General Education, Natural Sciences Goals

The goal of the Natural Sciences requirement is to guide students toward becoming scientifically literate as issues in today’s world require scientific information and a scientific approach to informed decision making.  This scientific understanding gained in these courses enhances students’ ability to define and solve problems, reason with an open mind, think critically and creatively, make sound judgements after critical evaluation of data, and make decisions that may have local or global significance.
I.	Use Scientific principles to apply experimental techniques, make observational analyses, interpret experimental results, and draw logical conclusions. (Scientific Inquiry & Mathematical Reasoning, Critical Thinking)
II.	Describe the natural and/or physical world using basic scientific language and processes.  (Scientific Inquiry & Mathematical Reasoning)
III.	Apply scientific principles to address problems or issues in the natural and/or physical world.  (Scientific Inquiry & Mathematical Reasoning, Critical Thinking)
IV.	Critically analyze the impact of scientific discoveries on society.  (Scientific Inquiry & Mathematical Reasoning, Critical Thinking)

Courses satisfying this category must meet three (3) or more of the learning outcomes.