THE GENERAL STUDIES STATEMENT OF PHILOSOPHY Though knowledge may
be pursued for its own sake, it assumes its most vital role when
it is used for personal enrichment and the betterment of
society. Since acquisition precedes use, the cornerstone of the
General Studies Program is the acquiring of knowledge common to
educated people. Students should become acquainted with the
various methods of inquiry and the ways by which knowledge is
generated, accessed, organized, tested, and learned. Further,
students must develop the ability to process, synthesize and
evaluate acquired knowledge for use in making intelligent
decisions. In other words, students must be equipped with a
knowledge base and thinking skills to make sound choices by
critically thinking through a problem, communicating their
findings, and assessing the implications in the practical world
at large. Program Goals and Intended Student Outcomes Goal No.
1: Develop the ability to locate and gather information The
explosion of knowledge in the twentieth