Northeastern State University

Academic Information

General Education

As a result of continuing study the faculty at Northeastern State University believes that all students should participate in certain common experiences during the first two years of college work and that such a program of common experiences is best designated as General Education. It is believed that a program of General Education must make available to the student extensive experiences, which are both rich and important, in preparation for the major aspects of living in a democratic society; and that these experiences should provide for the development of personal talents and abilities and for a satisfying participation in activities involving democratic procedures.

With this general philosophy, the entire pattern of General Education has these objectives:

1. Communicate effectively through writing, listening, speaking, and reading;
2. Recognize and analyze works of literature, art, and music as expressions of different cultural values;
3. Identify and evaluate basic political, historical, geographic, and economic forces that shape the past, present, and future;
4. Understand physical and biological phenomena and their importance for the welfare of society;
5. Understand and apply methods of scientific inquiry;
6. Understand and use quantitative symbolic systems to interpret and communicate data;
7. Understand and apply concepts and activities that promote good health; and
8. Use critical thinking to analyze and solve problems.