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Michigan State University
Michigan State University

Undergraduate Education
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University Curriculum and Innovation

University Curriculum and Innovation

The Office of Undergraduate Education (Undergrad Ed) supports various functions related to the university curriculum, including assisting academic programs with the development, review, and enhancement of undergraduate majors, minors, and certificates. In addition, the unit assists programs with the integration of the MSU Undergraduate Learning Goals (ULGs), experiential learning, and global and DEI learning.

Finally, Undergrad Ed collaborates with the three Integrative Studies Centers to advance curricular reform, educator development, and learning outcomes assessment within the university requirements.

 

Undergraduate Learning Goals (ULGs) & Outcomes

As part of its goal to enhance student learning and success, as well as its accreditation mandate, Michigan State University has five undergraduate learning goals designed to guide the development and assessment of curricular and co-curricular undergraduate learning experiences both inside and outside the classroom. MSU believes that these five areas will enhance the potential that MSU graduates will be outstanding leaders and life-long learners.

Associated with each of the five ULGs are outcome statements that further explain MSU’s intended learning. All undergraduate programs are encouraged to align their programmatic learning outcomes (PLOs) with these statements. Units needing support with the development of PLOs and/or the integration of the ULGs into their programs should contact Jim Lucas, lucasjam@msu.edu, for assistance.

Students who complete an undergraduate degree program at Michigan State University will demonstrate the knowledge, attitudes and skills associated with the following interconnected goals and outcomes:

University Curriculum and Innovation

The MSU graduate uses ways of knowing from mathematics, natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, and arts to access information and critically analyzes complex material in order to evaluate evidence, construct reasoned arguments, and communicate inferences and conclusions.

  • Acquires, analyzes, and evaluates information from multiple sources.
  • Synthesizes and applies the information within and across disciplines.
  • Identifies and applies, as appropriate, quantitative methods for defining and responding to problems.
  • Identifies the credibility, use and misuse of scientific, humanistic and artistic methods.
 

The MSU graduate comprehends global and cultural diversity within historical, artistic, and societal contexts.

  • Reflects on experiences with diversity to demonstrate knowledge and sensitivity.
  • Demonstrates awareness of how diversity emerges within and across cultures.

The MSU graduate participates as a member of local, national, and global communities and has the capacity to lead in an increasingly interdependent world.

  • Understands the structures of local, national, and global governance systems and acts effectively within those structures in both individual and collaborative ways.
  • Applies knowledge and abilities to solve societal problems in ethical ways.

The MSU graduate uses a variety of media to communicate effectively with diverse audiences.

  • Identifies how contexts affect communication strategies and practices.
  • Engages in effective communication practices in a variety of situations and with a variety of media.

The MSU graduate integrates discipline-based knowledge to make informed decisions that reflect humane social, ethical, and aesthetic values.

  • Critically applies liberal arts knowledge in disciplinary contexts and disciplinary knowledge in liberal arts contexts.
  • Uses a variety of inquiry strategies incorporating multiple views to make value judgments, solve problems, answer questions, and generate new understandings.