2020-2021 Undergraduate Catalog

School of General Studies

Bridie Chapman, PhD

Executive Director

CAS-121B (908) 737-0364

Website: http://www.kean.edu/academics/college-liberal-arts/school-general-studies

The mission of the School of General Studies is to develop students’ knowledge and skills acquisition to improve their academic success. The School strategically implements and assesses the General Education Program and its curriculum to support students in completing their degree requirements. The School collaborates with programs that address academic and non-academic issues affecting student retention and integration into the university community.

Through the General Education Program students will learn to integrate knowledge and methods to address historical and contemporary questions. The General Education Program will develop habits of mind including proficiency in communication in both oral and written forms, quantitative literacy, critical thinking, and information and technology literacies.

The General Education Program will instill students with a distinct set of values. These values include ethical judgment and integrity, active citizenship and diversity.

The School of General Studies provides support to first-year students, through experiences that acculturate students to the academic, social and emotional demands of college and modeling behavior designed to ensure retention, successful degree completion, and graduation.

The School of General Studies is committed to creating a sustainable culture of assessment dedicated to advancing Kean University’s mission of access and excellence. The School of General Studies provides leadership for the planning and implementation of assessment, student-learning outcomes and faculty/staff-related training.

The General Education Program is the signature of Kean University, branding Kean’s unique knowledge and skills on each student and appropriate in rigor and content to build a diverse community of learners consistent with the University’s mission. Students are engaged in active learning experiences in a curriculum consisting of a wide-range of liberal arts courses designed to enhance knowledge and skills of all Kean University undergraduate students.

For more information about College of Liberal Arts programs, please see: http://www.kean.edu/academics/college-liberal-arts

Student Learning Outcomes

Content (Liberal Arts)

1) Transdisciplinarity (KU4)

The ability to integrate knowledge and methods from different fields to address historical or contemporary questions.

Building Habits of Mind

2) Critical Thinking (KU1)

The ability to utilize reflective analysis to draw informed conclusions.

3) Quantitative Literacy (KU1)

The ability to utilize numerical data accurately and effectively to address real world problems.

4) Communication Literacies (KU1)

The ability to speak and write effectively to convey an evidence-based argument.

5) Information and Technology Literacies (KU2)

The ability to utilize information and communications technology critically and effectively in a rapidly changing world.

Values

6) Active Citizenship (KU3)

A commitment to lifelong civic engagement at a local, national and/or global level.

7) Ethical Judgment and Integrity (KU3)

The ability to draw responsible conclusions from ethical questions to guide personal conduct.

8) Diversity (KU3)

A commitment to promote inclusivity in a diverse world.