Mar 29, 2024  
2003-2004 Springfield College Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2003-2004 Springfield College Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

General Education Program


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RATIONALE

The emphasis at Springfield College is on our Humanics Philosophy, the education of the whole person—the spiritmind-body—with motivation of service to humanity that is international, intercultural, interracial and interreligious. The Springfield College students must be educated for a dynamic world that requires an advanced level of interpersonal and communication skills. Students must be educated to enjoy a healthy and physically active lifestyle. Furthermore, they must be able to apply the Humanics Philosophy during their time in college and throughout their lives as vital participants in family and community.

The General Education Program provides every Springfield College student with the opportunity to develop as a literate, thinking, socially responsible person. To this end, Springfield College establishes a climate which fosters a spirit of inquiry into the nature of humankind and the universe. The general education of the Springfield student emphasizes and encourages: a search for personal and spiritual values; the acquisition of knowledge, understanding and competency essential for the improvement of humankind and society; and the development of an appreciation for and an understanding of human movement as it relates to health expression and physical well being.

Humanics and the General Education Program

To integrate Humanics into their lives, Springfield College students engage in the search for knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of values through the study of the following sciences and humanities:

I. Humanics and the General Education Program 10 s.h.


The educated person will know, understand and nurture the scientific and logical dimensions of people and the environment in which they live.

One course from each subgroup:

A. Natural Science 4 s.h.


The General Education category in Science is fulfilled by curricular study that provides students with general theory in the natural sciences and exposes them to critical thinking and analysis via the scientific method applied in both theory and experiment.

B. Mathematics 3 s.h.


The General Education category in Mathematics is fulfilled by curricular study that provides students with the minimum level of proficiency in college algebra.

C. Computer Science 3 s.h.


The General Education category in Computer Science is fulfilled by curricular study that provides students with a minimum level of proficiency in the hardware components of a computer system and their use through the utilization of applications of software and elementary programming and computer ethics.

II. Humanics Health and Movement 7 s.h.


The educated person will know, understand, and nurture the role of Health and Physical Activity in human life.

A. Health 3 s.h.


The General Education category in Health is fulfilled by curricular study that provides students with a basic knowledge of current personal health theory and wellness lifestyle, and assists them in daily decision-making and self-responsibility.
(Note: Students in the Physician Assistant major are waived from this requirement.)

B. Physical Education 4 s.h.


The General Education category in Physical Education is fulfilled by curricular study that provides students with the opportunity to acquire increased skilled movement, develop an increased level of physical fitness, engage in an activity for recreational or competitive purposes, and incorporate physical activity as part of lifestyle.

III. Humanics and Expressive and Communicative Life 15 s.h.


The educated person will know, understand and nurture people and their cultures through languages, literature and other symbolic forms of expression.

A. English 6 s.h.


The General Education category in Written English is fulfilled by curricular study that trains students in academic discourse including formal research papers, formal oral presentation and text based analysis.

B. Literature 3 s.h.


The General Education category in Literature is fulfilled by curricular study focusing on the reading, critical analysis and discussion of literary texts.

C. Second Language/Culture 3 s.h.


The General Education category in Second Language/Culture is fulfilled by curricular study if a significant portion of its course content is the teaching of language elements of culture.

D. Visual and Performing Arts must total 3 s.h.


The General Education category in Visual and Performing Arts is fulfilled by curricular study that gives students an understanding of the creative process and exposes them to aesthetic experiences. This can be accomplished through guided exposure to and/or creation of works of art.

IV. Humanics, Culture, and Society 9 s.h.


The educated person will know, understand and nurture the relationship of the self to community and diverse individuals and cultures.

One course from each subgroup:

A. History 3 s.h.


The General Education category in History is fulfilled by curricular study that uses a survey of world history to enhance the students’ understanding of the present and increases their awareness and appreciation of the past in the context of their own lives.

B. Social Science 3 s.h.


The General Education category in Social Science is fulfilled by curricular study that provides students with an introduction to the study of community, cultures, social institutions or government through the disciplines of social science.

C. Social Justice Issues


The General Education category in Social Justice Issues is fulfilled by curricular study that examines issues defined within the context of United States culture such as sexism, racism, age discrimination, religious bigotry, homophobia or ablebodiedism.

V. Humanics and the Search for Meaning 6 s.h.


The educated person will know, understand, and nurture a personal, spiritual and ethical value system about the ultimate questions of life and living.

One course from each subgroup:

A. Philosophy 3 s.h.


The General Education category in Philosophy is fulfilled by curricular study that involves the students in concept clarification
through illuminating the possibilities in their search for meaning in life and the systematic examination of beliefs and value which influence both thought and action.

** Any course with a PHIL prefix satisfies this requirement.

B. Religion 3 s.h.



The General Education category in Religion is fulfilled by curricular study that provides students with an introduction to a spiritual value system or systems through the study of foundational texts, historical developments, theological concepts or representative personalities.

** Any course with a RELI prefix satisfies this requirement.

Notes Regarding General Education Courses:


  • A course can only be used to satisfy one of the General Education requirements even if the course is listed in more than one General Education category.
  • Courses designated 999 on a student’s transcript are transfer courses that fulfill the General Education Program requirement.
  • If students plan to take a course at another institution, the Springfield College Transfer Credit Guidelines form (available at the Office of the Registrar) must be approved and returned to the Registrar before the course is taken.
  • The General Education Program Waiver Application and Substitution Application are available at the Office of the Registrar.
  • The College reserves the right to add, cancel or change the General Education Program listings.

Writing Across the Curriculum Requirement 6 s.h.


Undergraduate students must complete a minimum of two Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) courses at Springfield College for a total of 6 semester hours. One course must be taken during or following the student’s third college semester (sophomore, junior, or senior year); this course may be taken in any discipline. The second required course must be taken during or following the student’s fifth college semester (junior or senior year) in the discipline of the student’s major. A course used for WAC credit may also fulfill a General Education category if it is so eligible. The WAC requirement cannot be fulfilled with transfer credit.

Courses that fulfill the WAC requirement are also designated in the comment area of the Academic Schedule.

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