Breadth Area Requirements

The breadth area requirement for the adult campuses is applied with the flexibility appropriate to adult student experience and transcripted academic history. Students at the adult campuses are required to have coursework and/or evaluated experience in each of the four breadth areas: value/meaning; social/civic, science/description, and art/expression.

In order to ensure significant exposure to the University’s four breadth areas all students are required to have at least six credit hours in each of these areas. These hours may be documented by transcripted coursework. Courses are allocated to the various breadth areas as follows:

Area I: Art/Expression

As part of a breadth of knowledge, each adult should have an understanding of and an appreciation for art in its many manifestations. The student should have a basic understanding of the various qualities inherent in any artistic expression and have the ability to discuss the nature and bases for aesthetic judgments. Along with this comes the ability to express oneself in a variety of domains, cognitive, affective or psychomotor. Expression is often revealed through communication in its various forms, including written, oral and interpersonal skills. It can also be demonstrated through other areas such as dance, music, art in its various representations, and creative writing.

Area II: Social/Civic

There is a body of knowledge usually associated with the social and behavioral sciences that each educated person needs to function effectively within relationships and to make a positive contribution to other persons and the social order. This area emphasizes the understanding of human behavior whether as individuals and/or groups.

Area III: Science/Description

A basic understanding of science and technology enhances a person’s ability to function effectively in a variety of responsibilities — at home, at work, and as a citizen and participant in society. With an understanding of science, the ability to discuss the nature and purposes of science as a way of interacting with the world and one’s experience of it is broadened. Logic and certain methods of science allows one to describe reality through symbols, numbers, and other concepts leading to a greater clarity of awareness and increased problem-solving skills.

Area IV: Value/Meaning

Socrates said that “the unexamined life is not worth living.” Ottawa University seeks to have each student confront values and demonstrate the ability to recognize and analyze values in a reflective and even creative way. Formal study in the humanities typically applies here.