July 2023 University Catalog

General Education Courses

Division of Arts and Sciences

Essential Undergraduate Learning Outcomes

Intercultural Competence: Learners will demonstrate the ability to engage effectively in a local and global society and apply civic knowledge to real-world situations.

Ethics: Learners will demonstrate ethical reasoning by making sound decisions, taking appropriate actions with awareness of the rights and well-being of others, and identifying the impact of personal and professional behavior.

Personal and Social Responsibility: Learners will make personal and professional decisions with respect for human diversity, equality, and inclusion, and develop self and social awareness by understanding personal strengths and limitations.

Relationship Building: Learners will demonstrate the teamwork skills necessary to effectively work with others, establish new networks, and cultivate existing networks.

Problem Solving: Learners will identity and frame problems, explore big questions and ideas, and create effective, ethical, and evidence-based solutions.

Critical Thinking: Learners will develop the thinking skills necessary to think independently, initiate action, integrate differing points of view, and develop a process of reasoning.

Innovative Thinking: Learners will develop the creative thinking skills necessary to create innovative solutions and the agility to embrace and adapt to change.

Quantitative Reasoning: Learners will apply basic mathematical skills to interpret quantitative information in a results-driven context.

Scientific and Evidence-Based Inquiry: Learners will use research and empirical evidence to further develop questions, propose explanations to problems or scenarios, and to use a scientific lens to describe the world around them.

Information Literacy: Learners will apply inquiry and analysis skills to the ability to locate, analyze, and use knowledge and resources appropriately. Learners will act ethically by providing credit to original authors and sources.

Communication: Learners will develop the skills necessary to articulate ideas effectively in a variety of written, oral, and visual formats using an appropriate tone and purpose for the intended audience.

Integrative Learning: Learners will use multi-disciplinary and multi-contextual lenses to address complex ideas and questions, synthesize transferable skills and concepts across disciplines, and apply transferable knowledge to professional disciplines.

Capella University’s general education curriculum works in concert with the coursework in a learner’s field of study to develop reflective-practitioners at the bachelor’s level. Reflective-practitioners learn to use analytical and relational skills to improve their professional practices through action, reflection, and adaptation.

At Capella University, the general education curriculum is structured around the development of knowledge and skills within four major distribution areas:

  1. Communication: Capella learners develop the communication skills necessary to effectively use the English language to communicate both verbally and in written form. They develop the thinking skills necessary to critically evaluate information, integrate differing points of view, and establish a reasoned course of action for effectively solving problems. These critical thinking skills are reinforced throughout the program and through reading, writing, speaking, and listening.
  2. Humanities: Capella learners develop an understanding of the arts and humanities as an expression of human culture, and through the critical analysis of works of art, literature, and philosophy, they develop the ability to form their own aesthetic judgments. Through reflection on their own values and positions, as well as those of others, they learn what it means to be a socially responsible citizen in today’s world and develop the ability to appropriately exercise that citizenship.
  3. Natural Science and Mathematics: Capella learners develop an understanding of the scientific methods used to study the natural sciences phenomena and an appreciation of the role scientific inquiry plays in addressing the critical issues facing today’s world. They develop an understanding of mathematical and logical reasoning and the ability to use mathematics and logic to address problems in their personal and professional lives.
  4. Social Science: Capella learners develop an understanding of the scientific methods used to study human behavior and interaction and acquire knowledge of the predominant social science theories.

General Education Courses†

Choose 45 quarter credits with a minimum of 4 quarter credits from each category.

Communication

COM-H4005Communicating and Integrating Solutions in the Professional World

6

COM1150Introduction to Digital and Information Literacy

6

COM1250Workplace Communication

6

COM2000Intercultural Communication

6

COM3700Conflict Resolution

6

COM4100Media and Culture

6

ENG1000English Composition

6

ENG1001Essential Writing Skills

6

ENG1250Introduction to Technical and Business Writing

6

ENG2250Academic Research and Writing

6

Humanities

HUM1150Cultural Understanding in a Global World

6

HUM1200Philosophy of Work

6

PHI-H2005Honors Seminar: Critical Thinking for the Professional World

3

PHI1200Philosophy of Problem Solving

6

PHI2000Ethics

6

PHI3200Ethics in Health Care

6

Natural Science and Mathematics

BIO1000Human Biology

6

MAT1050College Algebra

6

MAT1150Essential Math for Everyday Life

6

MAT2001Statistical Reasoning

6

MAT2051Discrete Mathematics

6

MAT2100Data-Driven Decisions

4

NSC1150Science and Innovation

6

PHY1000Introduction to Astronomy

6

Social Science

BHA4002History of the United States Health Care System

3

ECO1150Personal Economics: Introduction to Financial Planning

6

HIS1150U.S. History: How the Past Informs the Present

6

POL1000The Politics of American Government

6

POL1100Introduction to American Government and Politics

6

PSYC1000Introduction to Psychology

6

SOC-H3005Honors Professional Seminar

6

SOC1150How Society Works: Diversity, Collaboration, and Problem Solving

6

SOC2000Cultural Diversity

6

SOC2400Health and Illness in Social Context

6

In addition, choose 29 quarter credits of additional undergraduate courses from general education courses above.

General Education Courses, FlexPath option†

Choose 22.5 program points with a minimum of 2 program points from each category.

Communication

COM-FPX1150Introduction to Digital Information and Literacy

3

COM-FPX1250Workplace Communication

3

COM-FPX3700Conflict Resolution

3

ENG-FPX1000English Composition

3

ENG-FPX1250Introduction to Technical and Business Writing

3

ENG-FPX2250Academic Research and Writing

3

Humanities

HUM-FPX1150Cultural Understanding in a Global World

3

PHI-FPX1200Philosophy of Problem Solving

3

PHI-FPX2000Ethics

3

PHI-FPX3200Ethics in Health Care

3

Natural Science and Mathematics

BIO-FPX1000Human Biology

3

MAT-FPX1050College Algebra

3

MAT-FPX1150Essential Math for Everyday Life

3

MAT-FPX2001Statistical Reasoning

3

MAT-FPX2051Discrete Mathematics

3

MAT-FPX2100Data-Driven Decisions

2

NSC-FPX1150Science and Innovation

3

Social Science

BHA-FPX4002History of the United States Health Care System

1.5

ECO-FPX1150Personal Economics: Introduction to Financial Planning

3

HIS-FPX1150U.S. History: How the Past Informs the Present

3

POL-FPX1100Introduction to American Government and Politics

3

PSYC-FPX1000Introduction to Psychology

3

SOC-FPX1150How Society Works: Diversity, Collaboration, and Problem Solving

3

SOC-FPX2000Cultural Diversity

3

In addition, choose 14.5 program points of undergraduate courses from general education courses above.

One or more courses in this program may require a prerequisite(s). Refer to the course descriptions for details.

† Some Capella degree programs and specializations require specific courses as part of their curriculum. Learners should refer to their program requirements.

GuidedPath courses and FlexPath courses fulfill the program requirements and prerequisites for each delivery model.