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GEF Learning Outcomes

Updated September 2021
GEF Learning Outcomes

In the interest of giving every WVU student a liberal education as defined by the AACU’s Liberal Education & America’s Promise (LEAP) initiative, WVU will adapt the AACU LEAP Essential Learning Outcomes as part of the General Education Foundations (GEF). All GEF courses will incorporate one and only one of the following GEF learning outcomes.

The GEF guarantees that students will practice written communication, quantitative literacy, and either knowledge of human cultures and the physical and natural world or inquiry and analysis via GEF areas 1, 2, and 3. The rest of the GEF areas provide a breadth experience which exposes students to a wide range of the other possible GEF learning outcomes.

GEF Learning Outcome 1: Knowledge of Human Cultures and the Physical and Natural World

WVU GEF courses incorporating GEF Learning Outcome 1 tie some aspect of course outcomes to problems and issues that students recognize in today’s world.

GEF Learning Outcome 2: Intellectual and Practical Skills
  • Competencies contained within this Learning Outcome include:
    • Inquiry and analysis
    • Critical and creative thinking
    • Written and oral communication
    • Quantitative literacy
    • Information literacy
    • Teamwork and problem solving

WVU GEF courses incorporating GEF Learning Outcome 2 teach at least one intellectual or practical skill relevant for modern life, and explicitly describe to students what it is and where it is applicable.

***For courses choosing to assess GEF Learning Outcome 2, select one and only one of the bulleted competencies.

GEF Learning Outcome 3: Personal and Social Responsibility
  • Competencies contained within this Learning Outcome include:
    • Civic knowledge and engagement—local and global
    • Intercultural knowledge and competence
    • Ethical reasoning and action
    • Foundations and skills for lifelong learning

WVU GEF courses incorporating GEF Learning Outcome 3 engage the personal or social responsibility of students, and discuss personal, local, national, and/or international situations and problems.

***For courses choosing to assess GEF Learning Outcome 3, select one and only one of the bulleted competencies.

GEF Learning Outcome 4: Society and Connections

Students will be able to investigate and analyze human behavior, societal and political organization, or communication.

GEF Learning Outcome 5: Human Inquiry & the Past

Students will be able to interpret historical events or Philosophical perspectives.

GEF Learning Outcome 6: The Arts & Creativity

  1. For Lecture-Format Courses: Students will be able to identify, analyze, and interpret the significance of a particular medium, period or body of artistic expression.
  2. For Applied- or Studio-Format Courses: Students will apply basic disciplinary principles in the creation of a particular mode of artistic expression.
GEF Learning Outcome 7: Global Studies & Diversity

Students will be able to critically evaluate global and societal issues by developing and awareness of cultural, linguistic, or experiential diversity.