General Education Core

General Education Core Student Learning Outcomes

The overall goal of the core curriculum is to prepare students to become and continue to be discerning, well-educated citizens who possess the ability to communicate ideas, analyze concepts, and understand human experience. Graduates of Martin Methodist College will demonstrate the following:

• the conventions of academic written and oral forms,

• inter-cultural knowledge and competence,

• critical thinking and analysis,

• quantitative reasoning in problem solving,

• research skills with regard to information technologies.

Courses in the general education core curriculum address the outcomes listed above. In many of the courses in composition, literature, history, music, art, drama, and religion, research papers and oral presentations require students to organize and interpret ideas and communicate these ideas in written and oral formats. Required classes in literature, history, religion, art, music, and drama offer students the opportunity to broaden their perspectives, so they can appreciate the richness of our Western heritage and the heritage of other cultures. Classes in history, literature, psychology, sociology, and religion help students to recognize the complexities of human interaction in today’s society and to realize the importance of critical thinking. Courses in mathematics, sciences, and technology provide students the opportunity to develop problem solving, logical reasoning, and technological skills, while physical education classes promote improvement in physical conditioning and the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

To further aid in the achievement of these core curriculum outcomes, each student is required to attend a number of campus events called Martin Moments events.

In addition to successful completion of the required general education core courses, learning outcomes in the general education core are assessed through course-embedded measures.

Computer Literacy

Graduates of Martin Methodist College must demonstrate a satisfactory level of computer literacy. Computer literacy is defined as:

1. a fundamental understanding of operating system functions including the ability to perform file management and printer functions and the ability to use external storage devices;
2. competency in word processing including formatting of text and graphics and publication to other applications;
3. an understanding of electronic spreadsheets including the use of formulas and functions and publication to other applications;
4. database administration to include data manipulation, reporting and form generation;
5. competency in presentation software including creation and formatting of electronic slide shows, automatic presentations and publication of presentations;
6. competency in electronic communication including the use of e-mail and e-mail attachments, the fundamentals of security and privacy, Internet research methods; and social media;
7. awareness and understanding of ethical and societal issues rising from the use of electronic media.

Computer literacy can be demonstrated in one of the following ways:

1. By completing MIS 110, MIS 220, or MIS 240/CS 110 with a minimum grade of “C.”
2. By passing the Comprehensive Computer Literacy Challenge Examination; students who can document extensive experience in the use of technology covering all of the areas described above may request permission to take the Comprehensive Computer Literacy Examination, administered once each term and only at the scheduled time. There is no fee to test, but if passed, a $100.00 per credit hour is charged to record the credit. Students who do not perform at a satisfactory level may not repeat the test, but must take one of the MIS courses listed above and pass with a minimum grade of “C.”

Credit Hour Policy

The semester credit hour is the unit of instruction at Martin Methodist College. The College awards one credit hour for an amount of student work that reasonably approximates not less than one hour of classroom or direct instruction and two hours of out-of-class student work per week for a semester. Thus a 3 credit hour course entails an amount of student work that reasonably approximates 150 minutes of classroom or direct instruction per week (a total of 37.5 hours over a 15-week semester) and six hours of out-of-class student work per week for that semester. Courses that may be scheduled differently--such as online or hybrid courses, laboratory work, studio work, practica, internships, or independent study--award credit based on amounts of faculty instruction and amounts of student work equivalent to those described above. This policy is consistent with Federal Guidelines established in 34 CFR 600.2