General Education Goals and Learning Indicators in the University Core
MVNU’s philosophy of education is implemented through the following learning goals for students. While no single course fulfills every goal, the General Education curriculum found in the whole of the University Core fosters these seven goals. These goals are indicated by students’ abilities in the areas that follow each goal:
Goal 1 - Integrative Thinking: Understand the interconnectedness of knowledge – across disciplines, in historical perspective, and between theory and practice – leading to a holistic vision of learning, life, and faith.
As indicated by students’ ability to:
| 1.1 |
Synthesize knowledge from multiple disciplines in historical perspective. |
| 1.2 |
Connect theory with practice. |
Goal 2 - Critical Thinking: Develop and apply intellectual abilities and standards to make thought rational, truthful, and virtuous for the purpose of solving practical and theoretical problems.
As indicated by students’ ability to:
| 2.1 |
Recognize and evaluate multiple frameworks and perspectives.
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| 2.2 |
Derive appropriate, truthful inferences and conclusions from reliable premises to guide beliefs and actions.
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| 2.3 |
Use suitable mathematical and/or logical reasoning to solve theoretical and practical problems. |
| 2.4 |
Write cogent, persuasive arguments supported by relevant evidence. |
Goal 3 - Aesthetic Development: Engage, interpret, and value artistic expression and creative processes in a way that is both thoughtful and informed, honoring the importance of aesthetic values for meaningful life, culture, and faith.
As indicated by students’ ability to:
| 3.1 |
Articulate the interactive influences between artistic expression and culture (e.g., commerce, media, history, politics). |
| 3.2 |
Discern goodness, truth, and beauty within various artistic forms as reflections of God’s creativity.
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Goal 4 - Diversity: Understand, develop, and practice love for all persons in their diversities.
As indicated by students’ ability to:
| 4.1 |
Develop factual knowledge of human diversities. |
| 4.2 |
Demonstrate cultural humility. |
Goal 5 - Christian Worldview: Develop a well-informed Christian view of reality.
As indicated by students’ ability to:
| 5.1 |
Articulate a Christian worldview informed by a Wesleyan-Holiness theology. |
| 5.2 |
Recognize the assumptions and relationships between worldview truth-claims and actions. |
Goal 6 - Christian Ethical Development: Develop ethical thinking and knowledge essential for understanding contemporary ethical issues in central personal and communal spheres.
As indicated by students’ ability to:
| 6.1 |
Identify and analyze central ethical issues that are essential for Christian formation. |
| 6.2 |
Apply appropriate, interdisciplinary knowledge informed by a Wesleyan-Holiness theology to resolving central ethical issues. |
Goal 7 - Community Engagement: Understand and practice social responsibilities of civic engagement, service to others, and stewardship of resources for individual persons, campus, church, city, state, nation, and international communities, including their maintenance, restoration, and improvement.
As indicated by students’ ability to:
| 7.1 |
Demonstrate responsible citizenship in the Kingdom of God in the world. |
| 7.2 |
Demonstrate stewardship of natural resources. |
| 7.3 |
Recognize their responsibilities to use their gifts for service to God and others. |
| 7.4 |
Demonstrate basic principles of good communication including sensitivity to context. |
| 7.5 |
Demonstrate knowledge of how to engage in a healthy lifestyle as a contributor to personal stewardship and the common good. |
Special Notes
- Students must complete the exact courses listed in General Education, major, and minor programs.
- Some majors require specific courses to satisfy the General Education Core. Students should consult the program listings in their department to check specific requirements.
- The University reserves the right to cancel any course in which fewer than eight students are enrolled. The University will assist students in registering for other courses.