The Human Community

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The Human Community
James Madison College
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General Information

• Planning for the current program began in 1994
  and the first freshman class that came in under
  the new program entered in 1997
• An academic unit, the Office of General
  Education, was established with a dean and staff
  members
• The budget, excluding salaries, runs under
  100,000
• Grant monies were also secured for revision of
  existing courses and assessment instruments

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General Program Features, JMU

• The General Education program is considered the
  First Major
• All undergraduates must complete 41 - 45 credit
  hours in the core, regardless of major or program
• Competency requirements in technology,
  information, and writing

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Program First Impressions

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What JMU Does Well

• The definition and relevance of General Education
  is clearly conveyed to the students
• The purpose, philosophy, mission, and goals of
  the General Education Program are articulated
  extremely well
• The General Education Program is given the same
  level of importance as the major

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The Mission

• To graduate students who will be informed
  citizens
• To provide students with critical skills in
  reasoning, communication, and technology
• To introduce students to core areas of knowledge
  that are central to the history of western
  civilization
• To invite students to know themselves
  intellectually, emotionally, and physically

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The Program Structure

• Five Clusters

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• In each cluster, students complete a
  cross-disciplinary or sequenced set of courses
  called a package.
• These courses challenge students to make
  connections among disciplines while satisfying
  learning objectives
• Each package forms a complete and coherent body
  of knowledge
• Students must take and complete a single package
  and may not pick and choose courses from
  different packages

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Cluster OneSkills for the 21st Century

• Students learn to think and communicate
  effectively
• 9 credit hours - Must be completed in the first
  year and all course choices are suitable for any
  major
• Information competency requirements
• Technology Test
• Information Seeking Skills Test
• Students choose from three areas
• Critical Thinking
• Human Communication
• Writing

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Cluster TwoArts Humanities

• Students learn to appreciate the arts and
  humanities as an essential component of the human
  experience
• 9 credit hours
• Students complete one course from each of three
  areas
• Historical, Cultural, Philosophical Prospectives
• Fine Arts
• Literature
• Participation in Studies Abroad programs may be
  used to fulfill some or all of Cluster two
  requirements

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Cluster ThreeThe Natural World

• Students learn how to recognize the relevance of
  science and mathematics in the world
• 10 credit hours
• 7 packages to choose from depends on major

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Cluster FourSocial Cultural Processes

• Students learn how to identify ways in which
  political, social and economic forces shape
  American and global experiences
• 7 credit hours
• Students must take 1 course from each of the
  Cluster Four sections
• The American Experience
• The Global Experience
• The two selections must be from different
  disciplines

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Cluster FiveIndividuals in the Human Community

• Students learn how to understand themselves both
  as individuals and members of various groups in
  society
• 6 credit hours
• Students choose one course from each of two areas
• Wellness
• Sociocultural Dimension

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James Madison University

• The Human Community
• 1997
• General Education Clusters
• 41 - 45 hours (120)
• Competency testing
• Technology
• Writing
• Information
• Program assessment