Cluster One: Skills for the 21st Century (9 credits)

PHOTO - Student and Faculty working on Computer

Cluster One Coordinator: Gretchen Hazard

Description:

Cluster One brings together the basic skills in reasoning, writing, and oral communication. Since ancient times, these skills have been recognized as the fundamental skills of educated persons and responsible citizens. Cluster One specifically emphasizes the critical knowledge and skills that students learn through the study of human discourse, argumentation, reasoning, and persuasion. As students examine issues they gain insight and understanding that knowledge rarely develops in isolation but within a larger interactive, and often complex, context. Cluster One also responds to the contemporary need for effective information literacy within diverse contexts of human communication and decision making.

Requirements:

(3 courses and 2 Information Literacy tests)

Cluster One consists of nine credits covering three areas, Critical Thinking, Human Communication, and Writing. Students complete one course in each area and the courses may be taken in any order. The information literacy competency exams are non-credit carrying requirements. Students are required to complete coursework and the information literacy competency exams during their first year at the university.

All students complete cluster one their first year. All Cluster One choices are designed for students in any major. Students may use AP credit, IB Higher Level credit, or transfer credit for GWRIT 103, Critical Reading and Writing, which meet the writing requirement for Cluster One. Students may be exempt from GWRIT 103 with an SAT II Writing score of 670 or higher.

Information Literacy Requirement (two tests):

Technology Competency Test (Tech Level I) deadline for freshmen completion is by the end of their first semester at JMU.

Information Seeking Skills Test (ISST) deadline for freshmen completion is by the end of their second semester at JMU.

(Note: Transfer students must complete both Tech I and ISST by the end of their first year at JMU.)

Complete one course from each of the three areas below
(courses may be taken in any order):
  1. Critical Thinking
    Choose one of the following:
    • GBUS 160 Business Decision Making in a Modern Society
    • GHIST 150 Critical Issues in Recent Global History
    • GISAT 160 Problem Solving in Science and Technology
    • GMAD 150 Mediate Communication: Issues and Skills
    • GPHIL 120 Critical Thinking
  2. Human Communication
    Choose one of the following
    • GCOM 121 Human Communication: Principles and Practices
    • GCOM 122 Human Communication: Individual Presentations
    • GCOM 123 Human Communication: Group Presentations
  3. Writing
    • GWRIT 103 Critical Reading and Writing

Cluster One Course Descriptions

Learning Objectives:

After completing Cluster One: Skills for the 21st Century, students should be able to:

  • Critical Thinking
    • Evaluate claims in terms of clarity, credibility, reliability, and accuracy
    • Demonstrate the ability to identify, analyze and generate claims, arguments, and positions
    • Identify and evaluate theses and conclusions, stated and unstated assumptions, and supporting evidence and arguments.
    • Apply these skills to one's own work and the work of others.
  • Communication
    • Understand and apply the fundamentals of audience analysis, message construction, development, organization, and presentation.
    • Deliver effective oral presentations in a variety of contexts
    • Identify, evaluate and employ critical and sensitive listening behaviors.
    • Identify and manage the verbal and nonverbal dimensions of communication in a variety of contexts.
    • Recognize and apply the influences of self-concept perception and culture on communication.
    • Identify, evaluate and utilize the nature and functions of power and the strategies of conflict negotiation.
  • Writing
    • Develop and support a relevant and informed thesis, or point of view, that is appropriate for its audience, purpose, and occasion.
    • Analyze and evaluate information to identify its argumentative, credible, and ethical elements.
    • Reflect on civic responsibility as it relates to written discourse (critical thinking, reading, and writing).
    • Demonstrate effective writing skills and processes by employing invention, research, critical analysis and evaluation, and revision for audience, purpose, and occasion.
    • Effectively incorporate and document appropriate sources to support a thesis and effectively utilize the conventions of syntax, grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
  • Information Literacy
    • Demonstrate competency in information literacy by locating information and using a work processor, presentation software and spreadsheets.