Every student at the University of Northern Colorado under a catalog earlier than the 2006-2007 Catalog must still complete the requirements of the old General Education program, which mandates that he or she devote approximately a third of his or her undergraduate studies—a minimum of 40 hours of course work—to General Education.

The mission of the General Education program is to foster the competencies and perspectives that enrich and enhance our life experiences. A liberal arts education extends beyond the teaching and learning of vocational skills and the acquisition of specialized knowledge to provide the skills and abilities that strengthen an individual’s capacity not only to make a living but to have a satisfying life. It promotes an understanding of circumstances and events that may exert a strong influence on the ability of others to read, hear, or understand your views even if they’ve done little to shape your own personal development before now.

The skills component of General Education is designed to foster growth in critical thinking, computational ability, self-expression in written, oral, and graphic forms, and physical competence. All these skills improve your ability to understand or develop new ideas and to present them to others.

The content component of General Education is designed to give you a sense of the complexity and integrated nature of knowledge. It focuses on the paradigms and patterns of inquiry of many disciplines and the fundamentally multidisciplinary character of true understanding. The many different approaches to subject matter and problem-solving practiced in the humanities, the social sciences, the natural sciences, and mathematics all contribute to an appreciation of diversity and the value of inquiry. The interdisciplinary, multicultural, and international courses provide a grounding in the wealth of human experience and the necessity of taking this diversity into account throughout our lives.

Together, the skills and content components of the General Education program provide the framework for lifelong learning and personal growth. They provide an understanding of and perspective on our history, current events, and future challenges. This foundation increases the ability of students to make more effective use of the knowledge they acquire in their majors, in their minors, and in the other parts of their undergraduate program.

The requirements in the Skills Areas are intended to help you to:

• learn correct and effective use of the English language in generating writing in a variety of formats.
• develop ability to gather and interpret information from a variety of sources, including computerized retrieval systems.
• hone numerical, statistical, and algebraic skills required for the understanding and investigation of real world problems.
• gain the ability and confidence needed to interpret numerical and graphical data.
• learn appropriate use of technology in support of mathematical studies.
• discover successful strategies for group participation in physical activity.
• practice skills and techniques necessary for participation in physical activity.
• acquire knowledge that will help you to enhance and maintain your personal fitness and health.

The requirements in the Content Areas are intended to help you to:

• understand the historical frameworks of and interactions between diverse disciplines.
• understand and apply research techniques from different disciplines. You will collect, organize, and interpret data using current technology.
• assess the validity of diverse sources of information.
• understand Western and non-Western cultures and values.
• understand the perspectives, contributions, and concerns of different ethnic, gender, and age groups.
• become capable of identifying important issues involved in human welfare and survival.

In short, your General Education will

• serve as the foundation for a sound university education.
• prepare you for the world beyond the university — a world that requires independence in thought and action.
• cultivate skills, abilities, and dispositions that will enhance your ability not only to make a living but to have a satisfying life.
• promote the acquisition of basic skills and the expansion of your intellectual and aesthetic horizons.
• provide you with the tools and talents needed to manage future roles in family, community, workplace, and society.
• inspire you to become a lifelong learner and equip you for a lifetime of learning.