Requirement – A student will be required to have two CT courses.
Requirement Purpose
Critical thinking is the lifelong intellectually disciplined process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information that is used to guide beliefs and actions. By becoming a critical thinker, one is able to make sound arguments based on adequate evidence and so is able to rationally examine and assess one’s own arguments and those of others. A critical thinker applies these skills throughout his or her life in personal, professional, academic, and civic endeavors.
Critical thinkers in the liberal arts tradition are engaged citizens. An engaged citizen takes intellectual responsibility to be an informed and active participant in the life of the community.
Required Course Characteristics
A course in this area will
| CT CC1. | offer explicit instruction on forming and evaluating arguments |
| CT CC2. | offer explicit instruction and practice in interpretation, logical inference, and decision making |
| CT CC3. | offer opportunities for students to listen to and carefully consider the arguments of others and investigate alternate conclusions |
| CT CC4. | provide feedback that is designed to help students evaluate and improve critical thinking skills |
Embedded Skill Learning Objectives
Through completion of a CT course, students should be able to
| CT SLO1. | draw conclusions by analyzing information critically |
| CT SLO2. | generate and articulate an argument supported by appropriate evidence |
| CT SLO3. | evaluate arguments for validity, bias, unchecked assumptions and/or other appropriate criteria |
| CT SLO4. | describe the effect of one’s experiences on the development of critical thinking skills |