The learning goals of a university form the very core of its mission and its purpose as it seeks to provide a rich educational experience for its students. The University of Illinois at Chicago is a large, complex, urban institution with the advantage of an extraordinary ethnic and cultural diversity. The campus thrives on its diversity and the multitude of different opportunities that are open to its students. At the same time, there are a core of learning goals that we seek for all students who have widely differing academic goals and requirements. The University seeks to provide students with basic competencies in communication; critical thinking; pluralism and multicultural perspectives; quantitative reasoning and computer literacy; and engagement through community involvement. The foundation for these skills is provided in general education but building upon these competencies continues throughout academic life.

The communication goal seeks to develop the student's abilty to read and write effectively. Students should understand how to adapt their writing or speech to meet a specific purpose. Critical thinking skills allow students to analyze information and to solve problems logically. Students learn to ask questions and discover meaning in the answers. Our goal in providing a multicultural perspective to students is to develop an understanding and appreciation of the diversity on our campus; in our society; and in this international global environment. Students need to be open to new ideas and information and to have the exposure to differing viewpoints and values. The development of quantitative reasoning and computer literacy skills is essential across all disciplines today. Students need to acquire a basic level of skills in mathematics or statistics along with the ability to make efficient use of information technology. UIC students also acquire a foundation for civic involvement and historical awareness. Students need to recognize the value of engagement and social responsibility both in their academic career and in their life beyond the university.

UIC provides a base for achieving these learning outcomes in the required core courses, however the acquisition of knowledge and skills in these areas continues through a student's career. Academic growth at UIC continues at the upper levels in a component that we call 'Intellectual Development'. Students learn at least one subject in depth and intellectual growth continues as they pursue their major. The acquisition of knowledge in the major should bring a thorough understanding of the subject and also the ability to see the relationship of that subject to other fields of study.

The learning goals that UIC seeks to provide to students are rich in breadth and substance. Hopefully, students will leave our campus with knowledge and understanding that prepares them for life in the many ways that they will experience it

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