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Desciption |
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LIBERAL
STUDIES PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
from
the 2003-2005 Undergraduate Catalog
WVU recognizes the need for students to have a wide
range of knowledge and experience to complement their
chosen field of study. The LSP serves this purpose
and is based on the following two principles.
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In our world of rapid economic,
social, and technological change, universities recognize
that a broad educational foundation is necessary
for the life-long learning that makes meaningful
careers and other goals attainable. WVU's approach
to this foundation is its Liberal Studies Program,
which provides graduates with the skills and knowledge
to continue their intellectual growth as a lifelong
process. These skills and knowledge include the
ability to reason clearly, communicate effectively,
and understand major influences in society.
-
General education helps students
to become thoughtful participants in a democratic
society and to achieve the intellectual integration
and awareness they need to meet changes and challenges
in their personal, social, political, and professional
lives. General education courses introduce the great
ideas and controversies in human thought and experience.
These courses provide breadth, perspective, and
rigor that enable WVU graduates to:
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Understand the past and its traditions.
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Identify and resolve issues of personal
and professional ethics.
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Contribute in meaningful ways to
their local, national, and global communities.
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Understand alternative viewpoints
and cultures.
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Accept the assume responsibility
for themselves and their world.
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Interact constructively with people
different from themselves.
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Understand important issues confronting
society.
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Gain a critical understanding of
the arts, sciences, and humanities.
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Use quantitative and scientific
knowledge and technology accurately.
Program
Components
West Virginia University Liberal Studies Program
requirements for all students who receive the baccalaureate
degree are divided into a skills component and a distribution
component. These are described below.
Skills Requirements
Writing
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All students must successfully complete
at least three hours of mathematics or statistics.
This requirement is in addition to the Cluster C
requirement that is described below. Courses approved
for the mathematics skills requirement: Mathematics
121, 124, 126, 129, 150, 155, 156, 180, 218, 231,
Economics 225, and Statistics 211.
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Cluster
Courses
The University courses in the LSP that provide students
with broad liberal knowledge and experience are grouped
into three clusters:
Cluster A (Humanities and Fine Arts):
The study of humanities develops knowledge of and
appreciation for the accumulated wisdom and experience
contained in world literature, history, fine arts,
religion, and philosophy, with the objective of bringing
the student to an active consciousness of the living,
operating, and continuing values of human culture.
Cluster B (Social and Behavioral Sciences):
The social and behavioral sciences develop in students
the knowledge and appreciation of both themselves
and the world in which they live. Through the study
of anthropology, economics, geography, linguistics,
political science, psychology, sociology, and communication
studies, students are able to comprehend major concepts,
evaluate movements and ideas, and anticipate future
trends in societies both at home and abroad.
Cluster C (Natural Sciences and Mathematics):
Courses in the natural sciences and mathematics provide
information about the natural world and provide a
perspective on how an understanding of the natural
world is developed. Educated persons should have a
knowledge of the physical, chemical, geological, and
biological entities and processes that constitute
the natural world. Courses in mathematics, statistics,
and computer science can provide the technical tools
for an understanding of the natural world, as well
as an understanding of the methods and value of mathematics
considered as a discipline in itself.
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Distribution
of Cluster Requirements
Cluster A Requirements 12 hours
of Cluster A courses must be distributed according
to the following provisions and successfully completed:
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Courses must be successfully completed
in three disciplines.
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Two courses must be successfully
completed in the same discipline.
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If foreign language courses are
chosen to fulfill Cluster A requirements, no student
may use more than one first-semester course of
an elementary foreign language. Language courses
in a student's native language may not be used
to fulfill Cluster A requirements.
-
No more than one multidisciplinary
studies (MDS) course may be used to fulfill Cluster
A requirements.
Cluster B Requirements 12 hours
of Cluster B courses must be successfully completed
and distributed according to the following provisions:
-
Courses must be successfully completed
in three disciplines.
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Two courses must be successfully
completed in the same discipline.
-
No more than one multidisciplinary
studies (MDS) course may be used to fulfill Cluster
B requirements.
Cluster C Requirements 11-12 hours
of Cluster C courses must be successfully completed
and distributed according to the following provisions:
-
Courses must be successfully completed
in two disciplines.
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At least one course must include
a laboratory (identified in the Schedule of Courses).
-
No more than one multidisciplinary
studies (MDS) course may be used to fulfill Cluster
C requirements.
Note: Foreign or minority culture
requirement: one three-credit-hour course must focus
substantially on the study of a foreign or minority
culture or cultures or on women and/or issues of
gender.
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A current listing of Liberal Studies Program courses
can be found at http://www.arc.wvu.edu/courses/LSP.html.
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