overtly critical

Syllabus:  "...students will be expected to demonstrate the critical thinking and problem-solving skills expected of students in an introductory course at [university]."

Administrator:  "You can't use the phrase critical thinking skills in your syllabus if you don't define what critical thinking is!"

Okay, fair point.  A first stab at it:

In the physical sciences, students demonstrate critical thinking skills by approaching problems and their possible solutions by employing the steps in the scientific method.

Suggestions?  (Aside from the awkward English...)