Undergraduate Education, Council on -Reports - 2007-2008
- General Education Program (GEP) Implementation Updates
Category: Natural Sciences
CUE Approved Version for GEP 11-02-07
Natural Sciences
Rationale: The natural sciences pursue basic questions about the workings of the universe, and the richness, variety and interconnectedness of the world around us. Students today are exposed to an increasing volume of information, from a large variety of sources, in diverse and changing formats. Training in the natural sciences is essential to help students develop skills to distinguish between testable and un-testable ideas, recognize scientifically valid tests of theories, and understand how information relates to those tests. By studying the natural sciences, students learn to reason both inductively and deductively, develop and test scientific hypotheses, and understand the value and limitations of scientific studies. The development and application of new technologies require scientifically literate citizens who can understand technological issues and evaluate the role of science in society's debate of those issues.
Objectives:
Each course in the natural sciences will provide instruction and guidance that help the student to:
- use the methods and processes of science in testing hypotheses, solving problems and making decisions; and
- make inferences from and articulate, scientific concepts, principles, laws, and theories, and apply this knowledge to problem solving.