2019-2020 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
    Mar 18, 2024  
2019-2020 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

General Education Path


The General Education Path is a core curriculum shared by all undergraduate students at Malone University. As they navigate The Path, students work closely with their academic advisors to shape the general education program to match their own emerging interests.

The mission of general education is to develop wise and thoughtful students who are broadly educated in the liberal arts as well as in Christian scriptures and traditions to serve as faithful agents of transformation in the communities in which they live and work.

Malone University is committed to equipping graduates to put “Christ’s Kingdom First” in all of life. In part, this means cultivating in students the skills, knowledge, and dispositions that will equip them to serve effectively in the workplace. This goal is addressed both through specialized study in the major and throughout the general education program. In a day when most people will engage in multiple careers across a lifetime, our general education curriculum cultivates crucial abilities that transcend specialization, such as critical and creative thinking, interaction with knowledge and ideas, communication, and problem solving. Whatever their callings, we are committed to preparing students to serve faithfully and effectively.

The General Education Path at Malone University seeks to guide students along the path of wisdom as they discover their calling, develop critical and creative thinking skills, and mature into faithful, socially aware world citizens who are prepared to serve, to solve problems, and to be agents of transformation in the communities in which they live and work. 

The Path begins with a seminar of community building and self-discovery and continues through a core curriculum that requires students to apply critical thinking and creative expression. These courses progress from Foundations courses that establish a strong framework for Christian higher education to engaging courses designed to deepen and expand our understanding of people, creation, our nation, and our world. In some components of the Path, all students take required courses in common; in other components students have opportunities to make choices and follow The Path that best fits their interests and calling. The Path culminates in an interdisciplinary capstone course, which serves as a bridge to life beyond Malone University. 

The General Education Path provides a solid grounding in Christian scriptures and tradition, along with many additional opportunities for growth in self-knowledge, knowledge of God, and knowledge of the challenges, complexities, and opportunities of our changing world. While the world around us changes, one thing remains true: “The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.” (Proverbs 4:18). 

Program Goals: As an academic institution in the Christian tradition of the Evangelical Friends Church, Malone is committed to intellectual enrichment in the context of Christian faith.  We strive to provide an education that produces graduates with a love of truth and a vibrant, mature faith.  Our intent is that students attain the wisdom, knowledge, and skills necessary to serve, engage, and transform the communities in which they live and work.  To this end, we provide context in which to pursue the following educational goals:

  • To help students understand the challenges, complexities, and opportunities of our changing world
  • To help students cultivate critical and creative thinking, problem solving, and skillful interaction with knowledge and ideas
  • To help students communicate effectively in multiple contexts
  • To help students gain a grounding in Christian scriptures and tradition, to apply this understanding to serving the Church, community, and world, to apply Christian faith to ethical and social issues, and to provide them with additional opportunities for growth in self-knowledge and knowledge of God.

Successful navigation of The Path will achieve the following learning outcomes:

Students will understand theories and cultural influences that have shaped the world.
   For example, students will articulate significant social and intellectual traditions influencing American cultures and demonstrate the ability to engage constructively with diverse cultures.

Students will think critically and creatively.
   For example, students will gather and assess the relevance of information, demonstrate the ability to use key methods of inquiry to gain understanding of content (scientific method, qualitative, quantitative), be able to integrate Christian faith with disciplinary knowledge, and develop multiple approaches to problems.

Students will communicate effectively in multiple contexts.
   That is, students will be able to express ideas with clarity, read and listen to the ideas of others with understanding and discernment, and engage in rhetorically effective communication.

Students will understand the foundations of the Christian faith and the role of service to the church, community, and world and apply this knowledge to ethical and social issues.

Requirements (41-43 hours)


One course is required in each of the 15 components. Course descriptions for all general education courses are located in the appropriate academic sections of this catalog.

Foundations of Faith and Learning (10 hours)


Foundational Skills (9 hours)


Quantitative Reasoning


*Prerequisite of MATH 130 or proficiency. See note #3 below.

Engaging God’s World (22-24 hours)


Engaging the Created Order (3 hours)


Engaging in Human Experience (9 hours)


Engaging in Cultures and Institutions (7-9 hours)


Capstone (3 hours)


Faith in the World Seminar

Note(s):


  1. Completing the BIBL 111/121 sequence (as an Advanced General Education substitute) fulfills the BIBL 100 requirement.
  2. Completing the THEO 201/331/332 sequence fulfills the THEO 211 requirement.
  3. Completing the MUS 375/376/377 sequence fulfills the Fine Arts requirement.
  4. All students must demonstrate math proficiency by a) an ACT math score ≥ 20 (SAT-Math ≥ 520), or b) by passing a proficiency exam offered by the Center for Student Success, or c) by passing MATH 130. Depending on ACT/SAT math score, enrollment in MATH 125 or 130 level is required each semester until this proficiency is met.
  5. Incoming students with an ACT math score > 24 are exempt from MATH/PSYC 140 unless the course is required in their programs of study.
  6. MATH/PSYC 140 can be satisfied by taking BUS 240 - Statistics for Business  or MATH 150 - Precalculus  if required by a major/minor program of study.
  7. Students must be enrolled at the appropriate level of ENG 120 - Elements of English  or ENG 145 - English Composition , and then ENG 200 - Literature in Society  each semester until the sequence is completed. Students are placed into ENG 120 if the ACT English score < 15 and the overall high school gpa is below 3.0.
  8. Credits can be secured by examination for some general education courses. Syllabi for these courses are available in the Office of the Provost. Arrangements for these examinations may be made through the Center for Student Success.
  9. GEN 225-  applies to study trips sponsored by Malone University. 

Credit for Off-Campus Study Experiences


Many Malone University students take advantage of opportunities for off-campus academic study, and in some cases such study can be used to fulfill general education requirements. Off-campus study experiences include those sponsored by Malone University as well as others not sponsored by Malone University (e.g., programs available through the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, Brethren Colleges Abroad, etc., and independent study programs).

Some off-campus study experiences may include courses that have been pre-approved to fulfill Global Encounters, Engaging Cultures and Institutions, Faith in the World, or other general education requirements. The Office of the Registrar maintains a list of courses that have been pre-approved to fulfill specific general education requirements. Students are encouraged to consult this list when planning to participate in off-campus study experiences in order to assist them in meeting their academic requirements. Off-campus study experiences sponsored by Malone University will include information about whether or not they fulfill specific general education requirements in their course descriptions (if they are Malone courses). In many cases, off-campus study experiences that are not sponsored by Malone University may include courses that have been pre-approved to meet specific general education requirements. Information about off-campus study experiences is available from the Director of the Center for Cross-Cultural Engagement. Approvals for off-campus study experiences and any petitions seeking approval for general education requirements must be completed prior to the time at which the student engages in the off-campus study experience.

Note: With prior approval of the Cross-Cultural Experience Coordinator, a student may use an off-campus study experience as the basis for completing SOSC 212/213 to fulfill the Global Encounters component of the general education program. This may be accomplished by registering for SOSC 212/213 and fulfilling all related course requirements prior to, during, and after the experience. See SOSC 212  and SOSC 213  for additional information.