Upon completion of a course in this category, students are able to demonstrate the following competencies:

1. Use flexible writing process strategies to generate, develop, revise, proofread, and edit texts.
2. Adopt strategies and genre appropriate to the rhetorical situation.
3. Use inquiry-based strategies to conduct research that explores multiple and diverse ideas and perspectives, appropriate to the rhetorical context.
4. Use rhetorically appropriate strategies to evaluate, represent, and respond to the ideas and research of others.
5. Address readers' biases and assumptions with well-developed evidence-based reasoning.
6. Use appropriate conventions for integrating, citing, and documenting source material.
7. Read, interpret, and communicate key concepts in writing and rhetoric.

Upon completion of a course in this category, students are able to demonstrate the following competencies.

1. Research, discover, and develop information resources and structure spoken messages to increase knowledge and understanding.
2. Research, discover, and develop evidence-based reasoning and persuasive appeals for ethically influencing attitudes, values, beliefs, or behaviors.
3. Adapt spoken messages to the diverse personal, ideological, and emotional needs of individuals, groups, or contexts.
4. Employ effective spoken and nonverbal behaviors that support communication goals and illustrate self-efficacy.
5. Listen in order to effectively and critically evaluate the reasoning, evidence, and communication strategies of self and others.
6. Demonstrate knowledge of key theories, perspectives, principles, and concepts in the Communication discipline, as applied to oral communication.

Upon completion of a course in this category, a student is able to demonstrate the following competencies.

1. Interpret mathematical concepts.
2. Represent information/data.
3. Use appropriate strategies/procedures when solving mathematical problems.
4. Draw reasonable conclusions based on quantitative information.

Upon completion of a course in this category, students are able to demonstrate at least five (5) of the following competencies.

1. Recognize and describe humanistic, historical, or artistic works within problems and patterns of the human experience.
2. Distinguish and apply methodologies, approaches, or traditions specific to the discipline.
3. Differentiate formal, conceptual, and technical elements specific to the discipline.
4. Analyze, evaluate, and interpret texts, objects, events, or ideas in their cultural, intellectual or historical contexts.
5. Interpret artistic or humanistic works through the creation of art, language, or performance.
6. Develop critical perspectives or arguments about the subject matter, grounded in evidence-based analysis.
7. Demonstrate self-reflection, widened perspective, and respect for diverse viewpoints.

Upon completion of a course in this category, a student is able to demonstrate at least the following competencies i.-iv.  A student is able to demonstrate all five competencies, i.-v., upon completion of a lab course. 

1. Apply foundational knowledge and models of a discipline in the physical or natural sciences to analyze and/or predict phenomena.
2. Apply scientific reasoning to critically evaluate assertions.
3. Interpret and communicate scientific information via written, spoken and/or visual representations.
4. Describe the relevance of specific scientific principles to the human experience.
5. Test a hypothesis in the laboratory or field using discipline-specific tools and techniques for observation, data collection and analysis to form a defensible conclusion.

Upon completion of a course in this category, students are able to demonstrate all five (5) of the following competencies.

1. Demonstrate knowledge of the theoretical and conceptual frameworks of a particular Social Science discipline.
2. Describe self and the world by examining the dynamic interaction of individuals, groups, and societies as they shape and are shaped by history, culture, institutions, and ideas.
3. Utilize Social Science approaches, such as research methods, inquiry, or problem-solving, to examine the variety of perspectives about human experiences.
4. Evaluate how reasoning, history, or culture informs and guides individual, civic, or global decisions.
5. Identify the impact of the similarities and differences among and between individuals, cultures, or societies across space and time.

Critical thinking is defined as the ability to think analytically, critically, creatively, and reflectively to make informed and logical judgments, draw reasoned and meaningful conclusions, and apply ideas to new contexts. Courses satisfying this Objective must include active learning.

Upon completion of a course in this category, students are able to demonstrate the following competencies.

1. Formulate/frame problems and analyze how others do so;
2. Recognize and apply appropriate practices for analyzing ambiguous problems;
3. Identify and apply relevant information for problem-solving;
4. Create, analyze, and evaluate and/or interpret diverse perspectives and solutions;
5. Articulate a reasoned framework for drawing conclusions and/or recommending solutions; and
6. Effectively articulate the results of a thinking process.

Information literacy is defined as the ability to recognize when information is needed and to locate, evaluate, and use information effectively. Courses satisfying this Objective must involve hands-on practice for students rather than merely the presentation of theoretical principles.

Upon completion of a course in this category, students are able to demonstrate the following competencies.

1. Determine the nature and extent of the information/data needed to accomplish a specific purpose.
2. Identify sources and gather information/data effectively and efficiently.
3. Evaluate credibility of sources and information/data.
4. Explain the economic, ethical, legal, and social issues surrounding the creation, collection, and use of information/data.
5. Use information/data effectively to accomplish a specific purpose.

Upon completion of a course in this category, students are able to demonstrate the following competencies.

1. Identify the defining characteristics of culturally diverse communities in regional, national, or global contexts.
2. Describe the influence of cultural attributes such as ability, age, class, epistemology, ethnicity, gender, language, nationality, politics, or religion inherent in different cultures or communities.
3. Apply knowledge of diverse cultures to address contemporary or historical issues.