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- From reading this handbook, UNE values connection relationships between the profession students are working towards, while also being able to critically think and learn about other areas of interest. “Through the Core Curriculum, students will develop foundational knowledge and critical thinking skills that are necessary for understanding and assuming their roles in natural, social, humanistic and other environments” (Core value statements para. 1). UNE creates these guidelines annually to allow students to get the most out of their education. UNE knows the importance of liberal arts skills, and knows that other majors would be useless without these skills. Faculty know the importances of these skills as well. Scheuer will agree, that “…educators often cite the ability to identify assumptions, draw inferences, distinguish facts from opinions, draw conclusions from data, and judge the authority of arguments and sources” (Scheuer pg 9). Many professional careers UNE students are coming here for could not do their job without these crucial, critical thinking skills. UNE wants there students to come out of college as well-rounded individuals, and putting them through these major courses will allow them to experience more than just their major’s classes.
- English Composition is where I see is the most accurate in UNE handbook description. Communication skills, whether that is writing, speaking or discussing, are all worked on in class. If we did not have these skills, we would not be able to get the most out of our education and time here. “Students learn to read, to think and write in response to a variety of texts, to integrate their ideas with those of others, and to treat writing as a recursive process” (English Comp. para 1). I have started thinking differently about all aspects of my life, and not allowing one way of thinking to create a fixed mindset. I have allowed perfectionism to stop me from trying new things, but these critical thinking skills I am learning in English class truly are transferable to all other aspects of my life. I am also enrolled in Drawing 101. Though these two classes I need to credits, I have seen just allowing myself to really learn why I am required to take these classes has helped me get the most out of them. “Students learn to think both concretely and intuitively though hands on experiences” (Creative Arts para. 1). These classes allow me to step out of my very science, right-answer based classes and allow my mind to thinking freely. They allow me to learn skills that are not taught in my other, science based classes, and become a better student in these classes. These classes are beneficial to students who are willing to do the work and learn the way UNE wants them too.
