Welcome

“If we teach only the findings and products of science – no matter how useful and even inspiring they may be – without communicating its critical method, how can the average person possibly distinguish science from pseudoscience? … The method of science, as stodgy and grumpy as it may seem, is far more important than the findings of science.”

Carl Sagan, “The Demon Haunted World” p. 21

Sam Houston State University is committed to providing its students with a quality education that prepares them for each step of their academic career and for their lives as citizens once they have graduated from college. In addition to providing technical skills and knowledge appropriate to the various disciplines that students wish to study, the University also seeks to enhance the critical thinking abilities of students because critical thinking serves as the foundation upon which knowledge is built and decisions should be made. To that end, the University has embarked upon the development of a Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) that seeks to improve student learning by developing both the critical thinking skills and scientific literacy of students. The University believes that this combination of skills and knowledge will better prepare students for academic success, and for success later in life.

The University’s QEP is titled: “Foundations of Science: Improving Scientific Reasoning Among Non-Science Majors.” It seeks to increase liberal arts baccalaureate students’ mastery of scientific reasoning and critical thinking. This is evidenced by the ability to critically evaluate extraordinary claims. The critical thinking skills learned in this course will be an asset to students throughout their lives.