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General Education Core: From Great Beginnings to Graduation and Beyond
The General Education Core
The General Education Core has a firm foundation in UC’s Academic Plan, to reaffirm liberal education as the core to preparing students as life-long learners. Our General Education course requirements are purposefully designed to strengthen four important learning outcomes or competencies throughout the student’s progress toward their degree.
Undergraduate Core Competencies
Undergraduate courses at the University of Cincinnati promote development of four Baccalaureate Competencies.
Critical Thinking
Analysis, synthesis, and evaluation of information and ideas from multiple perspectives
Effective Communication
Competence in oral, visual, and written language; use of resources and technology for communication
Knowledge Integration
Fusion of information and concepts from multiple disciplines
Social Responsibility
Application of knowledge and skills gained from the undergraduate experience for the advancement of a diverse society
Information Literacy
Information Literacy is an essential skill that supports each of the competencies and must permeate every component of the General Education Core. Information literacy is a set of abilities requiring individuals to recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and effectively use the information. It enables learners to master content and extend their investigations, become more self-directed, and assume greater control over their learning. (Information Literacy Rubric)
General Education at the University of Cincinnati:
- emphasizes critical thinking
- develops effective verbal, written, oral, and visual communication
- includes familiarity with multiple areas of traditional knowledge
- supports intellectual excellence and openness
- integrates study among disciplines
- encourages commitment to personal social accountability and responsibility
- promotes awareness of the world at large
- fosters information literacy
- values lifelong learning
- encourage contextual linkages