General Education
As a specialized institution with a focus on science, engineering, and mathematics, Rose-Hulman approaches Institute-wide general education differently than most schools. In fact, we seldom use the term “general education,” although our programs still seek to provide each student with a broad liberal education that complements their technical disciplines.
Each student will complete, as a part of their program, at least 36 credit hours in the humanities, social sciences, and arts (HSSA). Additionally, due to the technical nature of our programs, students will complete over 35 credit hours of foundational math and science courses. Students will also complete RHIT 100 – Foundations for Rose-Hulman Success.
In total, this equates to 72 credit hours (54 equivalent semester credit hours) of what would typically be included in a general education program. Student learning is systematically reviewed as part of Rose-Hulman’s assessment and continuous improvement practices at both the institute and program levels. Technical learning outcomes are defined and evaluated at the program level.
The learning outcomes for general education are defined and evaluated at the Institute level:
Rose-Hulman Graduates will be
- Critical Thinkers – develop evidence-based conclusions through a process of informed evaluation and judgement.
- Effective Communicators – communicate effectively with a range of audiences through a variety of media.
- Informed Global Citizens - engage with diverse beliefs, cultures, languages, or societies.
- Ethical Professionals - identify ethical and professional responsibilities, behave with integrity and responsibility, and make informed judgments.
The general education outcomes are primarily assessed using student artifacts collected from HSSA courses. Artifacts are also collected from our technical departments. More information regarding the Institute Student Learning Outcomes and annual assessment results can be found here:
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