Core Curriculum

General Education Core Curriculum

The mission of Young Harris College is to educate, inspire, and empower students through a comprehensive liberal arts experience that integrates mind, body, and spirit. The foundation for that liberal arts experience is the general education core curriculum, which is required in each degree offered by the College. The College has established the following learning objectives for the general education core. These objectives are distinguishing characteristics of the Young Harris College graduate.

Upon successful completion of the degree, students should have developed the following competencies:

1. A body of knowledge requisite to earning a specific academic degree
2. The ability to think logically, critically and creatively
3. The ability to communicate effectively through listening, speaking, reading and writing
4. Basic mathematical skills
5. The ability to utilize information technology
6. An understanding of diverse beliefs and values
7. An appreciation of the aesthetic dimensions of human expression
8. An understanding of global issues, problems and challenges
9. An understanding of Christian values and principles and how these inform the development of Christian faith and character
10. Interpersonal skills for sensitive, cooperative and responsible interaction

To ensure that all graduates attain these competencies, the following courses are required in the general education core:

• English 1101 
• English 1102 
• One Mathematics course (1101 or higher)
• One Communication course (COMM 1000  or  COMM 1100 )
• One Literature course (ENGL 2110  or ENGL 2120  or ENGL 2210  or  ENGL 2220  or ENGL 2310  or ENGL 2320 ) 
• One Fine Arts appreciation course in art, music or theatre (except for students completing the Associate of Fine Arts Degree—Art Concentration)
• One Religion or Philosophy course (PHIL 1100  or PHIL 2200  or RELI 1101  or RELI 2100  or RELI 1200 ) 
• Two Lab Science courses 
• Computer Science 1100 
• Political Science 1100 
• One History course (HIST 1111  or HIST 1112  or HIST 2111  or HIST 2112 )

In addition to the above courses, a range of programs and initiatives in the College co-curriculum support the achievement of certain of the general education learning objectives and play an important role in the comprehensive liberal arts experience at the College.

Rhetorica Program

Young Harris College has developed a narrowly focused program within the academic curriculum to improve students’ written and spoken communication. The program, entitled Rhetorica: The Art of Writing and Speaking at Young Harris College, was initially developed as the College’s Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), a component of the reaccreditation process required by all institutions of higher education accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The program’s title, taken from the Latin term for rhetoric, not only emphasizes the program’s encompassment of both writing and speaking, but also signals the program’s ties to the classical foundation of the liberal arts.

The Rhetorica Program includes two main components designed to improve students’ written and spoken communication: Writing and Speaking Intensive Courses and The Center for Writing and Speaking.

Writing and Speaking Intensive Courses

Each semester, professors volunteer to teach writing or speaking Intensive versions of their courses. These courses are indicated in the course schedule with the following abbreviations: WI, SI, or WI/SI. These courses are not more difficult and do not require more work than “regular” courses. They simply include a papers, presentations, or class discussion as part of the course requirements. In addition to learning the course content, students also improve their writing or speaking skills. 

The learning outcomes for Writing and Speaking Intensive courses are as follows.

Learning Outcomes for WI Courses 

1.       Students will demonstrate the ability to explain, analyze, or argue specific concepts, ideas, or texts.

2.       Students will demonstrate the ability to support their explanations, analyses, or arguments with specific evidence and examples.

3.       Students will demonstrate the ability to convey their explanations, analyses, or arguments effectively by crafting written assignments that are well-organized and clearly written.

4.       Students will demonstrate the ability to write with mechanical and grammatical accuracy.

5.       Students will demonstrate the ability to format their written assignments according to the conventions of the discipline in which they are writing.

 Learning Outcomes for SI Courses that Include Formal Presentations  

1.       Students will demonstrate the ability to deliver well-designed explanations, arguments, or analyses.

2.       Students will demonstrate the ability to make accurate and thorough explanations, arguments, or analyses and support them with relevant, sufficient, and effective evidence.

3.       Students will demonstrate the ability to adapt their message and delivery to a particular audience, situation, purpose, and occasion.

4.       Students will demonstrate the ability to articulate their message fluently and clearly.

5.       Students will demonstrate the ability to use effective nonverbal communication.

6.       Students will demonstrate the ability to manage communication apprehension.

Learning Outcomes for SI Courses that Include Class Discussion  

1.       Students will demonstrate the ability to offer well-reasoned responses to specific concepts, issues, ideas, or texts related to the course material.

2.       Students will demonstrate the ability to articulate their responses clearly.

3.       Students will demonstrate the ability to respond to other students as well as their professor, and to respect the responses of others.

4.       Students will demonstrate the ability to manage communication apprehension.

Each student who earns a degree from Young Harris College is required to complete a certain number of Writing and Speaking Intensive courses. Course requirements vary depending on the student’s academic program. 

Course Requirements 

·         WI/SI requirements apply only to students who enter the College fall semester 2011 or later.

·         Each student graduating with a baccalaureate degree must successfully complete at least six WI/SI courses. At least two of these courses must be 3000/4000-level courses.

·         Each student graduating with an associate degree must successfully complete at least four WI/SI courses.

·         All students must complete at least two WI courses and at least two SI courses. 

·         Students who successfully complete a course designated WI and SI (listed as WI/SI on the course schedule) will receive credit for completing both a WI course and an SI course.

·         To complete a course successfully, a student must earn a “C” or better. Otherwise, the student does not earn WI/SI credit for the course.

·         All courses used to complete WI/SI requirements must be at least three credit hours, with the following exception. Certain 3000/4000-level courses fewer that three credit hours within a student’s major program of study may be designated as WI/SI courses by the director of the Rhetorica Program and used to fulfill upper-level WI/SI course requirements. Such courses will be designated on the course schedule.

Course Exemptions 

The following courses are foundational courses in which students develop the skills necessary for effective writing and speaking in other college courses. These introductory-level courses may not be used to satisfy Rhetorica Program course requirements. 

·         ENGL 1101: Composition

·         ENGL 1102: Composition and Literature

·         COMM 1000: Introduction to Human Communication

·         COMM 1100: Introduction to Public Speaking 

Course Requirements for Transfer Students

Students who transfer to the College with fewer than 60 credit hours must fulfill the program requirements provided above.

Students who transfer to the College with 60 credit hours or more must fulfill the following requirements.

·         Each transfer student of this type must successfully complete one WI and one SI course in order to earn a baccalaureate degree. At least one of these courses must be a 3000/4000-level course.

·         Students who successfully complete a course designated WI and SI (listed as WI/SI on the course schedule) will receive credit for completing both a WI course and an SI course.

·         To complete a course successfully, a student must earn a “C” or better. Otherwise, the student does not earn WI/SI credit for the course.

·         All courses used to complete WI/SI requirements must be at least three credit hours, with the following exception. Certain 3000/4000-level courses fewer that three credit hours within a student’s major program of study may be designated as WI/SI courses by the director of the Rhetorica Program and used to fulfill upper-level WI/SI course requirements. Such courses will be designated on the course schedule.

The Center for Writing and Speaking

The Center for Writing and Speaking (CWS) is designed to help students improve their performance on papers, on presentations, and in class discussion. Trained student tutors will review paper drafts, evaluate presentations, and explain discussion strategies to help students improve their performance on these assignments. Students who visit the CWS should bring a copy of the assignment and a draft of the paper or project they are working on. 

The CWS is located adjacent to the Pruitt-Barrett Administration Building. For hours and other information, please see the CWS website.