FSD 25-04 Purdue University Northwest General Education Requirements

FSD 25-04 Purdue University Northwest General Education Requirements

PURDUE UNIVERSITY NORTHWEST FACULTY SENATE

Proposed: Revision of General Education requirements for all Purdue University Northwest Students – Effective Fall 2027

Submitted By: General Education and Assessment Committee

For Action: December 12^th, 2025

Rationale:  It is necessary to update PNW general education requirements to better align with the Commission for Higher Education Indiana College Core and associated learning outcomes, as well as with goals established by the PNW 2025-2030 Strategic Plan. The General Education and Assessment Committee developed this proposal following numerous discussions with faculty and department chairs from various academic units, completion and analysis of a faculty survey, benchmarking with other Indiana public institutions and peer institutions, including Purdue University-West Lafayette and Purdue-Fort Wayne, data gathered by the Office of Institutional Research, and examination of current best practices in postsecondary general education. Careful consideration has been given to broad knowledge, different ways of thinking, and wide-ranging competencies critical to an excellent university education, and preparation for rewarding careers and lifelong learning in a modern, information- and technology-based world.

The Indiana College Core consists of 30 credit hours and is based on competencies and learning outcomes in six areas:

Foundational Intellectual Skills

• Quantitative Reasoning
• Speaking and Listening
• Written Communication

Ways of Knowing

• Humanistic and Artistic
• Scientific
• Social and Behavioral

The committee’s proposal aligns with these six areas as follows:

• Written Communication (6 credits)
• Speaking and Listening (3 credits)
• Quantitative Reasoning (3 credits)
• Humanistic and Artistic Ways of Knowing (3 credits)
• Scientific Ways of Knowing (3 credits)
• Social and Behavioral Ways of Knowing (3 credits)

In addition, the committee proposes including the following to complete the PNW core:

• Understanding Technology (3 credits)
• Information Literacy, and Interdisciplinary Ways of Knowing (3 credits)
• Any approved General Education course (3 credits)

The Technology requirement has been in place for many years, and competency in this area remains valuable. Employer surveys conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) and the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) demonstrate this. We are also proposing a requirement in the area of Information Literacy, as this has become increasingly essential in the modern world where our graduates will navigate endless sources, often containing misinformation and data manipulation. Information Literacy is also a Purdue University West Lafayette core curriculum requirement. Interdisciplinary thinking fosters better understanding across the disciplines and integration of ideas. This is included in Purdue University Fort Wayne’s general education requirements.

Current:

The Current Purdue University Northwest General Education Requirements

Purdue University Northwest requires a minimum of 30 credit hours in the following General Education competencies:

• First Year Experience (1 to 3 credits)
• English Composition (6 credits)
• Speech Communication (3 credits)
• Quantitative Reasoning (3 credits)
• Natural Science (3 credits)
• Technology (3 credits)
• Humanities (3 credits)
• Social Sciences (3 credits)
• Any General Education (3 credits)

Proposed:

The Proposed Purdue University Northwest General Education Requirements

Purdue University Northwest requires a minimum of 30 credit hours in the following General Education competencies:

• Written Communication (6 credits)
• Speaking and Listening (3 credits)
• Quantitative Reasoning (3 credits)
• Humanistic and Artistic Ways of Knowing (3 credits)
• Scientific Ways of Knowing (3 credits)
• Social and Behavioral Ways of Knowing (3 credits)
• Understanding Technology (3 credits)
• Information Literacy and Interdisciplinary Ways of Knowing (3 credits)
• Any approved General Education course (3 credits)

 A minimum GPA of 2.0 for the 30 hours of courses within the PNW General Education Core is required to meet the standard for satisfactory completion. (This is outlined in the Indiana College Core, and is a requirement in the Purdue system.

Appendix A contains the learning objectives to be used for assessment of current general education courses and the addition of new ones.

Supplemental material includes a list of PNW General Education courses as of the fall 2025 semester.

Approved by: PNW Senate General Education and Assessment Committee

General Education Committee Members:

Kathleen Tobin (Chair)

Ali Alavizadeh

Kenneth Kincaid

Hassan Naji

Laurie Parpart

George Stefanek

Pitparnee Stompor Matthew Bauman

GenEd Members Voting in favor of this resolution: All.

GenEd Members Voting against this resolution: None.

APPENDIX A

PNW General Education Learning Outcomes

For courses to meet general education requirements, they must align with the following learning outcome guidelines and will be assessed accordingly. They are based on best practices in general education and align with outcomes articulated by the state of Indiana. The guidelines for Written Communication, Speaking and Listening, Quantitative Reasoning, Scientific Ways of Knowing, Social and Behavioral Ways of Knowing, and Humanistic and Artistic Ways of Knowing have been used for general education course assessment at PNW and can be found on the Indiana Commission for Higher Education’s Indiana College Core Guidance webpage. The first three learning outcome guidelines for Understanding Technology (7.1, 7.2 7.3) are currently used in assessment at PNW, and two others (7.4., 7.5) have been added to reflect findings of employer surveys conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) and the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U). Learning outcome guidelines for courses designated as Information Literacy and Interdisciplinary Ways of Knowing are based on resources provided by the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) and the benchmarking of learning outcomes established by other post-secondary institutions. An individual course is not required to meet all learning objectives listed, but does need to align with the spirit of the category. When proposing courses that do not clearly match the competencies outlined in one of the following – Writing, Speaking, Quantitative Reasoning, Science, Social Science, Arts and Humanities, Technology – faculty may consider the category of Information Literacy and Interdisciplinary Ways of Knowing.

1. Written Communication

Upon completion of the Written Communication requirement, students will be able to:

1.1. Produce texts that use appropriate formats, genre conventions, and documentation

styles while controlling tone, syntax, grammar, and spelling.

1.2. Demonstrate an understanding of writing as a social process that includes multiple

drafts, collaboration, and reflection.

1. Read critically, summarize, apply, analyze, and synthesize information and concepts

in written and visual texts as the basis for developing original ideas and claims.

1.4. Demonstrate an understanding of writing assignments as a series of tasks including

identifying and evaluating useful and reliable outside sources.

1.5. Develop, assert, and support a focused thesis with appropriate reasoning and

adequate evidence.

1.6. Compose texts that exhibit appropriate rhetorical choices, which include attention

to audience, purpose, context, genre, and convention.

1.7. Demonstrate proficiency in reading, evaluating, analyzing, and using material

collected from electronic sources (such as visual, electronic, library databases, Internet sources, other official databases, federal government databases, reputable blogs, wikis, etc.)

2. Speaking and Listening

Upon completion of the Speaking and Listening requirement, students will be able to:

2.1  Use appropriate organization or logical sequencing to deliver an oral message.

2.2. Adapt an oral message for diverse audiences, contexts, and communication channels.

2.3. Identify and demonstrate appropriate oral and nonverbal communication practices.

2.4. Advance an oral argument using logical reasoning.

2.5. Provide credible and relevant evidence to support an oral argument.

2.6. Demonstrate the ethical responsibilities of sending and receiving oral messages.

2.7. Summarize or paraphrase an oral message to demonstrate comprehension.

3. Quantitative Reasoning

Upon completion of the Quantitative Reasoning requirement, students will be able to:

3.1. Interpret information that has been presented in mathematical form (e.g.

with functions, equations, graphs, diagrams, tables, words, geometric

figures).

3.2. Represent information/data in mathematical form as appropriate (e.g. with

functions, equations, graphs, diagrams, tables, words, geometric figures).

3.3. Demonstrate skill in carrying out mathematical (e.g. algebraic, geometric, logical,

statistical) procedures flexibly, accurately, and efficiently to solve problems.

3.4. Analyze mathematical arguments, determining whether stated conclusions can be inferred.

3.5. Communicate which assumptions have been made in the solution process.

3.6. Analyze mathematical results in order to determine the reasonableness of the solution.

3.7. Cite the limitations of the process where applicable.

3.8. Clearly explain the representation, solution, and interpretation of the math problem.

4. Scientific Ways of Knowing

Upon completion of the Scientific Ways of Knowing requirement, students will be able to:

4.1. Explain how scientific explanations are formulated, tested, and modified

or validated.

4.2 Distinguish between scientific and non-scientific evidence and explanations.

4.3 Apply foundational knowledge and discipline-specific concepts to address

issues or solve problems.

4.4 Apply basic observational, quantitative, or technological methods to

gather data and generate evidence-based conclusions.

4.5 Use current models and theories to describe, explain, or predict natural phenomena.

4.6 Locate reliable sources of scientific evidence to construct arguments related to

real-world issues.

5. Social and Behavioral Ways of Knowing

Upon completion of the Social and Behavioral Ways of Knowing requirement, students will be able to:

5.1. Demonstrate knowledge of major concepts, theoretical perspectives,

empirical patterns, or historical contexts within a given social or behavioral

domain.

5.2. Identify the strengths and weaknesses of contending explanations or

interpretations for social, behavioral, or historical phenomena.

5.3. Demonstrate basic literacy in social, behavioral, or historical research methods

and analyses.

5.4. Evaluate evidence supporting conclusions about the behavior of

individuals, groups, institutions, or organizations.

5.5. Recognize the extent and impact of diversity among individuals, cultures,

or societies in contemporary or historical contexts.

5.6. Identify examples of how social, behavioral, or historical knowledge informs and

can shape personal, ethical, civic, or global decisions and responsibilities.

6. Humanistic and Artistic Ways of Knowing

Upon completion of the Humanistic and Artistic Ways of Knowing requirement, students will be able to:

6.1 Recognize and describe humanistic, historical, or artistic works or problems

and patterns of the human experience.

6.2 Apply disciplinary methodologies, epistemologies, and traditions of the

humanities and the arts, including the ability to distinguish primary and

secondary sources.

6.3 Analyze and evaluate texts, objects, events, or ideas in their cultural, intellectual, or

historical contexts.

6.4 Analyze the concepts and principles of various types of humanistic or

artistic expression.

6.5 Create, interpret, or reinterpret artistic and/or humanistic works

through performance or criticism.

6.6 Develop arguments about forms of human agency or expression grounded in

rational analysis and in an understanding of and respect for spatial, temporal, and

cultural contexts.

6.7 Analyze diverse narratives and evidence in order to explore the complexity

of human experience across space and time.

7. Understanding Technology

Upon completion of the Understanding Technology requirement, students will be able to:

7.1 Recognize, analyze, and interpret technological development in modern life.

7.2 Explain social implications to technological development.

7.3 Recognize and explain how technology affects life and the environment.

7.4 Identify and apply emerging technologies appropriate for education, the workplace, and society at large.

7.5 Demonstrate skills beneficial in the digital age.

8. Information Literacy and Interdisciplinary Ways of Knowing

Upon completion of the Information Literacy requirement, students will be able to:

8.1 Critically examine information from various sources to evaluate accuracy, authority, and point of view.

8.3 Describe different types of authority, such as discipline expertise, personal experience, social position, etc.

8.4 Recognize personal bias and worldview and understand how that influences information interpretation.

8.6 Demonstrate knowledge of data manipulation, interpretation, and presentation.

8.7 Identify issues related to freedom of information and free speech.

8.8 Demonstrate knowledge of real-world applications of numerical and financial methods.

8.10 Demonstrate knowledge of other languages, regions, and cultures.

8.11 Develop ability to integrate ways of thinking across the disciplines.

9. Any approved General Education course