Executive Order 595

Instruction in critical thinking is to be designed to achieve an understanding of the relationship of language to logic, which should lead to the ability to analyze, criticize, and advocate ideas, to reason inductively and deductively, and to reach factual or judgmental conclusions based on sound inferences drawn from unambiguous statements of knowledge or belief. The minimal competence to be expected at the successful conclusion of instruction in critical thinking should be the demonstration of skills in elementary inductive and deductive processes, including an understanding of the formal and informal fallacies of language and thought, and the ability to distinguish matters of fact from issues of judgment or opinion.

Executive Memorandum 99-05

PHIL 02/02E/02H Logic and Critical Thinking courses satisfy the University's General Education requirements in Critical Thinking (Sub-Area A3). Students enrolled in courses meeting the critical thinking requirement must demonstrate

1. ability to distinguish between fact and judgment and between belief and knowledge;
   
   
2. ability to distinguish between correct and incorrect reasoning, including an understanding of the formal and informal fallacies in language and thought;
   
   
3. knowledge of and skill in using elementary methods and patterns of reasoning, including induction and deduction; and
   
   
4. ability to criticize, analyze, and advocate ideas with logical force within human discourse, both oral and written.