VALLEYFORGEMILITARYCOLLEGE

StudentLearningOutcomesCornerstones,GeneralEducationandPrograms

InstitutionLevelStudentLearningOutcomes(ILO)

TheMissionofValleyForgeMilitaryCollegeistoeducatestudentswithinanacademicandmilitaryenvironmenttotransfertoacademicallycompetitivefour-yearcolleges,universitiesorserviceacademies.Thecollegebuildsleadersofcharacterforthefuture,forthecommunity,forthecountry,fortheworld.

ValleyForgeMilitaryCollegehasalongtraditionoffosteringpersonalgrowththroughaunique,comprehensivesystembuiltontheFIVECornerstones:

• AcademicExcellence• Leadership• CharacterDevelopment• PersonalMotivation• PhysicalDevelopment

Inanefforttofulfillit’smission,VFMChasdefinedthegoalsandthestudentlearningoutcomesattheinstitutionallevelthroughtheaforesaidcornerstonestoensurethateachstudentreceivesthebestopportunitytoforgehisfuture.

Cornerstone1:AcademicExcellence

Goal–Studentswillgainanappreciationofallfacetsofliberalartseducationaswellasspecificscience,technology,engineering,andmathematicalfields.

• ILO1-1 Defineanddescribebasicconceptsandterminologyinagivenfield• ILO1-2Explainopposingviewsfoundwithinhistory,science,andsocialsciencefields• ILO1-3Solveanidentifieddilemmaorproblem• ILO1-4 Analyzeinformationfromavarietyofsourcesincludingquantitativeandqualitativedata• ILO1-5 Effectivelyargueorjustifyinwrittenandoralformatfortheargumentativepositionorproposedsolution• ILO1-6 Designand/orproposeanewsolutionorpointofviewtoagivenproblem

Cornerstone2:Leadership

Goal-Studentswillidentifyandunderstandtheoriesofleadershipanddevelopapersonalleadershipstylewithapplication,toguideandinspireothers.

• ILO2-1Describequalitiesofaneffectiveleader• ILO2-2Recognizeandexplainvariousstylesofleadership• ILO2-3Demonstrateone’sownleadershipstyle• ILO2-4 Analyzeone’sownleadershipstylesandstrategies• ILO2-5 Evaluateone’sownleadershipstylesandstrategiesandrecommendwaystoimprovethem.

Cornerstone3:CharacterDevelopment

Goal-Studentswillunderstandthathonorandintegrityarenecessaryfoundationsforthedevelopmentofcharacter.

• ILO3-1 Recognizethesignificanceofhonorandintegrity• ILO3-2 Explainhonorandintegrity,andhowtheyformthefoundationsofcharacter• ILO3-3 Explainand/ordemonstrateethicaldecisionmaking

Cornerstone4:PersonalMotivation

Goal-Studentswilldemonstrateawillingnesstopushtowardsabetter‘self’throughthedevelopmentandaccomplishmentofindividualandgroupgoals.

• ILO4-1 Identifyindividualinterestsandtherelevantshort-termandlong-termgoalsassociatedwithit• ILO4-2 Identifythecurricularandextra-curricularactivitiesthatleadtosuccessinthedefinedpersonalgoals• ILO4-3Demonstrateanabilitytodevelop,refineandattaingoalsinacontinuousprocess.

Cornerstone5:PhysicalDevelopment

Goal-Studentswilllearnthatahealthylifestyleismaintainedthroughaholisticapproachthatincludesdevelopingthemind,body,andspirit.

• ILO5-1 Recognizethesignificanceofahealthylifestyle• ILO5-2Associateahealthylifestyletosoundleadership,bettercharacterdevelopment,andimprovedacademic

achievement• ILO5-3 Practiceahealthylifestylebyparticipatinginaphysicalfitnessregimen

GeneralEducationStudentLearningOutcomes(GLO)

TheGeneralEducationProgramatValleyForgeMilitaryCollegesupportsthemissionofthecollegebyprovidingstudentstheopportunitytogaincommoncollectiveknowledgeabouttheworldtheylivein.ThroughthecorecompetenciesofCivicandGlobalEngagement,OralandWrittenCommunication,Leadership,Cultures,QuantitativeReasoningandScientificandTechnologicalApplications,aVFMCgraduateisexpectedtolearntothinkcreatively,reasoncritically,communicateeffectively,appreciateothercultures,understandtheprinciplesofthenaturalworldandmakeinformeddecisionswhenfacedwithadilemmaorproblem.

CoreCompetency1:CivicandGlobalEngagement

Goal-Studentswillgainknowledgeofdomesticandinternationalgovernmentalstructuresandeconomicsystemstoengagewiththeglobalcommunity

• GLO1-1Describedomesticandinternationalgovernmentstructuresandeconomicsystems • GLO1-2Identifythecharacteristicsofdomesticandinternationalgovernmentstructuresandeconomicsystems• GLO1-3Demonstrateanunderstandingoftherelationshipbetweenanation-state’sgovernmentstructuresand

economicsystems • GLO1-4Examineandexplainthestrengthsandweaknessesofgovernmentstructuresandeconomicsystems

CoreCompetency2:OralandWrittenCommunication

Goal-Studentswilllearntoconductresearch,analyzeevidence,createargumentsandpresenttheminwrittenandoralformat

• GLO2-1Recognizethatwritingisaprocessbycomposingmultipledrafts,revising,andeditingwritingassignments.

• GLO2-2Demonstrateanunderstandingofrhetoricalstructuresandappealstoconstructaresearchedargumentforanaudience.

• GLO2-3Produceexpository&analyticalwritingthatisorganizedandstylisticallyappropriateforaparticularaudience.

• GLO2-4Locate,evaluate,integrate,analyze,andcitesecondarysourcesofinformationeffectivelyandethically,usingappropriateacademiccitation.

CoreCompetency3:Leadership

Goal-Studentswillidentifyandunderstandtheoriesofleadershipanddevelopapersonalleadershipstylewithapplication,toguideandinspireothers

• GLO3-1Describequalitiesofaneffectiveleader• GLO3-2Statepersonalleadershipqualitiesforfutureapplications • GLO3-3Demonstrateone’sownleadershipstyle • GLO3-4Analyzeone’sownleadershipstylesandstrategies

CoreCompetency4:Cultures

Goal-Studentswilldemonstrateanunderstandingofthearts,language,history,andliterature

• GLO4-1Rememberandrecallrelevanthistoricalandculturaldetails • GLO4-2Explainhowculturalunderstandingimpactshistoricalcausationandliteraryexpression • GLO4-3Usehistoricalandculturalframeworkstointerpretliteraryandartisticworks • GLO4-4Examineandexplainworksinliteratureandfineartsofaculture

CoreCompetency5:QuantitativeReasoning

Goal-Studentswilldevelopanunderstandingofquantitativereasoningthatincludestheuseofnumbersandsymbols,measurementandpropertiesandhowtomakedecisions,judgments,andpredictions

• GLO5-1Representmathematicalinformationsymbolically,visually,numerically,and/orverbally• GLO5-2Estimateandcheckanswerstomathematicalproblemsinordertodeterminereasonableness • GLO5-3Applyarithmetical,algebraic,geometric,analyticaland/orstatisticalmethods,modelsorconceptsto

solveproblemsandinterprettheresultsinspecificcoursesofstudy • GLO5-4Makeinferencesbasedonagivensetofdataorfrommathematicalmodelssuchasformulas,graphs,and

tablesusingmathematicalandstatisticaltechniques

CoreCompetency6:ScientificandTechnologicalApplications

Goal-Studentswilllearnthefundamentalprinciplesunderlyingmodernscientificandtechnologicalideasandconcepts,andusethoseconceptstosolveproblems

• GLO6-1Statespecifictechniquesfordataevaluation,presentationofresultsanddrawinginferencesfromtheresults

• GLO6-2Gainabasicunderstandingofconcepts,methods,principles,andlawsrelevanttoaspecificareaofstudy• GLO6-3Applycriticalthinkingandproblemsolvingskills• GLO6-4Retrieve,organizeandanalyzedataassociatedwithscientificandtechnologicalmethods\

ProgramLevelOutcomes(PLO)

TheBusinessAdministrationProgramatVFMCistobuilduponthecollegemissionstatementofdevelopinginnovative,ethical,andsociallyresponsibleorganizationalleaderstoadvancebusinesspractices.Goal1-Demonstrateanunderstandingofthefunctionsofbusiness

• PLO-BUS1-1Describethebasicconceptsofbusinessprinciples • PLO-BUS1-2Explaincurrentbusinesspracticesandtopics • PLO-BUS1-3Demonstratecompetencyinthepracticalaspectsofthespecializedareasinbusinessdisciplines • PLO-BUS1-4Analyzethedisciplinesofbusinessandtheirusetosupportdecisionmakingbyinternalandexternal

users

Goal2-Employtoolsandskillsnecessarytosolvebusinessandorganizationalproblems

• PLO-BUS2-1Definethebasiccomponentsofcertainbusinessdisciplinesandfunctions • PLO-BUS2-2Comparebusinesstheorytocurrentbusinessproblemsandpractices • PLO-BUS2-3Solvequantitativebusinessproblems • PLO-BUS2-4Analyzebusinesschallengesusingcriticalthinkingandquantitativemethods.

Goal3-Researchandapplybusinessproblemsolvinganddecisionmakinginthecontextofthelargersocialandeconomicenvironment

• PLO-BUS3-1Identifyabusinessproblemwithinanorganizationintoday’sbusinessenvironment. • PLO-BUS3-2Researchanddiscussagivenbusinessproblem • PLO-BUS3-3Applyrelevantlaws,regulations,andethicalconsiderationstoU.S.andinternationalbusinessactivity

forpotentialliability,andlegalprotectionandremedies. • PLO-BUS3-4Analyzetheroleofethicalandsociallyresponsiblebusinesspracticeinaglobalsociety

Goal4-Applythenecessaryskillstocommunicateandeffectivelyparticipateinbusiness

• PLO-BUS4-1Identifyabusinessproblem • PLO-BUS4-2Researchanddescribeapossiblesolutiontoabusinessproblem • PLO-BUS4-3Useinformationtechnologytodetermineapossiblesolutiontothegivenproblem• PLO-BUS4-4Analyzeandevaluatetheproposedsolution • PLO-BUS4-5Recommendinnovativesolutions • PLO-BUS4-6Composeeffectivewrittenand/ororalpresentationstodelivertheproposedsolution

TheLiberalArtsProgramatVFMCpreparesstudentsforlifelonglearningbypromotingthedevelopmentofinformedcriticalthinkingandopen-endedinquiry.Ourstudentsgraduatewiththeskillsvaluedinalldisciplinesandcareers:theabilitytowriteandreasonwithclarityandprecision,atalentformakingkeenanalyses,andtheconfidencetotaketheirplacesascitizen-leadersinanincreasinglycomplexglobalsociety.

Goal1-Introducestudentstotheskillsforlifelonglearning,includingtheabilitytothinkcriticallyandcreativelyinoralandwrittencontexts

• PLO-LBA1-1Identify,defineandexaminekeyconceptsinthediscipline.• PLO-LBA1-2Discussandexplaindisciplinespecificcontent. • PLO-LBA1-3Useknowledgetodemonstrateandinterpretfundamentalideasfromthediscipline. • PLO-LBA1-4Selectreliabletextstowriteaneffectiveargumentativeessay. • PLO-LBA1-5Summarizeandappraiseclaimstowriteaneffectiveargumentativeessay. • PLO-LBA1-6DesigneffectiveoralpresentationsthatIllustrateandinterpretcentralconceptsinthediscipline.

Goal2-ExposestudentstoavarietyofdisciplinaryfieldsthatprovideasolidfoundationintheLiberalArts.

• PLO-LBA2-1Recognizeanddefinebasicconceptsinthefield. • PLO-LBA2-2Identifyanddiscussdisciplinespecificconceptsandprinciples • PLO-LBA2-3Criticallyinterpretwrittenworkondiscipline-specificcontent. • PLO-LBA2-4Distinguishhistoricalconnectionstoartistic,ethical,sociopolitical,andmoraldimensionsof

contemporarylife. • PLO-LBA2-5Criticallyevaluatewrittenworkondiscipline-specificcontent. • PLO-LBA2-6Planandconstructawrittenororalpresentationondiscipline-specificcontent

Goal3-Analyze,critique,andconstructresponsestothechallengesofthemarketplaceandhumansociety

• PLO-LBA3-1Defineandexaminekeyconceptsinthefield • PLO-LBA3-2Identifyone’spresumptions,values,viewpoints,andinconsistencies. • PLO-LBA3-3Interpretandexplainviewpointsandconcepts • PLO-LBA3-4Criticallyanalyzeone’sownthinkingbyidentifyingone’spresumptions,values,viewpoints,and

inconsistencies.• PLO-LBA3-5Evaluatetheassumptions,values,perspectives,andargumentsinatextorcreativework. • PLO-LBA3-6Constructandjustifyalternativehypothesesandviewpoints

Goal4-Introducecross-culturalunderstandingthroughexamininginternationalculturesandpoliticalsystems

• PLO-LBA4-1DefineanddescribesimpleconcretesubjectsinalanguageotherthanEnglishinbothoralandwrittenform.

• PLO-LBA4-2Interpretaestheticqualitiesofworksofliteratureandthefineorperformingarts • PLO-LBA4-3Demonstrateknowledgeofthediverseintellectual,social,political,economic,aesthetic,and/or

culturalpracticesofWesternandnon-Westerncivilization • PLO-LBA4-4Criticallyanalyzeaestheticqualitiesofworksofliteratureandthefineorperformingarts • PLO-LBA4-5Appraiseandcritiqueaestheticqualitiesofworksofliteratureandthefineorperformingarts • PLO-LBA4-6Constructanddeveloppresentationstoillustrateunderstandingofliteratureandthefineor

performingarts

TheJusticeandSecurityStudiesprogramatVFMCiscommittedtoprovidingstudentswithacomprehensivebackgroundinlocal,state,national,andinternationalsecurityconsiderations.Throughanemphasisonboththeoreticalperspectivesandpracticalconcerns,thestudentswilldevelopaninterdisciplinaryunderstandingofthefundamentalsofsecuritywhetherinlawenforcement,informationsecurity,ornationalandglobalsecurity.Withineachconcentration,studentswillgainanappreciationforthecomplexityofthetwenty-firstcenturysecurityenvironment.Theprogramwilldeliverinstructionthatwillbringbalancetothestudents’world-viewthatwillallowthemtoquicklyassesssituations,identifyproblems,andproposesolutionstothoseproblems.Ultimately,itwillenablestudentstoenterintotheworkforceasalow-levelsecurityprofessional,ortransfertoafour-yearinstitution.Goal1-Studentswillunderstandthemulti-tieredlevelsofsecurityconsiderationstoincludelocal,state,national,orinternational

• PLO-JSS1-1Describehowcommunicationsacrossmultipleagenciesandorganizationsiscrucialformaintainingthreatawarenessandresponses.

• PLO-JSS1-2Explainandinterprethowcommunicationsacrossmultipleagenciesandorganizationsiscrucialformaintainingthreatawarenessandresponses.

• PLO-JSS1-3Determinesecurityandlegalconceptsandmethodsrelevanceinaddressingsecurityandlegalproblems

• PLO-JSS1-4Compareandcontrastthemanylevelsandtypesofsecurity• PLO-JSS1-5Recommendtoorganizationsandinstitutionsresponsestoincidentsinvolvingaspectsofasecurity

infrastructure • PLO-JSS1-6Designresponsestoincidentsinvolvingaspectsofasecurityinfrastructure

Goal2-Studentswillgainanappreciationforthetechnologicalaspectsofinformationsecurity.

• PLO-JSS2-1Identifythepotentialdamagecausedbycybercrimeandcyberterrorism • PLO-JSS2-2Explainthesecuritythreatscausedbycybercrimeandcyberterrorism. • PLO-JSS2-3Categorizethepotentialdamagecausedbycybercrimeandcyberterrorism • PLO-JSS2-4Explainviableargumentstopromoteresponsibleinformationsecuritypolicywithinindustry,

government,andthemilitary. Goal3-Studentswillunderstandthetheoreticalandpracticalaspectsofdecisionmakinginlocal,state,national,orinternationalsecurityenvironments.

• PLO-JSS3-1Explainhowmakingtimely,efficient,andeffectivedecisionsisenhancedthroughtraining,education,andexperience

• PLO-JSS3-2Determinehowmakingtimely,efficient,andeffectivedecisionsisenhancedthroughtraining,education,andexperience

• PLO-JSS3-3Prioritizesecurityconcernsacrossorganizationsandinstitutionswhethertheyaretechnological,criminal,man-made,natural,oranycombinationoftheabove

• PLO-JSS3-4Assessthreatsinvolvingbreachesofsecurity,ornaturalandman-madedisasters. Goal4-Studentswillgainanappreciationforthehistoricalandculturalelementscontainedwithinsecurityenvironmentoflocal,state,national,orinternationalareas

• PLO-JSS4-1Identifyhowareasofhistoryandcultureofpopulationsmayaffectsecurityprofessionals’decisions• PLO-JSS4-2Explainanddiscusshowhistoryandcultureaffectthesecurityenvironmentandsecurityresponses. • PLO-JSS4-3Determinehowhistoryandcultureaffectthesecurityenvironmentandsecurityresponses. • PLO-JSS4-4Analyzesolutionstosecuritydilemmas • PLO-JSS4-5Summarizeandcriticizesolutionstosecuritydilemmas • PLO-JSS4-6Composewrittenanalysesthatsummarize,critique,andproposesolutionstosecuritydilemmas.

TheHealthandBiologicalSciencesProgramatVFMCprovidesstudentsthefundamentalknowledgeandskillstosuccessfullypreparetheminavarietyofbiologicalandhealthrelatedprograms.

Goal1-Providestudentswithasolidfoundationofknowledgethroughprogramrelatedcourses

• PLO-SCI1-1Definedisciplinespecificfundamentalconcepts&terminology • PLO-SCI1-2Describedisciplinespecificprocessesandprinciplesincludingethicalimplications • PLO-SCI1-3Demonstrateuseofdisciplinespecificconceptsandmethods • PLO-SCI1-4Connectscientificprinciplestopracticalapplications

Goal2-Integrateprogramspecificmethodstodevelopanalyticalandcriticalthinkingskills.

• PLO-SCI2-1Identifythecomponentsofthescientificmethod • PLO-SCI2-2Describethecomponentsofthescientificmethod • PLO-SCI2-3Demonstratetheunderstandingoftheorythroughinterpretationofexperimentalresults • PLO-SCI2-4Compareandanalyzerelationshipbetweenconcepts

Goal3-Providestudentstheopportunitytodevelopwritten&oralcommunicationskillsrequiredforrelevantprofessionalfields

• PLO-SCI3-1Memorizeandrecalldisciplinespecificterminology • PLO-SCI3-2Interpretdisciplinespecificpublications • PLO-SCI3-3Explainand/orsolvedisciplinespecificquestions • PLO-SCI3-4Connectcross-disciplinaryprinciplesandconcepts • PLO-SCI3-5Assessandevaluatedisciplinespecificpublications • PLO-SCI3-6Design&Composedisciplinespecificreportsoncasestudiesandproblems

TheEngineeringandPhysicalSciencesProgramatVFMCprovidestudentsasolidfoundationinthescientificmethodandknowledgeofprinciplesthatgoverntheworkingsofthephysicalworld.Throughacombinationoftheoryandpractice,studentsinthisprogramwillgainenhancedskillsincriticalthinking,analysisandinterpretationofobservationsofphysicalphenomena.

Goal1-Providestudentswithasolidfoundationofknowledgethroughprogramrelatedcourses

• PLO-SCI1-1Definedisciplinespecificfundamentalconcepts&terminology • PLO-SCI1-2Describedisciplinespecificprocessesandprinciplesincludingethicalimplications • PLO-SCI1-3Demonstrateuseofdisciplinespecificconceptsandmethods • PLO-SCI1-4Connectscientificprinciplestopracticalapplications

Goal2-Integrateprogramspecificmethodstodevelopanalyticalandcriticalthinkingskills.

• PLO-SCI2-1Identifythecomponentsofthescientificmethod • PLO-SCI2-2Describethecomponentsofthescientificmethod • PLO-SCI2-3Demonstratetheunderstandingoftheorythroughinterpretationofexperimentalresults • PLO-SCI2-4Compareandanalyzerelationshipbetweenconcepts

Goal3-Providestudentstheopportunitytodevelopwritten&oralcommunicationskillsrequiredforrelevantprofessionalfields

• PLO-SCI3-1Memorizeandrecalldisciplinespecificterminology • PLO-SCI3-2Interpretdisciplinespecificpublications• PLO-SCI3-3Explainand/orsolvedisciplinespecificquestions • PLO-SCI3-4Connectcross-disciplinaryprinciplesandconcepts • PLO-SCI3-5Assessandevaluatedisciplinespecificpublications • PLO-SCI3-6Design&composedisciplinespecificreportsoncasestudiesandproblems