Saint Mary's College General Education

Present: Chris Cobb, Patricia Fleming, Kitty Green, Joe Incandela, Michael Kramer, Charlie Peltier

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I. Schedule

The committee reviewed what needs to be completed yet as far as learning outcomes. The goal is to finish these by the end of summer.

II. Literature Learning Outcomes

At the end of the previous meeting, Patricia raised concerns about whether these outcomes are too broad and could, therefore, apply to any literature course. We started to discuss whether specific content areas, especially world literature, should be included. On the other hand, there exist countervailing concerns that there may not be enough existing classes to fulfill the new general education requirements if the learning outcomes are too specific.

III. Religious Worldviews Outcomes

Joe pointed out additional key elements in Religious Worldviews that he added after previous meeting. We discussed whether too many elements could be added to this list.

IV. Philosophical Traditions

The committee spent much of the meeting working on these learning outcomes. Patricia discussed different approaches that are taken for philosophy, either an historical structure or a structure based on philosophical themes. Many Catholic colleges take the latter approach. Another option would be to combine the two approaches by focusing on certain philosophical elements during specific historical periods.

The committee drafted the following learning outcomes:

1. A Saint Mary’s student will be able to identify significant features of and developments in the western philosophical tradition.
   
   
2. A Saint Mary’s student will be able to analyze and compare philosophical views of the nature of knowledge, the nature of reality, and the nature of the good.
   
   
3. A Saint Mary’s student will be able to raise questions on philosophical issues pertaining to the development of her own worldview.
   

V. Mathematical Arts

The committee drafted the following learning outcomes:

1. A Saint Mary’s student will formulate mathematical models using abstraction and logical reasoning.
   
   
2. A Saint Mary’s student will be able to use and interpret mathematical models to analyze systems & patterns.
   
   
3. A Saint Mary’s student will be able to demonstrate logical thinking by using mathematical language & concepts to phrase & answer questions pertaining to a variety of real world contexts.
   

VI. Histories

The committee drafted the following learning outcomes:

1. A Saint Mary’s student will be able to analyze in depth the historical development of a particular aspect of or issue in human culture.
   
   
2. A Saint Mary’s student will be able to articulate ways in which this development is affected by cultural factors such as gender, religion, values, and privilege.
   

We discussed a potential third outcome relating to the student’s ability to recognize the formation of a tradition in a specific area. However, the meeting adjourned before a specific outcome could be drafted.