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  • University Storm Recovery Updates

    UPDATE: Friday, Oct. 4, 5:30 p.m.
    We hope this update finds you safe and well as we continue to recover from the impacts of Hurricane Helene. We understand that the aftermath of this storm is challenging, and we want to express our sincere care and concern for those who are still experiencing hardships. As we move forward, we are committed to prioritizing the well-being of our students, faculty and staff during this process.

    Visit our university storm recovery updates page for the latest update.

    University Storm Recovery Updates

General Education Curriculum

Four students assemble a diagram of a molecule at a classroom table

In pursuit of the development of the whole person, Lenoir-Rhyne seeks to liberate mind and spirit, clarify personal faith, foster physical wholeness, build a sense of community, and promote responsible leadership for service in the world.

The general education curriculum requires all undergraduate students, regardless of major, to experience novel approaches to teaching and learning in the liberal arts and other areas to prepare them for a life of meaning and purpose and to help students identify their talents, gifts and passions so that they can use them to make the world a better place.

On our campuses and beyond them, we encourage diversity of thought and seek to advance all our practices and planning to stay relevant and leave the world better than we found it.

Model for General Education

Students working on a project in a science lab

General Education at Lenoir-Rhyne allows students to experience the breadth and depth offered in the liberal arts and across disciplines while developing a foundation for lifelong learning. 

The model for general education encompasses five learning areas and requires 37-41 hours of courses that enhance self-awareness and vocational discernment: 1) Global Challenges, 2) Communication, 3) Health and Wellness; 4) Ways of Knowing the World and 5) Professional Transitions.

  • Global Challenges (9 hours) 

    The world and humans that inhabit it face challenges that require innovation, interdisciplinary partnership, sustainable processes, and much more. The 17 are an excellent framework toward meeting these challenges. Global challenges belong to all disciplines and encourage interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary thinking. 

    The general education curriculum at Lenoir-Rhyne requires depth of learning in the global challenges theme from first year experience (a thematic course based around one of the global challenge topics) to a lower division global challenge course to an upper division global challenges course. These global challenges courses might include topics ranging from world cultures to sustainability to technology to diversity, equity, and inclusion. 

    All courses in the global challenges area will invite students to understand their capacity to contribute to society and the world. In addition, the first year experience course will teach students how to demonstrate an understanding of vocational discernment.

  • Communication (7 hours)

    Written and oral communication is at the top of the list of desired skills for students, employers, graduate schools, and faculty. The communication area focuses on written and oral communication and is required for all undergraduate students. These skills are further developed in many other courses throughout the undergraduate curriculum. 

    Information literacy is a key component of communication at Lenoir-Rhyne and is also part of courses in the communication area.

  • Health and Wellness (at least 2 hours)

    Fostering total wellness is part of our mission at Ï㽶´«Ã½ and key to the development of the whole student. In addition to physical and mental wellness and resiliency, the full wellness continuum is essential to student success. 

    All undergraduate students are required to take at least two hours of health and wellness courses.

  • Ways of Knowing the World (19 hours) 

    In order to prepare undergraduate students to become lifelong learners — to make creative connections, tackle new or complex problems, and collaborate with diverse teams — liberal arts topics in the a) fine arts, b) natural sciences, c) humanities, d) social sciences and e) mathematics are required for all undergraduate students.

  • Professional Transition (1 hour)

    One goal of any undergraduate education is to receive a degree and transition beyond the undergraduate experience, whether that is to graduate or professional school or into a profession. The human skills needed to prepare for this professional transition are required for all undergraduates at Lenoir-Rhyne. 

    All courses in the professional transition area will require students to synthesize and articulate how their Lenoir-Rhyne experiences have helped to shape their life and career goals and to imagine future career and personal opportunities based on their talents, abilities, interests, and career aspirations.