1. James Madison University General Education Program

2. Q:. What is General Education. A:. The foundation program for
Q: What is General Education? A: The foundation program for all students
Liberal arts
Basic skills
Establishes lifelong learning
Provides breadth of study in broad areas of human knowledge
Opportunity for students to explore individual interests

3. Supporting the JMU Mission:
A liberal education for all students
The integration of liberal education into
the university curriculum
Learning experiences that provide students with a global consciousness in a rapidly changing and technologically oriented world

4. The General Education Mission:
To graduate informed citizens, well prepared to participate in public life
To provide students with critical skills in reasoning, communication, and technology
To introduce students to core areas of knowledge central to the history of western civilization, including interactions with the global community
To invite students to know themselves and to consider the connections between values and behavior

5. The Value of a Liberal Education:
Knowing how to learn
The ability to analyze and synthesize information and ideas
Flexibility and creativity
Critical thinking and problem-solving skills
Written and oral communication skills
Understanding that crosses historical periods and cultural differences

6. General Education: The Human Community
Cluster One: Skills for the 21st Century
Cluster Two: Arts and Humanities
Cluster Three: The Natural World
Cluster Four: Social and Cultural
Processes
Cluster Five: The Individual in the Human Community

7. Cluster One: Skills for the 21st Century
Written communication
Oral communication
Critical thinking
Communication through technology
Information retrieval

8. Cluster Two: Arts and Humanities
Fine arts
Literature
Cultural and intellectual history
Philosophy and religion in a historical context

9. Cluster Three: The Natural World
Mathematics
Quantitative skills
Scientific literacy
Experiential learning in the sciences

10. Cluster Four: Social and Cultural Processes
American and global perspectives
Politics
Economics
Societies and institutions
Social history

11. Cluster Five: The Individual in the Human Community
Health and wellness
Psychology
Human behavior
Personal responsibility

12. Cluster One Packages A: Effective Arguments
B: Critical Skills in the World of Business
C: Not available
D: Critical Skills and Historical Inquiry
E: Media Literacy and Communication

13. Cluster One: Package E Media Literacy and Communication
GCOM 121E--Basic Human
Communication
GENG 102E--Reading and Composition
GMAD 150E--Mediated Communication: Issues and Skills

14. How do we know if we’re doing a good job?
Program assessment
Pre-tests and post-tests in all five clusters
Student performance on national tests
Portfolio assessment of writing
Competency testing
Basic technology skills (Tech 1)
Information-Seeking Skills Test

15. General Guidelines One package in each cluster
Cluster One (Skills) is freshman year
Cluster Three (Math and Science) by the end of sophomore year
Other clusters sequenced through student’s educational career
Consult academic advisor about relation to major requirements

16. General Education: The Human Community
For more information:
Visit our website at
Call us at (540)
us at

17. General Education is every student’s opportunity to enter into the learning community, explore the world of knowledge, and prepare for the 21st century.