The School of Liberal Arts provides each student with a solid foundation through the general education core curriculum required for a bachelor's degree. Liberal arts classes complement the majors through a rigorous and scholarly approach to subject matter that serves as inspiration and a source for innovation.
A diverse body of knowledge
The faculty of the School of Liberal Arts possesses diverse backgrounds. Their expertise supports students as they further their written and oral language skills, critical thinking ability, cultural awareness, collaborative strategies, computer literacy and mathematical prowess.Liberal arts classes are offered in Atlanta, Hong Kong, Savannah and online via eLearning.
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At the heart of success
All SCAD students are required to take classes in the School of Liberal Arts to strengthen their critical thinking, reasoning and communication skills. The School of Liberal Arts helps to generate the big ideas developed by SCAD students and motivates them to pursue their passions in the creative professions around the world.
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The goals of general education
The SCAD general education program focuses on developing six competencies, as outlined below. They are:
- Aesthetic interpretation
- Computer literacy
- Critical analysis
- Multicultural/historical perspectives
- Quantitative reasoning
- Written and oral communication
Aesthetic Interpretation
| Students will be equipped to respond critically to artistic works and traditions from various societies. 1.1 Students will distinguish different forms of art. 1.2 Students will evaluate the aesthetic value embedded in the literary texts or artworks. |
| ARTH 100 1.1, 1.2 |
| ARTH 110 1.1, 1.2 |
| ENGL 123 1.2 |
| ANTH 101 1.2 |
Computer Literacy
| Students will be literate in current, professional-standard technologies and technological applications. 2.1 Students will creatively and ethically use professional-standard software to create, design, manipulate, and present information. 2.2 Students will use technological tools effectively to conduct research and communicate information. |
| CMPA 100 2.1, 2.2 |
| CMPA 110 2.1, 2.2 |
| COMM 105 2.2 |
| ENGL 123 2.2 |
Critical Analysis
| Students will employ a disciplined process to conceptualize, apply, analyze, synthesize, and/or evaluate information as a guide to decision making and action. (Critical Analysis is infused in other general education competencies.) 3.1 Students will use different methods of inquiry to research and weigh evidence. 3.1.1 Students will gather, evaluate, and organize information found in various sources to assemble and deliver ideas and arguments. (Communication and Computer Literacy) 3.1.2 Students will draw well-founded mathematical and/or scientific conclusions. (Quantitative Reasoning) 3.2 Students will interpret, evaluate, and use various sources of information to solve complex problems with creative solutions. 3.2.1 Students will examine, compare, and contrast literary texts and art works from different cultures and eras to interpret their cultural and historical relevance. (Aesthetic Interpretation) (Multicultural/Historical Perspectives) 3.2.2 Students will comprehend and draw appropriate inferences from data assembled in a variety of forms (e.g., graphs, charts, tables, qualitative data, etc.). (Quantitative Reasoning) |
| ARTH 100 3.1.1, 3.2.1 |
| ARTH 110 3.1.1, 3.2.1 |
| COMM 105 3.1.1 |
| ENGL 123 3.1.1 |
| ANAT 100 3.1.2, 3.2.2 |
| ASTR 101 3.1.2, 3.2.2 |
| BIOL 100 3.1.2, 3.2.2 |
| MATH 100 3.1.2, 3.2.2 |
| MATH 101 3.1.2, 3.2.2 |
| MATH 230 3.1.2, 3.2.2 |
| PHSC 101 3.1.2, 3.2.2 |
| PHYS 201 3.1.2, 3.2.2 |
| ANTH 101 3.1.1, 3.2.1 |
| BUSI 250 3.1.2, 3.2.2 |
| COMM 205 3.1.1, 3.2.1 |
| POLS 100 3.1.1, 3.2.1, 3.2.2 |
| POLS 110 3.1.1, 3.2.1, 3.2.2 |
| PSYC 101 3.1.1, 3.2.2 |
| PSYC 126 3.1.1, 3.2.2 |
| PSYC 260 3.1.1, 3.2.2 |
| PSYC 280 3.1.1, 3.2.2 |
| PSYC 325 3.1.1, 3.2.2 |
Multicultural/Historical Perspectives
| Students will examine beliefs and ideologies from cultures and eras that may be different from their own. 4.1 Students will recognize the social, political, and/or cultural differences inherent in a global society. 4.2 Students will recognize the context (e.g., historical, social, ethnic, economic, geographic) in which a work of art is created, particularly how art may be linked to an artist and his/her culture. |
| ARTH 100 4.1, 4.2 |
| ARTH 110 4.1, 4.2 |
| BIOL 100 4.1 |
| ANTH 101 4.1 |
| COMM 205 4.1 |
| POLS 100 4.1 |
| POLS 110 4.1 |
| PSYC 101 4.1 |
| PSYC 126 4.1 |
| PSYC 260 4.1 |
| PSYC 280 4.1 |
| PSYC 325 4.1 |
Quantitative Reasoning
| Students will acquire an understanding of the concepts and logic underlying mathematical thinking. 5.1 Students will correctly use mathematical language, concepts, operations, and symbols. 5.2 Students will apply quantitative information and procedures to situational contexts. |
| MATH 100 5.1, 5.2 |
| MATH 101 5.1, 5.2 |
| MATH 230 5.1, 5.2 |
| PHSC 101 5.1 |
| PHYS 201 5.1, 5.2 |
| BUSI 250 5.2 |
Written and Oral Communication
| Students will use written and spoken English effectively and with critical discernment. 6.1 Students will use the English language to gain and share knowledge in a coherent manner. 6.2 Students will communicate effectively in a variety of settings. 6.3 Students will properly document sources with academic honesty. 6.4 Students will convey information in a way which demonstrates their proficiency in articulation, nonverbal behavior, and use of relevant visual aids that reinforce their ideas and promote clarity and interest. |
| ARTH 100 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4 |
| ARTH 110 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4 |
| COMM 105 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4 |
| ENGL 123 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4 |
| ANAT 100 6.1, 6.2, 6.3 |
| ASTR 101 6.1, 6.2, 6.3 |
| BIOL 100 6.1, 6.2, 6.3 |
| ANTH 101 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4 |
| BUSI 250 6.1, 6.2, 6.3 |
| COMM 205 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4 |
| POLS 100 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4 |
| POLS 110 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4 |
| PSYC 101 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4 |
| PSYC 126 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4 |
| PSYC 260 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4 |
| PSYC 280 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4 |
| PSYC 325 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4 |
