OVERVIEW
Academic Programs fulfills one segment of the three part mission of LCSC. It offers undergraduate instruction in the liberal arts and sciences and professional programs tailored to the educational needs of Idaho. Academic Programs is composed of six academic divisions and the library. The academic divisions are Business, Education, Humanities, Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Nursing and Health Sciences and Social Sciences. There are 29 different baccalaureate degrees, 11 associate degrees, 2 post baccalaureate certificate programs and 42 minors available in academic programs at LCSC. Academic Programs of primary emphasis at LCSC include Business, Justice Studies, Nursing, Social Work and Teacher Education.

The Academic Dean, in conjunction with the Academic Division Chairs and the Director of the Library, support the vision that academic programs might:

1) Provide access to education
2) Promote a culture of empowerment to serve and support learning
3) Promote a stimulating, innovative learning environment
4) Maintain high academic standards and provide the means for students to achieve them
5) Promote a safe and collegial environment in which to work and learn
6) Provide a caring environment that promotes student, faculty and staff success
7) Promote open and effective communication
8) Hire, evaluate, develop, reward and retain quality faculty and staff
9) Model professionalism at all times

GENERAL EDUCATION CORE
General education is intended to nurture the development of literate, well-informed graduates who are competent life-long learners. This is the basis of LCSC’s mission. General education “connects learning to life” by providing students with the skills, knowledge, and dispositions necessary for continued learning about their natural and social worlds, thinking clearly about them, communicating ideas about them effectively, and functioning comfortably in a variety of social institutions. These broad goals are part of all programs. The General Education Core Curriculum is the foundation for courses that students take in their major programs. The Core Curriculum includes three aspects: learning skills, basic knowledge, and values clarification. Communication, computation and human relations are building blocks for success in college programs and effective life long learning. Basic knowledge introduces students to the content and methodology of the major areas of knowledge—the humanities and fine arts, the natural sciences, mathematics, and the social sciences—and provides an opportunity for students to examine the linkages among different areas of knowledge. The Core Curriculum enables students to recognize different value systems and to understand and refine their personal values. The Core Curriculum is a series of courses that are essential to all baccalaureate and associate degree programs at LCSC. LCSC’s General Education Core Curriculum conforms to the Idaho State Board of Education’s credit and course requirements. While the Core Curriculum provides foundations in learning skills and basic knowledge, the major programs provide a sustained emphasis on general education goals in order to refine those skills and relate basic knowledge to the purposes of their programs. Additionally, ethics and values are a more explicit part of program objectives.

LCSC GENERAL EDUCATION GOALS
SKILLS COMPONENTS

Communication Component

• To express ideas in clear, logical and grammatically correct written English.

Courses which fulfill this requirement will teach students the fundamental skills involved in writing personal, descriptive, expository, and persuasive essays and/or research papers, with attention to correct logic, spelling, punctuation, grammar, and manuscript style.
Courses: ENGL 101, ENGL 102, ENGL 109, HUM 301

• To understand how to obtain information in order to identify, retrieve, and use resources for study or research.

Courses which fulfill this requirement will have a significant focus on utilizing library resources, both in print and electronic, and will improve students’ internet literacy skills.
Course: ENGL 102

• To express ideas clearly, correctly, logically, and persuasively in spoken English.

Courses which fulfill this requirement will teach students how to express themselves clearly, correctly, logically, and persuasively in spoken English in one or more of the following contexts: interpersonal communication, small group communication, and/or public communication.
Courses: COMM 101, COMM 201, COMM 202, COMM 203, COMM 204, COMM 205, PHIL 201

Mathematics Component

• To understand mathematics and quantitative methods as logical constructs and employ this understanding to solve problems and manipulate associated abstract symbols.

Courses which fulfill this requirement will introduce students to the axiomatic nature of mathematics, ensure a minimum level of algebraic competency, help students understand how mathematics both reflects and models the observable world, give students the ability to generalize these ideas and modify them to solve quantitative problems in a changing world.
Courses: MTHPT 123, MTHPT 120, MTHPT 130, MTHPT 137, MTHPT 138, MATH 130, MATH 130A and 130B, MATH 137, MATH 143 and 144, MATH 157 and 257, MATH 160, MATH 170, MATH 254

DISTRIBUTIVE COMPONENT

Natural Sciences Component

• To understand science as a way of knowing and how it explains the natural world, and, by understanding these fundamentals, be able to employ critical thinking skills.

Courses which fulfill this requirement will teach students how to employ the scientific method, recognize the importance
of science in their every day lives, and write in a scientifically meaningful way through critical analysis of primary literature and laboratory experimentation.
Courses: NS 150, FSCI 101, BIO 100, BIO 102, BIO 175, CHEM 101, CHEM 111, GEOL 100, NS 171 and 172, PHYS 111, PHYS 201, PHYS 211

Humanities Component

• To understand how literature explores the human condition and examines human values.

Courses which fulfill this requirement will teach students how literature both reflects and shapes human experience and values, including freedom of thought and expression, and how literature illuminates human experience across the dimensions of time, geography, culture, language, and imagination.

Courses: ENGL 150, ENGL 257, ENGL 158

• To understand how philosophy influences human thought and behavior.

Courses which fulfill this requirement (1) address how the discipline of philosophy approaches questions and problems, particularly focusing on learning how to apply a philosophical reasoning to fundamental questions, and (2) develop an introductory level understanding of major philosophers’ views on epistemology, metaphysics and especially ethics (practical reason and virtue).
Course: PHIL 120

• To understand the creative processes, aesthetic principles, and the historical traditions of one or more of the fine arts.

Courses which fulfill this requirement will lead students to demonstrate (1) understanding of creative and aesthetic principles involved in the creation of art, i.e., one or more of the domains of music, drama, dance, film or visual art* (painting, drawing, design, sculpture, architecture, etc.), (2) understanding of the historical development of one or more of the arts, with particular emphasis on the relationship between art and culture, and (3) familiarity with classic or iconic works of art and the lives of their creators.

*A studio art class will not fulfill this Goal.
Courses: ART 100, HUM 101, HUM 150, MUS 101, THEA 101

• To develop communication skills in a second language and an understanding of that language’s cultural context**

Courses which fulfill this requirement increase students’ ability to communicate in a foreign/heritage language and understanding of that languages’ culture context.

* *Second language skills are required by many majors and for all Bachelor of Arts degrees. See particular program for details.
Second language credits are IN ADDITION to the 38 hours General Education Core Requirements.
Courses: SPAN 101, SPAN 102, SPAN 201, SPAN 202, NP 101, NP 102, NP 201, NP202

Social and Behavioral Sciences Component

• To understand how the social sciences explain the relationship(s) between individuals, communities, and global structural forces, such as political and economic institutions.

Courses which fulfill this requirement increase students’ knowledge of how social scientists discover, describe, and explain the behaviors and interactions among individuals, groups, institutions, and ideas.
Courses: ANTH 102, ANTH 120, ANTH 170, ECON 101, ECON 102, ECON 201, ECON 202, HIST 101, HIST 102, HIST 111, HIST 112, HRPT 184, HRPT 185, POLS 101, POLS 285, PSYC 101, PSYC 203, SS 150, SOC 101

• To understand the dynamic elements of a society’s culture, as well as a culture’s holistic aspects and its influence on all aspects of society.

Courses which fulfill this requirement stress 1) the concept of culture; 2) the distinction between a society and a culture; 3) the concept of cultural holism, dynamism, and interrelationships; 4) the adaptive nature of culture; 5) the tools by which to analyze a society’s culture; 6) a cross-cultural perspective on our pluralistic society, and on the world in general.
Courses: ANTH 102, ANTH 120, ANTH 170, SELECTED SS 350/351

• To understand the historical development of the contemporary world and how history explains the past. Courses which fulfill this requirement 1) increase students’ knowledge of the methods and data that historians employ to explain the past 2) examine institutions and processes across a range of historical periods and cultures.
Courses: HIST 101, HIST 102, HIST 111, HIS 112

INTEGRATIVE COMPONENT

Ethics/Values Component

• To apply values or ethical principles in evaluating potential solutions to current social or environmental problems.

Courses which fulfill this requirement will focus value and ethical questions of contemporary society.
Courses: NS 350/351, SS 350/351, HUM 350/351, ID 350/351

Diversity Component
• To increase awareness and appreciation for the diversity that exists in society relative to historical and contemporary experiences from the perspectives of women and men of diverse races, ethnicities, social class, religions, sexual orientation, ages and abilities.

Courses which fulfill this requirement increase students’ ability to understand historical and contemporary experiences from the above perspectives.
Courses: Designated courses from other areas of the core

ASSESSMENT OF THE GENERAL EDUCATION CORE

Assessment of the General Education core is completed by the Dean of Academic Programs and the LCSC General Education Committee. Particular emphasis is placed upon outcomes assessment of each component of the core curriculum which are listed on the Academic Program’s Web page at www.academicprograms.edu. Some areas of particular value in General Education Core assessment include but are not limited to:

• Effective prerequisite enforcement and course placement
• Assessment of writing and mathematics competencies using nationally–normalized, standardized exams
• Writing Portfolios at conclusion of English core
• Student feedback after completion of the General Education core.

Information gained from the General Education core assessment is provided to those Academic Divisions delivering core courses to aid in future course development and improvement.

Note: Students are expected to enroll in an appropriate composition course in their first semester and appropriate communications and math courses within the first two semesters. Students must complete the entire skills component of the core curriculum and achieve junior standing before enrolling in the integrative component.

General Education Core Requirements (37-40 credits) 2008-2009 [pdf]

BACHELOR’S DEGREE IN GENERAL STUDIES
The General Studies Majors serve the needs of students who desire a strong liberal arts programs, thorough pre-professional preparation coursework or as preparation for a variety of graduate programs. The Majors are designed for students who desire a broad spectrum of coursework from a number of related disciplines.

Each General Studies Major is centered within an academic Division at Lewis-Clark State College. Choices include Business; Education; Humanities; Natural Sciences and Mathematics; or Social Sciences. The General Studies Major allows for both concentration and breadth within a Division’s offerings. In addition to the General Education Core and the General Studies Major, a student has sufficient Elective credits to complete any of the College’s Minor programs, or simply to explore subjects of interest outside of their Major program.

Each Division may specify certain required courses, or areas from which a student must choose coursework, but overall a General Studies Major is marked by its flexibility. Within the guidelines provided by the program as well as any specific Divisional requirements, it is possible for a student, in consultation with an advisor, to tailor a course of study that is suited to his or her needs, abilities, interests or academic and professional goals.

GENERAL STUDIES MAJORS ALLOWED COURSEWORK
General Studies: Business
Coursework from the following disciplines: Accounting (AC), Business (BUS), Economics (ECON) and Computer Science (CS).

General Studies: Education
Coursework from the following disciplines: Education (ED), Gifted & Talented (EDGT), Health (HLTH), Kinesiology (KIN), Reading (RE), Recreation (RC), Special Education (SE), Addiction Studies (ADS).

General Studies: Humanities
Coursework from the following disciplines: Art (ART), Communications (COMM), English (ENGL), Humanities (HUM), Music (MUS), Nez Perce (NP), Philosophy (PHIL), Spanish (SPAN), Theater (THEA).

General Studies: Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Coursework from the following disciplines: Biology (BIOL), Chemistry (CHEM), Computer Science (CS), Engineering (ENGR), Geology (GEOL), Geographic Information Science (GIS), Mathematics (MATH), Natural Science (NS), Physics (PHYS).

General Studies: Social Sciences
Coursework from the following disciplines: Anthropology (ANTH), Economics (ECON), Geography (GEOG), History (HIST), Justice Studies (JS), Political Science (POLS), Psychology (PSYC), Social Science (SS), Social Work (SW), Sociology (SOC).

Any specific requirements for the General Studies Majors are listed on individual program plans.

GENERAL STUDIES MAJOR REQUIREMENTS
A student who chooses one of the General Studies Majors must complete the following for a baccalaureate degree:

1. Declare a General Studies Major within one of the above divisions. This requires completion of a Program Information Form (PIF) from the appropriate Division Office, at which time the student will be assigned an academic advisor.

2. Complete the General Education Core requirements for a baccalaureate degree.

3. Complete a 60-credit General Studies Major within their declared Division of emphasis (see General Studies Major areas above). From those 60 credits a student will :

• Take one course from at least four of the disciplines specified for that Division’s General Studies Major; these four courses may not duplicate any of the student’s General Education Core coursework.
• Complete a minimum of 30 upper division credits (300/400) within the major area, from that Division’s specified disciplines.
• Complete any other coursework set by Division, according to its General Studies Major Program Plan in the College Catalog.
• Limit experiential coursework (e.g. practicums; internships; co-op education) within the 60 credit requirement to 6 credits; additional experiential credits may apply to the 30 credits of Electives.

4. Complete 30 credits of electives, from any courses numbered 100 or higher.

5. Complete two years (16 credits) of the same college-level foreign/heritage language (through the 202 level) for a Bachelor of Arts degree; there is no language requirement for a Bachelor of Science degree. The 16 credits will be from the elective coursework unless the student has declared a General Studies: Humanities Major.

6. Complete all other College requirements for graduation, as specified in the catalog under which a student chooses to graduate. These include, but may not be limited to the following,:

• Satisfactory completion of 128 semester credits, with a minimum of a 2.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA).
• A minimum of 32 credits from Lewis-Clark State College.
• Satisfactory completion of a Major program as outlined above.
• A minimum of 36 upper division credits, from any coursework, including the upper division General Education Core, the Major program, or Elective courses.


BACHELOR’S DEGREE IN INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES
The Interdisciplinary Studies degree is designed to provide students with the opportunity to major in an interdisciplinary program that can be tailored to meet unique and specific career opportunities, or to meet specific requirements for entry into an interdisciplinary graduate program. A student opting for this program selects two or three academic discipline areas which integrate to form a coherent program of study.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
1. Completion of a formal application which includes a completed interdisciplinary program plan and a PIF (program information form) declaring a BA or BS in Interdisciplinary Studies.

2. Completion of two or three academic discipline areas with a minimum total of 60 credits.

3. Completion of a minimum of 21 semester credits in each discipline area. At least 15 of the 21 credits in each discipline must be in upper division course work (300-400 level).

4. Completion of a capstone senior seminar/research project approved by the primary area advisor. The capstone course must be selected from existing discipline capstone courses.

DISCIPLINE OPTIONS
Academic disciplines may be chosen from the following:
• Business Division: BUS, BUS/COMM, BUS/ENGL, BUS/SS
• Education Division: ADS, ED, HLTH, KIN (kinesiology discipline allows a maximum of 3 activities credits), RE
• Humanities Division: ART, COMM, ENGL, MUS, NP, SPAN, THEA
• Natural Sciences Division: BIOL, CHEM, CS, GEOL, MATH, PHYS
• Social Sciences Division: ANTH, ECON, HIST, JS, POLS, PSYC, SOC, SW

See divisions for other specifically designed interdisciplinary program options.

PROCEDURES
A student who chooses the interdisciplinary program as a major must:

1. Choose two or three disciplines from the list above

2. Decide which discipline will be the primary area. Choose the interdisciplinary major under the division of the primary area on the PIF.

3. Select and meet with an advisor from each discipline.

4. Make formal application to the primary area advisor including a completed PIF and an interdisciplinary program plan delineating intended course selections in each area that is signed by all advisors and the chair of the division of the primary area discipline.

5. Get pre-approval from the primary area discipline division chair on any changes made to a program plan after it has been approved.

6. Students graduate with an Interdisciplinary Studies major from the division of the primary area discipline. The two or three discipline areas will not be printed on the diploma, nor will they appear on the student’s transcript.


DUAL CREDIT IN ACADEMIC PROGRAMS
Dual credit courses are offered each semester in Academic Programs. These courses allow high school students to receive academic credit both at their local high school and at LCSC. All academic courses offered at regional high schools are overseen by the Academic Divisions and are identical in content and assessment to courses delivered at the college. For more information about dual credit visit the following website: Http://www.lcsc.edu/Admissions/acl/home.htm.

DEFINITIONS OF INDIVIDUALIZED STUDY

COOPERATIVES (CO)
Cooperatives are a learning experience whereby students formally integrate their studies with work experience in cooperative employer organizations. By integrating classroom theory with the real world of work, Cooperatives provide students with a broader perspective and understanding of their career field. Students are required to attach a syllabus outlining learning objectives, activities and evaluation methods with the application form.

DIRECTED STUDY (DS)
Directed Study courses allow students to pursue a special interest in an area not covered by a regularly offered course. Directed Study courses are also used by students who are not able to attend a regularly scheduled course. Students are required to attach a syllabus of the course with the application form. Directed Studies are normally not available for a course during a semester when the course is offered on campus.

INTERNSHIP (IN)
Internships award academic credit for extended on-the-job experience in an area of interest or in a student’s major.
Internships are supervised by college faculty.

PRACTICUM (PR)
Practicums provide valuable field-based experience in students’ area of interest. Students work either alone or in teams under the guidance of on-site supervisors.

RESEARCH ASSISTANTSHIP (RA)
Student Research Assistantship is an appointment which may be provided to a student in good standing who performs personal research, and/or who assists others performing research that is relevant to the student’s academic goals.

SERVICE LEARNING (SL)
Service-learning enhances learning and fosters civic responsibility though active involvement in academically-based community service. Students engage in service-learning projects with the guidance of college faculty and in coordination with the Community Warriors Student Volunteer Center. See the Community Program section for more information on service learning.

Regarding all of the individualized study options
•  Students wishing to enroll in these types of courses must complete the application form which is provided in the division offices or from the Registrar’s Office.
•  Students must acquire all required signatures on the application form before submitting it to the Registrar’s Office for processing.
•  Students must have a minimum of a 2.0 cum GPA to enroll.
•  Students are limited to 12 credits individualized study in one semester.
•  Students are limited to 24 credits individualized study that will apply toward fulfilling graduation requirements.
•  Student transcripts with courses listed above will have the respective two letter prefix before the title of the course.

ATTENDANCE POLICY FOR ACADEMIC PROGRAMS
In general, class attendance is required at the discretion of the instructor. Students officially enrolled for a course(s) at the time final grades are issued will be awarded a final grade, whether or not the student has attended any class session. No absences, whether approved by the college for participation in college sponsored activities, or necessitated by sickness or other personal emergency, are excused in the sense of relieving the student of responsibility for work assigned for the class during absence. It is the student’s responsibility to arrange make-up work with instructors.

Field trips are considered an integral part of some courses. Students registered for courses in which field trips are announced are expected to participate. Costs involved are part of the educational expense which students are expected to bear.

General Education Core Requirements (37-40 credits) 2008-2009 [pdf]