General Education

The College’s commitment to the ideals of liberal learning, commonly referred to as General Education, is realized in curricular and co-curricular experiences that develop the knowledge, competencies and attitudes typically associated with a liberal arts undergraduate education.  General Education prepares learners for citizenship in a rapidly changing, diverse and fragile world.  It further prepares them for more specialized education in graduate or professional schools.

Consistent with the Essential Learning Outcomes established by the Association of American Colleges and Universities, a general education at LVC aims to have students

  1. Expand their knowledge of human culture and the physical and natural world,
  2. Enhance their intellectual and practical skills,
  3. Develop personal and social responsibility.

In order to ensure the breadth of a liberal arts education and expose learners to diverse disciplines, students are required to complete coursework in communications, intercultural studies, disciplinary perspectives, and liberal studies, those academic disciplines that have served as a foundation for undergraduate education at Lebanon Valley College for nearly 150 years.

Student Learning Outcomes

Graduating students from Lebanon Valley College will be able to

  • demonstrate and apply knowledge of fundamental concepts, methods & content in the disciplines essential to liberal learning
  • demonstrate the principles of clear and effective communication (oral and written)
  • apply quantitative reasoning and articulate quantitative ideas
  • analyze and interpret ideas and concepts
  • access, navigate, evaluate, and use information
  • analyze complex issues from diverse disciplinary perspectives
  • understand and interpret cultural, social, moral, economic, and political systems different from their own
  • analyze issues such as race, gender, class, sexual orientation, and religion
  • apply and evaluate ethical perspectives and concepts

According to the 2010 NSSE survey, 90% of LVC graduating seniors agreed that the College contributed quite a bit/much to their acquiring a general education, compared to 83% of seniors at peer institutions.