General Education
Professor Mary Turner, Chair, Core Curriculum
The Maryville Curriculum, a core program of general education, is based on the conviction that liberal learning is the best preparation for a satisfying and successful life, whatever one’s vocation. While many aspects of the college experience, including major-field requirements, allow students to prepare for a variety of careers and professions, general education emphasizes the cultivation of the intellectual skills and personal qualities that mark the educated person. Through the enhancement of skills and knowledge, the deepening of sensitivities, and the clarification of personal purpose, students learn to deal responsibly in a world of uncertainty and accelerating change.
General education is the centerpiece of any liberal arts degree and provides curricular definition to the mission of a liberal arts college. The Maryville Curriculum follows directly and consciously from the College’s Statement of Purpose and Educational Goals
The Maryville Curriculum, often called the “core” curriculum, consists of 51 credit hours. Some general education requirements are met by virtue of the student’s major; others may be met by demonstration of competence.
Distinctive features of the Maryville Curriculum:
- Course groupings that are closely aligned with specified educational goals of the College.
- An integrated and sequenced set of foundational courses designed to assist in adjustment to college life, to attend to the developmental and learning issues unique to first year students, and to develop the basic communication, quantitative, and critical thinking skills needed for success in college.
- A range of coursework that provides grounding in the various modes of inquiry and all aspects of the liberal arts.
- A range of choices for students among courses that fulfill common curricular goals.
- Required groupings of courses designed to extend the college learning experience beyond the major and provide integration of liberal learning using various modes of inquiry.
- Recognition that knowledge in certain domains is fulfilled by courses within the major.
- A strong global and cross-cultural dimension.
- Attention to values and ethical decision-making throughout the curriculum, with a capstone course focusing on these matters.
- A curricular structure built upon groups of courses focusing on shared student learning outcomes that result in a broad liberal arts experience.
General Education Requirements
Requirements in General Education are based on the four overarching educational goals of Maryville College. Each student must satisfy requirements for courses in each of the following instructional categories. Courses within domains share common student learning outcomes that guide teaching and learning within the group of courses.
Foundations (12 Credit Hours)
Note on special conditions:
ENG 110, ENG 120, and MTH 110: Placement examination results may result in exemption from the requirement.
Category I Domains of Knowledge (15-18 Credit Hours) – A critical knowledge of self and informed understanding of other
Religion, Spirituality and Critical Thought (3 Credit Hours)
Completion of one from this selection of courses or other course with (RS) Core designation in the course title:
Literary Studies (3 Credit Hours)
Completion of one from this selection of courses or other course with (LS) Core designation in the course title:
Historical Reasoning (3 Credit Hours)
Completion of one from this selection of courses or other course with (HR) Core designation in the course title:
Some HIS 149 courses also include the U.S. Pluralism (US) designation. See course title in Self Service.Empirical Study of Person and Society (3 Credit Hours)
Completion of one from this selection of courses or other course with (PS) Core designation in the course title:
Culture and Intercultural Dynamics (3 Credit Hours)
Completion of one from this selection of courses or other course with (CD) Core designation in the course title:
Approved Study Abroad Program – Students who satisfactorily complete study outside the U.S. for six-weeks during the summer, a semester, or a full academic year will be considered to have satisfied this domain requirement. Recent examples include:
PSY/INT 249: International Child Welfare
SUS 249/ENV 200: In Search of Hygge/Sustainability in Scandinavia
EXP 200: India’s Identities: Religion, Caste, and Gender/South India
PSY 200: Celtic Connections with Appalachia
US Pluralism
Completion of one from this selection of courses or other course with a (US) Core designation in the course title:
SOC 101: If taken at Maryville College
DSN 149: Only the section entitled, “Art, Design and American Politics”
PLS 149: Only the section entitled, “Art, Design and American Politics”
Category II Domains of Knowledge (10-11 Credit Hours) – Proficiency in the use of evidence, empirical data, and quantitative analysis
Scientific Reasoning (7-8 Credit Hours)
One of the courses below must have a laboratory component (4 Credit Hours)
One physical science course from a selected group of courses with (SP) in course title:
One life science course from a selected group of courses with (SL) in course title:
Mathematical Reasoning (3-4 Credit Hours)
Completion of one from this selection of courses or other course with (MR) Core designation in the course title:
Category III Domains of Knowledge (up to 11 Credit Hours) – Skill and discernment in producing and interpreting forms of human expression
Second Language (L2) (up to 8 Credit Hours) – #a #b
Completion of a 120 course in a second language, options include:
Notes on special conditions:
#a Placement examination results may result in exemption from the requirement.
#b Not required of students for whom English is a second language. For these students, study in a third language is recommended as an elective, but is not required.
Creative Arts (CA) (3 Credit Hours)
Completion of one of a selection of courses or three semesters of participation in a musical ensemble or three semesters of participation in theatre productions, options include:
Category IV Domain of Knowledge (3 Credit Hours) – The judgment and knowledge required for ethical citizenship of nation and world.
Ethical Citizenship (3 Credit Hours)
Completion of one course in ethics or other course with an (EC) Core designation in the course title, typically taken in the senior year: