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Essential Learning Outcomes

The Essential Learning Outcomes (ELOs) define the knowledge and skills gained from a liberal education, providing a framework to guide students’ cumulative progress.

AAC&U Is Revising the ELOs

Since the release of the ELOs in 2007, much has changed in the world and in higher education. In light of this, we are undertaking a broad and inclusive approach to updating the ELO framework to define what is “essential” for students’ learning in preparation to thrive in their lives, careers, and communities. We invite you to participate in this effort by taking a short survey.

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Essential Learning Outcomes

  • Knowledge of Human Cultures and the Physical and Natural World
    Knowledge of Human Cultures and the Physical and Natural World

    Including:

    • Science and mathematics
    • Social sciences
    • Humanities
    • Histories
    • Languages
    • The arts

    Focused on engagement with big questions, both contemporary and enduring.

  • Intellectual and Practical Skills
    Intellectual and Practical Skills

    Including:

    • Inquiry and analysis
    • Critical and creative thinking
    • Written and oral communication
    • Quantitative literacy
    • Information literacy
    • Teamwork and problem solving

    Practiced extensively, across the curriculum, in the context of progressively more challenging problems, projects, and standards for performance.

  • Personal and Social Responsibility
    Personal and Social Responsibility

    Including:

    • Civic knowledge and engagement—local and global
    • Intercultural knowledge and competence
    • Ethical reasoning and action
    • Foundations and skills for lifelong learning

    Anchored in active involvement with diverse communities and real-world challenges.

  • Integrative and Applied Learning
    Integrative and Applied Learning

    Including:

    • Synthesis and advanced accomplishment across general and specialized studies

    Demonstrated through the application of knowledge, skills, and responsibilities to new settings and complex problems.

Assessing the ELOs

AAC&U’s Valid Assessment of Learning in Undergraduate Education initiative, or VALUE, provides an authentic, rubric-based system for assessing student progress on the Essential Learning Outcomes.

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