Fundamental Academic Skills

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Fundamental Academic Skills (15 Hours Total)

Proficiency in reading, quantitative skills, and written/oral expression are essential for professional success and effective citizenship. The courses in fundamental academic skills are designed to provide the foundation for advanced academic study.

English and Writing:

9 Hours
 

Nine hours, to include ENGL 1150/ENGL 1154 and ENGL 1160/ENGL 1164 and one additional three-hour Single Writing Instruction course or a minimum of three (3) writing intensive courses that contains multiple writing assignments and written instruction. Writing in the Discipline course(s) are determined by the student’s major. Students may “test out” of ENGL 1150/ENGL 1154 and/or ENGL 1160/ENGL 1164. Contact the Department of English for more information.

The work of the university is to construct and share knowledge. Because this work is done largely by means of the written word, it is important for students to gain control over written language. Proficiency in reading, research, and written expression is essential for professional success and effective citizenship. The foundational writing courses (Composition I and Composition II) provide instruction in general academic literacy while writing in the discipline course(s), preferably taken in the student’s major, introduce research and language practices specific to the disciplines.

After completing Composition I, successful students shall be able to do the following:

  • Closely read, critically interpret, evaluate, and respond to other writers’ texts;
  • Write papers with a clear thesis, logical structure, and cohesive, well-developed paragraphs;
  • Write papers with clear, varied, well-constructed sentences, with usage and mechanics conforming to standard edited English; and
  • Demonstrate an understanding of writing as a complex, recursive process whereby ideas are explored, developed, and communicated to a particular audience for a particular purpose.

After completing Composition II, successful students shall be able to do the following:

  • Demonstrate further development of the writing skills learned in Composition I;
  • Locate and evaluate information in print and electronic sources and integrate the information into their own texts, citing the sources appropriately;
  • Analyze arguments in other writers’ texts; and
  • Craft well-informed, carefully reasoned arguments of their own, using the genre appropriate for the rhetorical context (e.g. position paper, proposal, evaluation).

After completing the writing in the discipline course(s), students shall be able to do the following:

  • Demonstrate further development of the writing skills learned in foundational composition courses;
  • Engage in the major discipline’s research practices, using the databases, bibliographies, and documentation conventions appropriate to the discipline;
  • Use the writing strategies and genres expected in the relevant academic and professional communities; and
  • Demonstrate command of the major discipline’s discourse practices, vocabulary, and style.

Note: Consult with an advisor in your major to determine the appropriate writing in the discipline course(s).

Quantitative Literacy:

3 Hours
 

Students must complete one of the following 3-credit hour courses –MATH 1120, MATH 1130, MATH 1140, MATH 1220, MATH 1300, STAT 1100 or STAT 1530

Quantitative Literacy involves using mathematical, computational, or statistical methods, with significant applications across a wide variety of disciplines. It emphasizes the process of formulating, solving, interpreting, and applying equations of different types to solve many different real-world problems.

Successful students shall be able to do the following:

  • Solve real-world problems;
  • Draw inferences based on a set of data or quantitative information; and
  • Justify conclusions derived from quantitative information

All students will still be required to meet any additional math requirement and/or math prerequisites in their program of study, and are highly encouraged to consult with their academic advisor before enrolling in a particular course

Students are considered proficient in meeting their general education Quantitative Literacy requirement if they have an ACT MATH score of 23 or higher or an SAT MATH score of 540 or higher or SAT2016 of 570 or higher.  Click here for additional information about how Math courses can fulfill Quantitative Literacy requirements, and for information about Math placement exams. Placement exams are designed to help ensure that you are in the correct course based on your academic skill level.         

Public Speaking:

3 Hours
 

Students must complete one of the following 3-credit hour courses – CMST 1110 or CMST 2120. Students may “test out” of CMST 1110. Contact the School of Communication for more information.

The goal of the public speaking requirement is to help students acquire the knowledge and skills needed for effective oral communication in academic, career or community life.

Successful students shall be able to do the following:

  • Create and develop messages demonstrating effective audience analysis and adaptation;
  • Create and develop messages demonstrating effective information gathering, analysis, and evaluation;
  • Create and deliver messages demonstrating effective organizational development and use of supporting materials from credible sources; and
  • Present appropriate messages, including effective use of language, nonverbal delivery, and visual information/technology.