What is Gen Ed?

General Education at New York City College of Technology

Important General Education Learning Goals—adopted by College Council March 2013

New York City College of Technology aspires to be a living laboratory where General Education

  • is represented by a mutually accepted core of knowledge, skills, and values that permeate all courses, not only in the liberal arts and sciences, but across the majors.
  • makes rich use of the physical, historical, economic, and cultural aspects of our location in a diverse urban community
  • stresses active learning and creative problem solving
  • encourages engagement in personal, professional, and civic communities
  • integrates theory/ knowledge and hands- on/ application
  • maintains a global focus/ perspective
  • is communications intensive

KNOWLEDGE
Develop knowledge from a range of disciplinary perspectives, and develop the ability to deepen and continue learning.Breadth of knowledge

  • Value knowledge and learning
  • Understand and appreciate the range of academic disciplines and their relationship to the fields of professional and applied study.
  • Use the arts, sciences and humanities as a forum for the study of values, ethical principles, and the physical world.

Depth of knowledge

  • Engage in an in-depth, focused, and sustained program of study
  • Pursue disciplined, Inquiry-based learning in the major.

Lifelong learning

  • Show curiosity and the desire to learn.
  • Acquire tools for lifelong learning—how to learn, how they learn, knowledge of resources.

SKILLS
Acquire and use the tools needed for communication, inquiry, analysis, and productive work.
Communication

  • Communicate in diverse settings and groups, using written (both reading and writing), oral (both speaking and listening), and visual means, and in more than one language.

Inquiry/ Analysis

  • Derive meaning from experience, as well as gather information from observation.
  • Understand and employ both quantitative and qualitative analysis to describe and solve problems, both independently and cooperatively.
  • Employ scientific reasoning and logical thinking.
  • Use creativity to solve problems.

INTEGRATION
Work productively within and across disciplines.
Information Literacies

  • Gather, interpret, evaluate, and apply information discerningly from a variety of sources.

Systems

  • Understand and navigate systems

Integrate Learning

  • Resolve difficult issues creatively by employing multiple systems and tools.
  • Make meaningful and multiple connections among the liberal arts and between the liberal arts and the areas of study leading to a major or profession.

VALUES, ETHICS, AND RELATIONSHIPS
Understand and apply values, ethics, and diverse perspectives in personal, professional, civic, and cultural/global domains.
Professional/Personal Development

  • Demonstrate Intellectual honesty and personal responsibility.
  • Discern consequences of decisions and actions
  • Demonstrate intellectual agility and the ability to manage change.
  • Work with teams, including those of diverse composition. Build consensus.
  • Respect and use creativity.

Ethics/Values

  • Transform information into knowledge, and knowledge into judgment and action.
  • Assume responsibility for social justice

Community/Civic Engagement

  • Demonstrate social and civic knowledge [regarding social, political, economic, and historical issues].
  • Understand organizations and histories underlying government in global context
  • Apply knowledge and analyze social, political, economic, and historical issues.
  • Show ability to contribute actively by applying knowledge to the identification and analysis of societal and professional problems to enact solutions.

Global/ Multicultural Orientation

  • Demonstrate expanded cultural and global awareness and sensitivity.
  • Discern multiple perspectives.
  • Use awareness of cultural differences to bridge cultural and linguistic barriers.
  • Demonstrate proficiencies and capacities in dealing with a diverse society.
  • Communicate across cultural and linguistic barriers.