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Return to: Mason Core
Foundation Requirements (15-22 credits)
Foundation requirements help ensure that students master the tools and techniques necessary to succeed in college and throughout their lives and careers. These courses emphasize skills—in writing, speaking, and working with numbers and technology—that can be applied to any major field of study and career goal.
Note: The course list reflects approved courses as of press time. For the most current list, go to masoncore.gmu.edu/general-education-at-mason-2/
Written Communication (6 credits: 3 lower, 3 upper)
Learning Outcomes:
Students develop the ability to use written communication as a means of discovering and expressing ideas and meanings: in short, employing writing as a way of thinking. Students begin this process at the fundamental level in English 101 (100 for ESL students) and build higher-level skills in English 302. Writing will be emphasized in many courses throughout a student’s career, and at least one course in every student’s major is designated “writing intensive.”
Required: The following courses as well as an approved writing-intensive course in the major.
Oral Communication (3 credits)
Learning Outcomes:
- Students will demonstrate understanding of and proficiency in constructing and delivering multiple message types.
- Students will understand and practice effective elements of ethical verbal and nonverbal communication.
- Students will develop analytical skills and critical listening skills.
- Students will understand the influence of culture in communication and will know how to cope with cultural differences when presenting information to an audience. Students develop the ability to use oral communication as a way of thinking and learning, as well as sharing ideas.
Required: One approved course. Students will be expected to continue developing oral communication skills in additional Mason Core courses as appropriate.
Quantitative Reasoning (3 credits)
Learning Outcomes:
- Students are able to interpret quantitative information (i.e., formulas, graphs, tables, models, and schematics) and draw inferences from them.
- Given a quantitative problem, students are able to formulate the problem quantitatively and use appropriate arithmetical, algebraic, and/or statistical methods to solve the problem.
- Students are able to evaluate logical arguments using quantitative reasoning.
- Students are able to communicate and present quantitative results effectively.
Required: One approved course.
Information Technology (minimum 3 credits)
Learning Outcomes:
Almost no area of academic, professional, or personal life is untouched by the information technology revolution. Success in college and beyond requires computer and information literacies that are flexible enough to change with a changing IT environment and adaptable to new problems and tasks.
The purpose of the information technology requirement is to ensure that students achieve an essential understanding of information technology infrastructure encompassing systems and devices; learn to make the most of the Web and other network resources; protect their digital data and devices; take advantage of latest technologies; and become more sophisticated technology users and consumers.
Courses meeting the “IT only” requirement must address learning outcomes 1 and 2, and one additional outcome. Courses meeting “IT with Ethics component” must address outcomes 1, 2, 3, and 5. Courses meeting the only IT Ethics component must address outcomes 3 and 5.
- Students will be able to use technology to locate, access, evaluate, and use information, and appropriately cite resources from digital/electronic media.
- Students will understand the core IT concepts in a range of current and emerging technologies and learn to apply appropriate technologies to a range of tasks.
- Students will understand many of the key ethical, legal and social issues related to information technology and how to interpret and comply with ethical principles, laws, regulations, and institutional policies.
- Students will demonstrate the ability to communicate, create, and collaborate effectively using state-of-the-art information technologies in multiple modalities.
- Students will understand the essential issues related to information security, how to take precautions and use techniques and tools to defend against computer crimes.
Required: One approved 3-credit course that meets all IT requirements, or completion of an appropriate combination of courses, proficiency exams, and modules.
Courses meeting all IT requirements:
Courses meeting all requirements except ethics:
The following must be taken in sequence:
Courses meeting only ethics requirements:
Total: 15- 22 credits
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