Associate of Arts Degree and Associate of Science Degree
Core I-Communication
Written Communication
Skill in Written Communication is essential in today’s information age: a necessity in all academic areas, as well to empower students in their career, social, and civic responsibilities. Courses that satisfy the written communication requirement of the MUS CORE will focus on rhetorical knowledge, knowledge of conventions, and critical thinking, reading, research and writing process skills. Composition, Journalism, Business Writing and Technical Writing generally satisfy the written communications component.
Written Communication core courses will:
• facilitate competence in the use of the conventions of language and forms of discourse, including sentence structure, mechanics, organization, and spelling.
• demonstrate multiple, flexible strategies for writing, particularly inventing, drafting, copyediting.
• facilitate research as a process of gathering, assessing, interpreting, and using data from multiple sources to compose texts.
• demonstrate a variety of technologies to facilitate research and drafting.
Upon completion of the Written Communication core, students will be able to:
• use writing to engage in critical inquiry by exploring ideas, challenging assumptions, and reflecting on and applying the writing process.
• formulate and support assertions with evidence appropriate to the issues, positions taken, and audiences.
• use documentation appropriately and demonstrate an understanding of the logic of citation systems.
• give and receive feedback on written texts.
• read texts thoughtfully, analytically, and critically in preparation for writing tasks.
Oral Communication
Study in oral communication helps students rationally and systematically cope with the diverse listening, speaking, and presenting opportunities they will encounter in their lives. Courses that satisfy the oral communication requirement of the MUS CORE will focus on listening, speaking, interpersonal, and/or media skills. Public speaking, interpersonal communications and broadcast media may satisfy the oral communications component.
Oral Communications core courses will:
• Enable an individual to speak with clarity, accuracy, and fluency in a variety of public contexts.
• facilitate competence in the use of the conventions of language and forms of discourse, including sentence structure, mechanics, organization, and spelling.
• facilitate research as a process of gathering, assessing, interpreting, and using data from multiple sources to express ideas orally.
• demonstrate a variety of technologies to facilitate research and drafting.
Upon completion of the Oral Communications core, students will be able to:
• Use oral communication to engage in critical inquiry by exploring ideas, challenging assumptions, and reflecting on and applying the oral communications process.
• demonstrate multiple flexible strategies for inventing, drafting, and editing oral presentations.
• deliver thoughtful oral presentations with clarity, accuracy, and fluency.
• listen actively in a variety of situations and speak effectively about their ideas.
• adapt content and mode of presentation to fit a given audience and medium.
• give and receive feedback on oral presentations.
Core II-Mathematics
Mathematics core courses will:
• expose students to the methods employed in the mathematical sciences.
• demonstrate the application of mathematical or statistical models to complex problems, which can lead to greater understanding of, and potential solutions to, these problems.
• enable students to develop skills leading to an understanding of quantitatively based problems of importance to contemporary society.
• provide practical applications that relate to students’ personal and future professional lives as consumers of quantitative information.
Upon completion of the mathematics core, students will be able to:
• apply the acquired skills to other courses.
• reason analytically and quantitatively.
• think critically and independently about mathematical situations.
• understand the quantitative aspects of current events.
• make informed decisions that involve interpreting quantitative information.
• make informed decisions about their personal and professional lives.
Core III-Science
Science core courses will:
• demonstrate the experimental basis of science and how scientists accumulate new knowledge.
• demonstrate the methods scientists use to gather, validate, and interpret data within the broad area of the specific discipline being studied.
• demonstrate important scientific facts and how those facts help us understand our observations and the laws that govern the natural world.
• explore the goals and limitations of science.
Upon completion of the Natural Science core, students will be able to:
• identify and solve problems using methods of the discipline.
• use logical skills to make judgments.
• demonstrate thinking, comprehension, and expression of subject matter.
• communicate effectively using scientific terminology.
• use quantitative skills to solve problems.
• integrate through analysis.
• demonstrate the relationship between actions and consequences.
• discuss the role of science in the development of modern technological civilization.
Core IV-Arts and Humanities
Humanities
Study of the Humanities cultivates an understanding and appreciation of the ways in which we gain and apply knowledge. To study the Humanities is to explore societies, cultures, ideas, and art and to examine the forces that shape and connect them. Through the Humanities, we become informed critical thinkers, integrating information, ideas, and opinions from local to global societies and cultures. A study of the Humanities often includes classics, languages, literature, philosophy, history, and religion. Some campuses include Fine Arts within the category.
Humanities core courses will:
• develop an individual’s ability to think critically, analytically, and synthetically about how others perceive and express the human condition.
• improve ability to communicate through the development of reading, thinking, writing, and speaking skills.
• increase an individual’s understanding of how others make and express meaning in their lives.
• create opportunities for positive human interactions through understanding and acceptance.
• encourage personal reflection and values identification.
• promote respect for others with differing means of expressing core values.
Upon completion of the Humanities core, students should be able to:
• explore the human search for meaning and value in one or more time(s) and cultures.
• recognize, interpret, and respect concepts of values and beliefs in a global society.
• communicate in writing and in speech, thoughtful and critical assessments of multiple value systems.
• construct and articulate a set of beliefs and values.
• utilize respectful inquiry to understand global concepts, values, and beliefs.
• incorporate humanities perspectives in other areas of study.
Fine Arts
The Fine Arts create communities committed to the study of how people reveal and express feelings, emotions, and beliefs. Through the Fine Arts, students explore understanding about the creative process as they construct expressions of their own creativity, talent, and passion. The Fine Arts promote understanding and appreciation of how different cultures value the arts.
Fine Arts core courses will:
• Enable students to produce expressions of their creativity and talent.
• examine the place of arts in cultural and intellectual history.
• demonstrate an appreciation for the complexity of human nature and society.
• explore the influence of the arts on individuals and society.
Upon completion of the Fine Arts core, students will be able to:
• demonstrate the processes and proficiencies involved with creating and/or interpreting creative works.
• reflect upon, analyze, and articulate their personal responses to artistic works and the processes involved in creating them.
• demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of artistic expressions in various past and present cultures.
• connect periods and expressions of art to changes in societies and cultures.
Core V Native American Studies
The Native American Studies core provides students with the knowledge and academic skills necessary for further study in the field of American Indian Studies, the social sciences, humanities, and preparation for a career that deals with Native American issues.
Native American Study Courses will:
• develop students’ ability to gain an understanding for the Nakona and Dakota peoples.
Upon completion of Native American Studies core students will be able to:
• Understanding and evaluate the histories, cultures of the Fort Peck Nakona and Dakota tribes and the diversity of histories, cultures, worldviews, and literature among Native American Tribes.
• Demonstrate the ability to use the language in both spoken and written form in either the Nakona or Dakota Language.
• Identify the language, culture, history of the various bands of Nakona/Dakota who reside on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation.
• Identify, accurately locate, and understand the continuing development of the various Native American tribes, bands, groups, and language families, and demonstrate understanding of the effects of Federal and Tribal law among Native American reservations.
Core VI Technology
Technology demonstrates knowledge, skills, and attitudes to use technology to solve real world problems, explore innovative practices to developing and sharing information in a digital format, apply skills learned in an online learning format, and understand the impact of technology on society.
Technology Courses will:
• provide students will with real world experiences to using technology.
• Demonstrate an appreciation for multiple technology platforms and software and their use.
• Explore the influence of technology today.
Upon completion of the technology core, students will be able to
• identify, and apply new technology in learning environments.
• Demonstrate knowledge and ability to use technology in today’s technological driven world.