Northwest College

American & Wyoming Government

Wyoming Statute, Title 21, Chapter 9, Section 102, mandates that all public institutions “give instruction in the essentials of the United States constitution and the constitution of the state of Wyoming, including the study of and devotion to American institution and ideals,” and no student shall receive a post-secondary degree from a Wyoming institution of higher education without having been instructed in the above.  An understanding of politics and government is fundamental to good citizenship and contributes to the foundation of scholarly knowledge expected of college graduates.

Students may fulfill this requirement in one of three ways:

• POLS 1000 American and Wyoming Government (3)

      or

• HIST 1221 United States from 1865 (3)

      or

• a combination of HIST 1210 United States History I (3) and HIST 1250 History of Wyoming (3)

Comparative Cultural Awareness

A primary focus of a "Comparative Cultural Awareness" course is cultural analysis that includes an explicit comparison of cultures in context.  Culture is defined as "the totality of socially transmitted behavior patterns, arts, beliefs, institutions, and all other products of human work and thought characteristic of a community or population."  In these courses, students will understand and apply this general definition of culture.

Courses with the Comparative Cultural Awareness designation meet the following course criteria:

• A primary focus of a "Comparative Cultural Awareness"course is cultural analysis that ensures an explicit comparison of culture-in-context.
• In the course, students will understand and apply the general definition of culture (see above). 
• The pedagogical intention of the course will be stimulating awareness through comparison of cultures, one of which may be the contemporary culture, explicitly analyzed.
• "Comparative Cultural Awareness" courses will also examine the contextual influences that shape culture (e.g., history, economics, arts, religion, common practices, social, and political institutions).

English

Northwest College maintains that the abilities to read critically and write well are fundamental to academic success in college and pursuit of a subsequent career.  Consequently, each student must complete two courses that meet the English General Education requirements.

The initial composition course ensures that students write competently and understand the nature of academic writing.  The second course refines analytical writing skills by either introducing students to the study of literature or helping them develop specialized writing skills (e.g., research, technical writing, etc.).

For students meeting AAS degree requirements, the second-level course will focus primarily on the second and fourth outcomes listed below.

Humanities

Humanities courses examine and seek to understand human experience, human aspirations and achievements, and human expressions, such as written, oral, and/or visual texts, artifacts, and cultural practices.  These courses approach their subjects from an interdisciplinary perspective and within the historical context of human values, thought, and interaction.  Humanities courses provide students with the tools for logically analyzing, discussing, and debating moral questions, ethical issues, and human values.

Lab Sciences

Science courses provide students with an introduction to the processes and principles that scientists typically use in understanding the natural world.  Laboratory courses require practice in understanding relationships between events and observing the effects that result from experimental activities.  These courses emphasize the collection and interpretation of data, using mathematics, statistics, and the fundamental laws of the natural sciences.

Mathematics

At Northwest College, Mathematics courses study systems and processes that focus on using symbolic representation in problem solving and on drawing conclusions from numeric data by inductive and deductive reasoning. These courses elevate students’ abilities to analyze quantitative and symbolic patterns and relationships, enabling them to function competently in an increasingly numeric society.

Social Sciences

Graduates of Northwest College will understand and be familiar with human social conditions.  Using empirical methods, the Social Sciences analyze past and present behavior of people in an attempt to discover patterns and principles.  The social sciences explore the physical environment; social, political, and economic institutions; the development and understanding of societal evolution; human experiences; and the development of ideas and culture in a social context.  Social Science courses offer opportunities to enhance our understanding of human behavior and sharpen our perceptions of the social world.