General Education

Introduction

At AURAK, every bachelor's degree requires specific courses called the General Education Program. These courses are designed to give students the basic knowledge to think critically, analyze information, and solve problems effectively. The aim is to create informed, capable, and forward-thinking citizens. All the General Education Program courses are at the university level and focus on hands-on learning. Specifically, this program helps students apply their knowledge to real-life situations, improving their critical thinking, communication, teamwork, math skills, and personal and social responsibility. Although it's not a separate degree program, all undergraduate students must complete the General Education requirements and other academic course

Mission

The mission of the General Education Program supports the University’s mission by preparing students to face the challenges of a globalized, multicultural, and rapidly changing world. The General Education Program complements the student’s major program of study by examining achievements in human inquiry and creative endeavors to cultivate those abilities essential for acquiring knowledge.

Purpose

The purpose of the General Education Program is to explore broad disciplinary areas to expand student's perspectives and improve their analytical and critical thinking skills. The General Education Program is intended to facilitate a well-rounded and informed educational experience established on a holistic awareness of a broad spectrum of knowledge areas to ensure that students are exposed to a wide range of disciplines and topics. The General Education Program is designed to provide a relevant and challenging educational experience.

Completion of General Education Requirements

The General Education Program at AURAK reflects the University's vision, mission, and purpose. It serves as the intellectual cornerstone of AURAK's educational framework and is mandatory for all graduates. These courses play a crucial role in the University's educational process, providing the groundwork for professional achievement, personal development, and responsible citizenship. Through the General Education Program, students can gain knowledge, enhance communication skills, and explore their goals, values, and potential. AURAK encourages students to fulfill their general education requirements by the end of their second year of study.

Competencies

Orientation courses are designed to establish a basic understanding of humanities and general orientation subjects. These courses provide the essential literacy foundation for students. Knowledge courses offer students a wide range of options to explore and advance their academic interests. They cover subjects in social and behavioral sciences, arts and humanities, mathematics, and natural sciences. The General Education Program at AURAK aims to develop the following competencies, which are fundamental to its mission and purpose:

Competencies	Description	Program Learning Outcomes
Critical Thinking Skills	Reasoning, inquiry, reflection, creativity and innovation, and the ability to analyze and synthesize information	Solve abstract, familiar and non-routine problems without assistance using appropriate information drawn from relevant fields of work or disciplines
Communication and Teamwork	The development, interpretation and expression of ideas, the ability to consider and integrate multiple points of view and to work with others on shared objectives	Present collaborative group analysis of topics that include complex ideas and integrate multiple points of view.
Empirical and Quantitative Skills	The ability to derive knowledge from observable facts, the manipulation and analysis of data, resulting in informed, verifiable solutions and conclusions, effective understanding of technological concepts and the appropriate use of technology as a problem- solving tool	Analyze empirical data using appropriate information retrieval and analysis methods, tools and techniques to arrive at informed, verifiable solutions to abstract, familiar, and non- routine problems.
Personal and Social Responsibility	The ability to consider ethical and moral aspects of actions and consequences, intercultural awareness, and knowledge of regional, national, and global responsibility	Articulate the ethical and moral aspects of possible courses of action in particular situations and explain the consequences which might follow with reference to intercultural issues at regional, national, and global levels.

Solve abstract, familiar, and non-routine problems without assistance using appropriate information drawn from relevant fields of work or disciplines.
Present collaborative group analyses of topics that include complex ideas and integrate multiple points of view.
Analyze empirical data using appropriate information retrieval and analysis methods, tools, and techniques to arrive at informed, verifiable solutions to abstract, familiar, and non-routine problems.
Articulate the ethical and moral aspects of possible courses of action in particular situations and explain the consequences that might follow regarding intercultural issues at regional, national, and global levels.

To achieve these course/ program outcomes, the General Education Program requires undergraduate students to take 31-34 credits in the following four categories:

Orientation courses (O): (13-14 credits)
Humanities/Fine Arts (H): (minimum of 6 credit
Social and Behavioral Sciences (S): (minimum of 6 credits)
Natural Sciences/Mathematics (N): (minimum of 6 credits)

The codes “O,” “H,” “S,” and “N” identify the category to which a course belongs.

All AURAK undergraduate students must complete all General Education requirements to graduate, which will amount to a total of 31-34 credit hours. All students must meet the Orientation Course requirements “1-5” (amounting to 13-14 credits) and a minimum of 18 credits from the three remaining Knowledge Domains, as described below (amounting to 18-20 credits):

Orientation Courses (13-14 credits required)

Students must complete 13-14 credits in this area. UNIV 100 University First-Year Transition is mandatory in the first semester.

ENGL 101 (O): Composition (3 ) – Writing Intensive Course
UNIV 100 (O): University First-Year Transition (1 )
UNIV 200 (O): Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Sustainability (3 )
One of the following IT courses

ITEC 103 (O): Fundamentals of Information Technology (3 cr.) or

CSCI 112/113 (O): Introduction to Computer Programming (4 cr.)

5. One of the following Arabic language courses:

ARAB 101 (O): Beginner Level Arabic and Culture for Non-Native Learners I (3 cr.) or

ARAB 110 (O): Arabic Language and Culture for Native Arabic Speakers I (3 cr.)

Knowledge Domains (18-20 credits required)

Students must complete a minimum of 18 credits in this area, divided into the following three categories: Humanities and Fine Arts (6 credits minimum), Social and Behavioral Sciences (6 credits minimum), and Natural Sciences (6-8 credits minimum).

Humanities and Fine Arts (6 credits required)

1. Creative and Aesthetic Understanding

Required: PHIL 100 (H): Critical Thinking and Reasoning (3 cr.) – Writing Intensive Course or

ENGL 200 (H): Advanced Composition (3 cr.) – Writing Intensive Course

Academic programs may select to include either of the following courses in their General Education component to promote Creative and Aesthetic Understanding.

COMM 102 (H): Reading Image and Film (3 cr.)

ENGL 102 (H): Public Speaking (3 cr.)

2. Cross-Cultural and Ethical Understanding

Required: MEST 100 (H): Introduction to Islam in World Culture (3 cr.) – Writing Intensive Course

Academic programs are encouraged to include in their curricula additional General Education courses focused on promoting Cross-Cultural and Ethical Understanding from the following list:

HIST 100 (H): Contemporary Middle Eastern History (3 cr.)

HIST 101 (H): Ancient History of the Arabian Peninsula (3 cr.)

PHIL 101 (H): Ethics in Today’s World (3 cr.)

PHIL 102 (H): World Philosophies (3 cr.)

Social and Behavioral Sciences (6 credits required)

1. Social and Global Perspectives

Required: UAES 200 (S): Survey of United Arab Emirates Studies (3 cr.) – Writing Intensive Course

Required: A minimum of one additional course from the following list:

COMM 101 (S): Interpersonal Communication and Group Interactions (3 cr.)

ECON 103 (S): Principles of Microeconomics (3 cr.)

POLI 100 (S): Contemporary Global Issues (3 cr.)

POLI 101 (S): Politics of Scarcity (3 cr.)

PSYC 100 (S): Introduction to Psychology (3 cr.)

The Natural Sciences/Mathematics (6-8 credits required)

1. Mathematics

Required: One of the following courses:

MATH 101 (N): Numbers and Data Interpretation (3 cr.)

MATH 108 (N): Calculus with Business Applications (3 cr.)

MATH 111 (N): Calculus with Life Sciences Applications (4 cr.)

MATH 113 (N): Calculus I (4 cr.)

STAT 100 (N): Statistics (3 cr.)

2. Science of the Natural and Physical Worlds

BIOL 100 (N): Humankind in a Biological World (3 cr.)

CHEM 100/101 (N): Chemistry in Everyday Life (4 cr.)

CHEM 211/212 (N): General Chemistry I (4 cr.)

ENVS 102 (N): Sustainability and Human-Environment Relations (3 cr.)

Writing Requirement

To promote students’ achievement of Written Communication competency, the University’s General Education Program also requires that students complete five writing-intensive courses. One of these writing-intensive courses is ENGL 101. Of the remaining four required writing-intensive courses, three must be other writing-intensive General Education courses, and the fifth writing-intensive course must be a course in the major program of study. Programs are encouraged to require students to take more than the university minimum of five writing-intensive courses.

The criteria for writing-intensive courses are provided below:

The course focuses on individual student writing, as demonstrated in the syllabus through multiple writing assignments.
Students receive actionable feedback on their writing from the course instructor.
Students substantially revise and resubmit written drafts, incorporating feedback from the course instructor and using their critical thought to improve their writing.
The final written assignment versions total at least 14 double-spaced, printed pages.

To be designated as “Writing-Intensive,” courses have to be approved by the General Education Committee as satisfying the criteria listed above. Courses approved as Writing-Intensive are designated in the catalog, on transcripts, and in study plans for all programs.

The General Education Program Requirements and Course Substitutions

The degree requirements for the individual undergraduate programs outline the course options from which a student may select courses to meet the General Education requirements. Other General Education courses that fulfill the requirements listed in the General Education Program may be substituted to complete respective General Education components in accordance with the established Course Substitution Policy and Procedure. Although students are encouraged to identify and select courses that meet their needs, faculty advisors must approve these course selections to ensure that they satisfy General Education Program requirements.

Prof. Rachel Matar - Associate Dean, School of Arts & Sciences (Chair)
Prof. Hariclea Zengos - Dean, School of Arts & Sciences
Dr. Mohammed Awad – Associate Provost for Academic Affairs
Dr. Alexandria Proff – Chair, Humanities and Social Sciences Department
Prof. Hamid Berriche – Chair, Mathematics and Physics Department
Dr. Rawad Hodeify – Chair, Biotechnology Department
Dr. Abdelfatah Arman – Chair, Management Department
Dr. Philipp Dorstewitz – Associate Professor of Philosophy
Dr. Arfan Ghani – Associate Professor of Computer Engineering, Computer Science and Engineering Department
Dr. Bryn Holmes – Director, Center for Learning Support Services, Advising, and e-Learning Programs
Ms. Amanda Forte – Chief Strategy and Excellence Officer
Ms. Hydee Cenabre – Administrative Assistant, School of Arts and Sciences (Rapporteur)

Last Updated: 23 Nov 2023

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