Expectation
The Pack Proficiencies (General Education Competencies), including Critical and Creative Thinking, develop through multiple and sustained experiences across the General Education Program (GEP). The GEP provides a foundation for Critical and Creative Thinking and other Pack Proficiencies (General Education Competencies). It is expected that each degree program provide additional support to build upon that foundation throughout the major.
Critical Thinking

Critical thinking is the active, persistent and careful
consideration of a belief or form of knowledge. It includes
analysis and judgements about the ideas and conditions that
support beliefs and conclusions that follow. Critical thinking
involves analyzing and evaluating one’s own thinking and that
of others, and is subject to intellectual standards including
clarity, accuracy, precision, relevance, significance, depth,
breadth, logic, and fairness.
Outcomes
A generally educated NC State student will raise questions, formulate problems and identify appropriate information when solving a problem.
A generally educated NC State student will evaluate and interpret information presented when solving a problem.
A generally educated NC State student will generate, judge and synthesize appropriate solutions for a problem.
A generally educated NC State student will organize and communicate their thinking effectively in written form.
Creative Thinking

Creative thinking is the generation of new ideas within or
across disciplines. It draws upon or breaks rules and
procedures in those disciplines and actively engages students
in bringing together existing ideas into new configuration;
developing new properties or possibilities for something that
already exists; and discovering or imagining something
entirely new. Standards for judging creative thinking include
originality, appropriateness, flexibility, and contribution to the
domain.
Outcomes
A generally educated NC State student will apply creative thinking skills to explore alternatives, convey unique or novel ideas, create new knowledge, and adapt to new context and information.
A generally educated NC State student will apply creative thinking skills to evaluate the benefits and drawbacks of ideas, recommend appropriate solutions and take risks in proposing approaches or directions.
Assessment of Critical and Creative Thinking
Additional Links
- Critical and Creative Thinking Rubric
- Critical and Creative Thinking Authentic Assessment Process
- TH!NK
- Critical and Creative Thinking Champion
- More Information on General Education Competency Assessment