www.generaleducation.appstate.edu
Ted Zerucha, Director
Kristin M. Hyle, Assistant Director
A degree from Appalachian State University begins with the General Education Program. Its interdisciplinary curriculum provides a challenging liberal education through which students learn to adapt to new environments, integrate knowledge from diverse sources, and continue learning throughout their lives. The General Education Program draws on nationally identified best educational practices, as well as what employers demand from today’s graduates.
The General Education Program has four goals for students: thinking critically and creatively, communicating effectively, making local to global connections, and understanding responsibilities of community membership.
The General Education Program accounts for 44 semester hours of a student’s degree program. A total of 17 semester hours come from the program’s Integrative Learning Experience and Science Inquiry - with multi-disciplinary themes from which students select their courses. An additional 12 hours come from the Liberal Studies Experience.
The program also includes a first year seminar course; writing courses at the freshman, sophomore, and junior level; quantitative literacy courses to develop reasoning and numerical skills; and a wellness literacy requirement to enhance students’ knowledge and management of their personal health in all its dimensions. The General Education Program culminates with a capstone experience in the student’s major.
Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC)
www.wac.appstate.edu
Elizabeth L. Carroll, Director
The Writing Across the Curriculum Program (WAC) works closely with General Education, the University Writing Center, the RC Program, and faculty in the disciplines (WID) to support faculty development for the vertical writing curriculum and assessment of writing. WAC consultants offer individual, group, and program workshops in writing pedagogy and have worked with faculty in all programs in the university. WAC also offers Don’t Cancel That Class, an on-going project that allows faculty to invite a WAC consultant to teach a writing-focused class when the faculty member must be absent. Since 2009, we have offered Writing Across Institutions, a free conference on writing pedagogy for community college faculty and taken responsibility for community college faculty development for ENG 112, the WAC course. WAC’s outreach programs include Women’s Writing Pilgrimage, which offers a monthly writing session and annual performance, and Writers’ Cafe, support for community writers. With UWC and RC, WAC was awarded the CCCC Certificate of Excellence in 2011. We also offer campus visits and WAC workshops: for more information, email rhoadesgd@appstate.edu.
First Year Seminar
www.firstyearseminar.appstate.edu
Rick Klima, Director
The First Year Seminar requirement in General Education provides students with an introduction to a liberal arts education. Students in First Year Seminar practice thinking critically and creatively, communicating effectively, developing intercultural competence, and developing information literacy competence. Students also engage with the common reading book, and are exposed to university resources and activities, explicit expectations for college-level work, and the purpose of a liberal arts education. In addition to examining distinct topics from multiple perspectives, all First Year Seminar classes equip students with a common set of transferable skills. In particular, First Year Seminar facilitates student engagement with fellow students, the university, and the community, and the development of the habits of rigorous study, intellectual growth, and lifelong learning.
For more information and descriptions of the many topics offered as First Year Seminars, see www.firstyearseminar.appstate.edu.
First Year Seminar Policy for Transfer Students
The First Year Seminar requirement in General Education is waived for students who
- graduated from high school at least one year prior to entering Appalachian,
- are classified as transfer students by Admissions, AND
- have earned at least 24 transferable semester credit hours at postsecondary institutions prior to entering Appalachian. Credit by exam or for military or life experience is excluded from the 24 semester credit hours.
Students whose First Year Seminar requirement in General Education is waived might have three fewer semester credit hours of General Education.
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