General and Liberal Education and the Pierce Promise

Knowledge of Human Cultures and the Physical and Natural World
Intellectual and Practical Skills
Personal and Social Responsibility
Integrative and Applied Learning

The faculty teaching general education courses focus their efforts on delivering course content while also training the students in the aligned learning outcomes. These learning outcomes are measured and assessed in terms of actual learning achieved. The Pierce Promise focuses attention on the educational process, inviting faculty to be more innovative and student-centered in their methods, and students to be more active and engaged in their academic development.

At Franklin Pierce, liberal education is understood to be the charge of the whole curriculum, with the major and minor programs working in partnership with general education to promote achievement of the GLE Learning Outcomes (LO).

General education requirements offer a breadth of encounters with the identified learning outcomes not possible in any single field, while establishing a secure academic grounding for the higher accomplishments of the disciplines, and creating a secure foundation for a rewarding professional life.

General education requirements are defined in terms of the GLE LOs. Students will successfully encounter a LO by passing the course in which it is addressed. There are several general education courses required in the first year. There are also a range of more exploratory offerings, based in academic disciplines, which are chosen on an elective basis.

Liberal Education & the Pierce Promise is literally a promise to our students: Commit yourself to your Franklin Pierce education, and you will achieve what you need to advance confidently toward your future.

General and Liberal Education (GLE)

The General and Liberal Education (GLE) experience begins with three required first-year courses.
The First Year Inquiry seminar and First Year Composition are coordinated to strengthen the most essential skills needed for college success.

First Year Inquiry Seminar (FYI): teaches Inquiry & Analysis, Information Literacy, and Career Exploration (for traditional students) or
Career Image, Planning and Management: teaches Applied Learning and Career Exploration (for online students)
First Year Composition: improves Critical Reading and Written Communication
Second-Year Composition: addresses Written Communication and Oral Communication

Beyond these first-year courses, students take courses organized across five Knowledge and Understanding (K&U) areas. Within a K&U area students are required to select courses with different prefixes.

Students may meet their Natural Science K&U with the same prefix. Embedded within each GLE courses are 13 learning outcomes that Franklin Pierce students will pursue. Courses designated for general education will typically address 2-3 GLE LOs.

Arts and Design courses involve Applied Learning, Creative Thinking, Oral Communication, and Problem Solving.
Humanities courses incorporate Critical Thinking, Critical Reading, Intercultural Knowledge, and Written Communication.
Mathematics courses include Quantitative Literacy and Problem Solving.
Natural Science courses embrace Inquiry and Analysis, Critical Thinking, Technology Literacy, and Problem Solving.
Social Sciences courses contain Inquiry and Analysis, Critical Thinking, Critical Reading, and Information Literacy

Career Exploration
Civic Knowledge and Engagement
Digital Literacy
Ethical Reasoning
Experiential Learning
Financial Literacy
Teamwork

Courses Meeting General and Liberal Education Requirements

Arts & Design (AD)
AN137 Art, Culture, and the Museum (AD, AL, CT, CV)
COMM232 Understanding Film (OC, AL)
COMM234 Film Genres (CV, OC)
COMM240 Public Speaking (AL, OC)
DS101 Introduction to Documentary Studies (AL, CV)
FA101 Two-Dimensional Design (CV, PS)
FA102 Introduction to Sculpture (CV, PS)
FA180 Foundations of Art (AL, OC)
FA183 History of Art (AL, OC)
FA201 Drawing I (CV)
FA204 Watercolor Painting (AL, CV)
FA205 East Asian Brush Painting I (AL, CV)
FA217 Introduction to Photographic Processes (CV, TL)
FA221 Ceramics I (CV)
FA231 Painting I (AL, CV)
FA235 Printmaking (AL, CV)
GC201 Graphic Design I (CV, OC)
GC320 Book Design (CV, OC)
MU102 Special Topics in Music (CV, OC)
MU120 Recording Techniques (AL, CV)
MU150 Fundamentals of Music (AL, CV)
MU210 Women and Music (CV, OC)
MU212 Jazz History (AL, CV)
MU218 History of Electronic Music (AL, CV)
MU219 Music and Film (AL, PS)
MU234 The Beatles: Voice of a Generation (CV, OC)
TH101 Introduction to Theater Arts (CV, PS)
TH131 Dance Movement I (CV, PS)
TH211 Techniques of Acting I (AL, CV)

Humanities (HM)
EN110 Many Voices: Multicultural Literature (CR, IK)
EN115 Banned Books (TL, WC)
EN117 Buddies, Bullies, and Bodies: Young Adult Literature (CR, WC)
EN215 Slavery: Literature and Legacy (CR, IK)
EN251 Us vs. Them: Introduction to Law and Literature (CT, CR)
EN270 Women Writers (CT, CR)
ES108 Nature and Culture (CT, IK)
GLE200 The Twentieth Century: A Global Approach (CT, IK)
GLE203 America and 9/11 (CT, IK)
GLE205 American Soundscape (CT, IK)
GLE210 Ancient and Medieval Worlds (CT, IK)
GLE215 Rebirth to Revolution (CR, CT)
GLE220 America’s Themes & Dreams (CT)
HS132 Reel History: American Stories on Film (IK)
HS200 Who’s Who in American History (CR, IK)
HS201 U.S. History to the War of 1812 (CR, WC)
HS202 American History in the Age of Slavery and the Civil War (CR, WC)
HS204 U.S. History Since 1945 (CR, WC)
HS210 Sports Culture and American History (CR, WC, ER)
HS222 Ancient History (WC, IK)
HS224 Renaissance to Napoleon (WC, IK)
HS228 Witches: Witch-Hunts in Early Modern Transatlantic History (HM, WC, IK)
HS240 American Environmental History (IK, WC)
PA101 Introduction to Philosophy (CT, CR)
PA105 The Art of Thinking (CT, TW, AL)
PA209 Ethical Reasoning (CR, CT, ER)
PA210 Political Theory (CR, ER)
PO110 Political Violence (CT, WC)
PO111 Politics and Pop Culture (IK, ER)

Mathematics (MT)
MT104 Contemporary Mathematics (QL, PS)
MT130 Mathematics for K-8 Educators (QL, PS)
MT151 College Algebra (QL, PS)
MT221 Calculus I (QL, PS)
MT260 Statistics (QL, PS)
PS260 Statistics for Behavioral Science (QL, PS)

Natural Science (NS)
AN102 Human Origins (IA, CT)
BI101 Biology I (IA, CT)
BI102 Biology II (TL, PS)
BI260 Anatomy and Physiology I (CT, IA)
BI261 Anatomy and Physiology II (PS, IA)
ES103 Introduction to Ecosystem and Wildlife Conservation (IA, CT)
ES104 Introduction to Natural Resource Conservation (TL, PS)
GL101 General Geology I (IA, TL) GL102 General Geology II (CT, PS)
GL115 Global Change: The Oceans (IA, TL)
GL120 Global Change: The Atmosphere (CT, PS)
GLE112 Integrated Science I (IA, CT)
GLE113 Integrated Science II (IA, CT)
PH101 General Physics I (IA, CT)
PH102 General Physics II (TL, PS)

Social Science (SS)
AN101 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology (CT, IL, IK)
AN105 Culture Through Film (CT, IL)
AN205 Culture of Money (IA, CT)
AN226 Magic & Witchcraft (IL, IA)
AN240 Contagions, Epidemics, and the Anthropology of Public Health (CR, CT)
AN245 Living & Working Abroad (IL, CX) AN325 Medical Anthropology (IA, CT)
AN331 Violence and Aggression (CT)
COMM130 Introduction to Media Studies (CT, IL)
COMM230 Interpersonal Communication (CR, CT, TW)
COMM231 Diversity and Media (CT, IL)
COMM235 Intercultural Communication (CR, CT, IK)
CJ101 Crime and Justice in America (CT, IL)
CJ203 Juvenile Justice (CT, IL)
ED105 Educational Psychology (CT)
ED112 Teaching and Learning in a Democratic Society (CR, CT)
ET101 Principles of Macroeconomics (IA, CT
ET102 Principles of Microeconomics (IA, CT)
GLE130 Introduction to the Social Sciences (IA)
PO201 U.S. Government (CE, IA, IL)
PO202 State and Local Government (CE, IA, IL)
PO205 International Relations (CT, CR)
PO206 Comparative Politics (IA, CT)
PS101 Introduction to Psychology (IA, WC)
PS270 Psychology of Terrorism (IA, CT, IL)
PUBH202 Introduction to Global Health (IL, IA)
SO101 Introduction to Sociology (IA, IL)
SO220 Families in Society (CR, IL)
SO230 Sport in Society (CT, ER)
SO240 Religion in Society (CR, IA)

GLE Learning Outcome Codes Knowledge & Understanding
Arts & Design AD (2 courses required with two different prefixes, e.g., AN, COMM, DMD, FA, GC, MU)
Humanities HM (3 courses required with three different prefixes, e.g., EN, ES, GLE, HS, PA, PO)
Mathematics MT (1 course required)
Natural Science NS (2 four credit courses with lab required)
Social Sciences SS (2 courses required with two different prefixes, e.g., AN, COMM, CJ, ED, GLE, ET, PO,PS, PUBH, SO)

Embedded Learning Outcomes/strong>
Applied Learning AL
Career Exploration CX
Creative Thinking CV
Critical Reading CR
Critical Thinking CT
Information Literacy IL
Inquiry & Analysis IA
Intercultural Knowledge IK
Oral Communication OC
Problem Solving PS
Quantitative Literacy QL
Technology Literacy TL
Written Communication WC

Additional Learning Outcomes

In addition to the 13 learning outcomes embedded in the Knowledge and Understanding areas, many courses, extracurricular activities, guest lectures, and workshops on campus offer students opportunities for:
Career Exploration CX
Civic Knowledge & Engagement CE
Digital Literacy DL
Ethical Reasoning ER
Experiential Learning EL
Financial Literacy FL
TeamworkTW

Recommended GLE Curriculum Guide for Online Students

The requirements for completing the GLE curriculum is the same for online and Rindge students, the one exception being that online students take GLE103 Career Image, Planning and Management in the place of GLE101 First Year Inquiry. Many students in the online program will have some GLE requirements met by transfer credits. Students wishing to transfer credits toward their Natural Science GLE requirement are not required to match GLE-approved Natural Science courses. All Natural Science courses with a lab component will be considered. Online students should be aware of any outstanding GLE requirements and work intentionally to complete them while also completing major and other requirements for graduation.

Recommended GLE Curriculum Guide for Traditional Students

The following are some very general guidelines for completing GLE course requirements. For more specific guidance, consult the Recommended Curriculum Guides in this Catalog for major programs. These guides give more specific recommendations for how GLE courses fit in the course sequence of a major program.

First Year
First Year Inquiry Seminar (Fall Semester)
First Year Composition I (Fall Semester)
Mathematics (for students not majoring or minoring in the natural sciences)
or
Lab science I (Fall Semester) and Lab science II (Spring Semester) (for students majoring or minoring in the natural sciences)
One other K&U-based GLE course in AD, HM, or SS; two if schedule allows

Sophomore Year
Second-Year Composition* (Spring Semester)
*student must have earned a "C" or better in First Year Composition to be able to enroll in Second-Year Composition
Lab science I (Fall Semester) and Lab science II (Spring Semester) (for students who did not take science in their first year)
or
Mathematics (for students who did not take math in their first year)
Two to four GLE courses in AD, HM, and/or SS K&U areas

Junior Year
One to four GLE courses in AD, HM, and/or SS K&U areas, depending on need

Senior Year
Completion of any outstanding GLE requirements