberal arts. This approach to teaching and learning stresses the development of critical thinking, problem solving and effective communication skills.

A student’s general education and work in his or her major run in parallel through a student's time at Marietta. The General Education program at Marietta is based on the College's Nine Core Values and requires study across a distribution of areas. The program is based on disciplines and cognate areas rather than administrative structures.

Writing Competency (Core Value 1)

Learn to write as a process that follows a series of steps leading to a finished product.
Improve ability to communicate ideas through writing according to the conventions of a particular discipline or to a wider audience.
Develop fundamental skills of expository writing covered in introductory-level courses.

Historical Perspective (Core Values 1 & 9)

Study the causes and consequences of events and ideas in the past.
Develop theses explaining processes of historical change and continuity.
Use both primary and secondary sources to analyze events, people, movements, and ideas over time.
Provide an appreciation for the uniqueness of historical contexts and for the social construction of reality.
Scientific Inquiry (Core Values 1 & 4)
Acquire basic content knowledge in at least one scientific discipline.
Develop a working knowledge of the scientific method, including its capabilities and limitations .
Use experimentation and measurement to explore and test hypotheses.
Connect scientific thinking and technology to societal issues.

Social Analysis (Core Value 1)

Use models/theories to describe, explain, and/or predict behavior of individuals and groups.
Use empirical methods to evaluate models/theories, using quantitative and/or qualitative evidence.
Examine the interrelationship of human behavior and social institutions.
Examine how social analysis can be applied to further understanding of social events, problems, and situations.

Quantitative Reasoning (Core Value 1)

Develop the ability to interpret data.
Develop the skills needed for logical thinking/deductive reasoning.
Learn to use quantitative reasoning to make decisions.
Apply quantitative reasoning tools to specific contexts.
Gain a cultural appreciation for quantitative reasoning.

Leadership and Ethics (Core Value 8)

Recognize the way leaders and followers develop, maintain, and articulate shared goals and values.
Recognize major moral principles.
Reflect upon living in a society with pluralistic values.
Identify factors that influence the leaders and followers.

Fine Arts (Core Value 1)

Practice visual or performing art in a significant way.
Develop skills in reading, observing, analyzing, and appreciating the aesthetics of art created by others.

Literature (Core Value 1)

Learn close reading of the texts and knowledge of their historical and cultural contexts.
Recognize genre characteristics and critical approaches.

Global Issues and Diversity (Core Value 9)

Acquire basic knowledge of at least one culture outside the USA.
Learn how selected factors contribute to an understanding of contemporary world issues.

Diversity (Core Value 9)

Acquire basic knowledge of at least one issue pertinent to diversity.
Develop analytical skills suitable for understanding differences.