A Student’s
Guide to the New General Education System
In May, 2002 the University Senate adopted a new system of
University General Education Guidelines that will go into effect with students
entering the
The Purpose of
a General Education Curriculum
Although the specific university general education requirements have changed, the purposes of the university general education requirements remain the same. General education courses are not directed primarily at mastering a body of information or developing professional expertise. Any system of general education should provide all university undergraduate students with the foundations for learning throughout their years at the university and their entire lives; enable them to understand, appreciate, and enjoy both the past and present diversity of human achievement and perspectives at the levels of individuals, groups, and cultures and in relation to the natural world; prepare them for responsible citizenship; and give them the flexibility and skills necessary to face the changes and challenges of the future.
Content Area 1 Arts and Humanities:
Six credits required; must be taken in two different academic units.
Content Area 2 Social Science:
Six credits required; must be taken in two different academic units.
Content Area 3 Science and Technology:
Six or seven credits required; must be taken in two different academic units. One of the courses must be a “hands-on” laboratory course of four or more credits that teaches fundamental principles of the physical or biological sciences. However, this laboratory requirement is waived for students who have passed a hands-on laboratory science course in the biological and/or physical sciences.
Content Area 4 Diversity and Multiculturalism: Six credits required; all six credits may be in the same academic unit. One of these courses must have an “International” designation. Courses in this category, and only this category, can also be approved for one of the other content areas. Students are allowed to “double-dip” one and only one Content Area 4 course, and use it to satisfy simultaneously part of the Content Area 1, 2 or 3 requirements.
Students will normally take eight courses to fulfill the content area requirements, but may take only seven courses if they “double-dip” a Content Area 4 course.
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Quantitative Competency: Two Quantitative (Q) courses are required. Advisors will assist students to determine their readiness for Q courses based on a combination of their SAT mathematics score and class performance. Students may be advised to take Math. 101 for no credit before taking a Q course.
Students will be able to seek advice and tutoring at the Q Learning Center.
Writing
Competency:
2. Additionally, all students must take two writing-intensive W courses, one of which must be a 200-level course approved for the student’s major. W courses may also satisfy other Content Area requirements. (Note: English 110 or 111 is a prerequisite to all writing-intensive courses.)
Students will be able to seek advice and tutoring at the W Learning Center.
Computer Technology Competency: Computer Technology Competency: Entering students will assess their basic computer skills (e.g. Computer Operation Basics; Presentation Software; Spreadsheets; Databases; Graphics and Multimedia; Internet - Web Basics) on modules found in WebCT. Using these learning modules students can assess and refine entry level computer skills as necessary by the end of the freshman year. Entry level skills will be used in later course work.
Students should complete these modules and assess their computer skills prior to the start of classes in August. Additionally the new Learning Center located in the Homer Babbidge Library will provide workshops on these computer competencies throughout the academic year.
Each major field of study will define its own exit standards in computer technology for its majors, and build opportunities for developing these skills into its curriculum. In many cases, these do not go beyond the basic requirements. The C designation for courses will no longer be used.
Information Literacy Competency:
Information literacy involves a general understanding of how information is created, disseminated and organized, and an ability to access and utilize information in your academic work. There are no entrance expectations, but basic research skills will be developed in Freshman English and FYE courses. Each major field of study will define its own exit standards in information literacy for its majors, and build opportunities for developing these skills into its curriculum.
Second Language: Three years of one language in High School or passing the 2nd semester of a second language at UConn. This requirement is currently under review as data are being collected on the second language proficiency of entering students and compared with those completing language coursework at the University.
University
General Education Requirements
vs.
School/College
Requirements.
The new system applies only to University General Education requirements, and does not affect the separate and independent internal degree requirements of the individual schools and colleges. The schools and colleges have been adjusting their own requirements in light of the new University General Education Requirements and students should consult with their advisors and the new catalog to review these changes.
It is important for students to be clear on the distinction
between university requirements and school/college requirements. For example, while all
The new general education system still allows “double-dipping” of courses that jointly satisfy university and school/college requirements. Your advisor can assist you in determining which courses will satisfy both sets of requirements.
The Period of
Transition
The new system will also apply to all existing students who change school or college, after it comes into effect. Thus, all ACES students who do not declare a major prior to the end of the Spring 05 semester will be required to meet the new General Education Requirements.
The new system of General
Education Requirements will take effect for students entering the
The vast majority of the courses included in the old general education requirements have been submitted and reapproved for use under the new system. Thus, students who have fulfilled the old requirements will have often also met the content area requirements of the new system, though additional courses could be required in the Social Sciences and Diversity and Multiculturalism content areas. A major difference between the two systems is the new competency requirements for each major field of study. However, these requirements are integrated into the requirements for each major and will not constitute additional coursework.
The Senate had
authorized the Deans of the Schools and Colleges to make substitutions to the
University General Education Requirements.
They are expected to exercise this authority with due regard to the
principles that underlie the new requirements and make an annual report of
these activities to GEOC. Because the
new requirements are the same for all schools and colleges, it is expected that
substitutions made by one Dean will be effective across all schools and
colleges.