Liberal Arts Perspectives: Scientific

Core Course Description

In an effort to increase student understanding of the purpose of and interconnectivity between core courses, the syllabus should include the following statement (which is not a Catalog text):

"The scientific method has resulted in historically unprecedented changes in our world. In this course you will learn how science proceeds, and practice the scientific method yourself in a weekly laboratory experience. You will learn the qualities of a good hypothesis or model, how to assess its validity, the significance of a scientific theory, and the elusiveness of "proof." On completing the course, you will be better able to understand and evaluate scientific or pseudoscientific claims that have direct impacts on your personal and professional life."

Student Learning Objectives

Student Learning Objectives are assessable and must be included in all syllabi. SLOs will be measured through the efforts of the Core Curriculum Assessment Committee and possibly through student evaluations. Each syllabus should contain the following:

"This course is part of the Xavier Core Curriculum, which aims to develop people of learning and reflection, integrity and achievement, in solidarity for and with others. It addresses the following core learning objectives at the introductory level:

1a: Students recognize and cogently discuss significant questions in the humanities, arts, and the natural and social sciences.

2b. Students evaluate problems using quantitative methods and arguments.

[The above is a minimum for Scientific Perspectives. Individual instructors are encouraged to add other core SLOs as appropriate.]

In addition to Xavier core learning objectives, this course includes these other key learning objectives:

[Additional SLOs to be determined by individual instructors/departments]"

Course Principles

Course principles are to be addressed substantively through topics and graded assignments in every course fitting the description. While these need not be stated in the syllabus, faculty are encouraged to regularly point out how assignments are achieving these goals.

1. Students will utilize the scientific method, and differentiate between hypotheses/models, theories and laws.

2. Students will articulate the nature of evidence, objectivity, data interpretation, the elusiveness of "proof", and reproducibility/replicability.

3. Students will compare various types of research studies (e.g., observational, experimental, correlational, mechanistic).

4. Students will utilize analytical and quantitative skills to design experiments, collect data, and make measurements.

5. Students will construct and interpret graphs and tables, and to calculate and interpret appropriate statistics (e.g. mean, variability, correlation).

6. Students will critically analyze and distinguish claims based on science from misinformation based on pseudoscience

7. Students will analyze claims and information that they encounter regarding science in their everyday lives based on their transfer and utilization of knowledge about science.

 

See a List of Approved Scientific Perspectives Courses

Approval Procedure

See the Instructions to Apply for a Scientific Perspectives Course.