Academic Skills and Competencies
This component includes writing and speech courses. A Mathematics competency exam ensures basic proficiency in this key area.
A. Writing course (3 SH)
LANG 111/122 Reading and Writing for College is a two-semester sequence designed for first-year students with an SAT Verbal score below 460 or an ACT Verbal score below 19 and high school English grades below B in junior and senior courses. Students in this course are enrolled in a linked content course each semester. Professor evaluation determines satisfaction of college writing requirement.
LANG 131/2 College Writing is taken by first-year students with an SAT Verbal score 460-670 or an ACT Verbal score 19-26 and high school English grades of A and B in junior and senior courses.
LANG 201 Advanced Writing is for first-year students with an SAT Verbal score over 670 or an ACT Verbal score over 26 and for students who receive a score of 3 or better on the Advance Placement (AP) exam. An AP score of 3 or better gives a student 3 hours of elective credit but does not substitute for a writing course.
B. Writing intensive courses
The value of skill development and reflection over time is well known in higher education. Writing Intensive (WI) courses emphasize repeated drafts of papers and/or longer papers with the goal of sustained writing. Two of these WI designated courses are required in addition to the College or Advanced writing course noted above. These are courses students would take as part of their normal curriculum, but are designated as writing intensive. The following courses have been approved or are pending approval as Writing Intensive courses:
- ART 302 Art and Its Purpose
- BIOL 232 Ecology:Adaptation and Environment
- BIOL 482 Faith, Science, and Ethics
- BIST 381 New Testament Studies- Paul
- CHST 382 Church History
- COMM 351 Writing for Electronic Media
- COMM 361 Film and Culture
- ECON 312 Contemporary Economic Issues
- ECON 332 History of Economic Thought
- HIST 382 Church History
- HIST 452 Seminar in History
- HIST 121 Introduction to History and Methods
- JCPS 482 Theories for Analysis and Action
- NURS 391/2 Nursing Processes II
- NURS 431/2 Profession and Professionhood
- PHIL 302 Ancient Philosophy
- PHIL 352 Politics: conceptions of the Common Good
- PHIL 401 Philosophy of Religion
- PHIL 431 Philosophy of Theology
- POSC 342 Topics: Human Rights and Dignity
- PSYCH 341/2 Cognitive Psychology
- SOC 281 Sociological Theories for Change
- SOC 482 Conservation and Sustainable Development
- SOWK 421 Social Work Practice II
- SOWK 431 Social Work Practice III
- SPED 301 Intro to Cognitive, Learning, and Emotional Disabilities
- SPED 322 Evaluation and Planning in Special Education
- THR 211 History and Traditions of Western Theater
C. Speech communication
The "LANG 291/2 Speech Communication" course will provide practice with common types of speeches and feedback based on measureable speech objectives. Speech content, organization and delivery for various types of speeches will be stressed.
D. Foreign language competency
EMU students whose first language is English demonstrate competency through the elementary II level in one foreign language. This requirement may be satisfied in the following ways:
1) by taking two semester-long elementary courses in the same language at EMU;2) by transferring two equivalent courses from another college or university;
3) by demonstrating competency through the elementary II level on an EMU placement test.
EMU students for whom English is a second langue will have met the requirement upon enrollment.
E. Mathematics competency
Mathematics competency can be demonstrated by taking a competency exam (worth 1 credit hour) early in the student experience. Mastery is demonstrated at 90%. Those not achieving the 90% may meet the competency by taking a 1-credit hour pass/fail tutorial course, MATH 101/2, offered in conjunction with the Academic Support Center. Students with a Math SAT of 600 or above or a Math/CR composite of 1250 or above are exempt from the Math competency exam.
