The purpose of the General Education curriculum is to provide a coherent yet broad intellectual experience of study in the liberal arts tradition. Liberal arts courses allow students to develop the skills that are highly sought after by employers: critical thinking, complex problem solving, creativity, and written and oral communication.
Empower and Engage courses have been designed to inspire a free spirit of inquiry through observation, analysis and reflection proper to all intellectual work regardless of academic major. Students will have the opportunity to engage in Service Learning through NDMU 100 or NDMU 200, as well as additional opportunities for Experiential Learning in other Gen Ed and major courses. Experiential learning is not just about learning by doing, but it involves purposeful reflection so that the student gains insight into their view of the world and themselves. Experiential learning may include a second service-learning course; general career exploration internships; practicum assignments within the major; clinical work or School-designated professional internships; independent research; or short-term and semester-long study abroad. All Traditional Undergraduate College students will participate in at least one experiential learning opportunity before they graduate.
Through the study of the history of ideas, the value of human knowledge, the interrelatedness of the matters and methods of the academic disciplines, and the practice of clear communication and critical thinking, the student is led into the worlds of serious thought and scholarship where they will explore questions concerning the nature of person and knowledge, the nature of society and human institutions, as well as the nature of the natural world and God.
Empower and Engage Learning Outcomes
Empower and Engage: Liberal Arts in the 21st Century courses are developed around 6 broad areas of thought and study:
- Thinking Critically and Analytically (7 credits/2 courses)
- Students will evaluate and interpret information; examine and defend arguments; and think constructively and critically to solve real life problems
- Communicating Creatively and Effectively (9 credits/3 courses)
- Students will develop proficiency in written and oral communication and artistic expression across disciplines
- Investigating through Scientific and Quantitative Reasoning (7-8 credits/2 courses)
- Students will analyze and produce quantitative or symbolic models; select and employ quantitative methods to solve applied problems; use scientific methods to investigate questions in the natural world; evaluate scientific arguments based on their data, methods and assumptions, and pose evidence-based solutions
- Pursing Meaning, Purpose and Well-Being (7 credits/3 courses)
- Students will develop and evaluate their ethical values, explore spirituality and faith, and embrace strategies and practices promoting holistic wellness
- Understanding and Valuing Diverse Identities and Perspectives (9 credits/3 courses)
- Students will develop a global mindset and language skills that help them operate comfortable across borders and cultures; and will analyze the impact of diversity (in particular, race, ethnicity, religion, and gender) on the individual and society
- Becoming an Engaged Citizen (3 credits/1 course)
- Students will cultivate civic commitment as global citizens; develop tools of engagement to assess and act on 21st century issues; and engage in teamwork in the service of engaged citizenship
Course Requirements
To ensure a solid foundation of general knowledge and a broad liberal arts background, NDMU requires students to take approximately one-third of their coursework in Engage and Empower courses. In areas where students have options to select from approved classes offered by more than one department, students will be advised that their selections in these areas must satisfy the following additional requirements over the course of their General Education studies:
- One course in a social and behavioral science designation
- One course with a fine art[s] designation
- One course with a history designation
- One course with a literature designation
- One 200 level or higher RST or PHL course.
- Thinking Critically and Analytically (7 credits/2 courses)
- One 4-credit First Year Seminar (NDMU 100 and lab) for first year Traditional Undergraduate College students; an alternative Collegiate Seminar (NDMU 200) for transfer and adult students
- One additional approved course in this area
- Communicating Creatively and Effectively (9 credits/3 courses)
- One written communication course (ENG 101)
- One oral communication course (COM 106)
- One artistic expression course
- Investigating through Scientific and Quantitative Reasoning (7-8 credits/2 courses)
- One 4-credit science course
- One quantitative reasoning course
- Pursing Meaning, Purpose and Well-Being (7 credits/3 courses)
- One religious studies course (RST 105)
- One philosophy course (PHL 201)
- One 1-credit Wellness course
- Understanding and Valuing Diverse Identities and Perspectives (9 credits/3 courses)
- One foreign language course at the 102 level or above
- One intercultural course
- One diversity course
- Becoming an Engaged Citizen (3 credits/1 course)
- One approved course
Important Requirements for Courses
No course taken may be used to meet more than one of the “course requirement” groups.
No courses may be used for the major (except toward completion of a second major or a minor).
Native speakers who are bilingual should consult with the Chair of the Language Department (Dr. Rachel Burk) for guidance regarding the language requirement:
Non-Native Speakers of English
International students may fulfill the General Education Foreign Language Requirement in one of three ways:
- TOEFL Exam: At entrance, provide evidence of a score of 550 or higher on the TOEFL exam, or 213 or higher on the TOEFL: BT Test or 80 or higher on the IBT Test.
- Language Department Placement Exam: At entrance, score on the advanced level on all parts of the language department's English Placement Test.
- Language Department Placement Exam: Complete LEF-203">LEF-203, LEF-204">LEF-204, LCL-331">LCL-331 or LCL-332">LCL-332, based on the results of the English Placement Test.
All departments will designate a course within the major that will satisfy the Technological Competency requirement that will be assessed as part of General Education assessment.
**Students must complete one credit in physical education to fulfill the requirement. Only three credits in physical education (PE) may be applied to the required graduation total of 120. Students who successfully complete one season of intercollegiate sport competition as a member of a Notre Dame athletic team may apply for a one-time waiver or a one-time PE credit toward the physical education requirement.