General Education:Area E Legislation

By Harold Marcuse, historyCUAPP chair

1. What is the proposal before us?(with overview of GE program)

2. Why do we need this change?3. Will it create any problems?

(Data analysis)

Current GE: General + SpecialGeneral Area Requirements (B.A.: 13 courses C-G)

AREA A - English Reading & Composition (2)AREA B - Foreign Language (AP/3yrs; 3rd q., exam)AREA C - Science, Mathematics, & Technology (3)AREA D - Social Science (3)AREA E - Civilization and Thought (3: 2 WCiv +1 World)AREA F - Arts (2)AREA G - Literature (2)

Special Subject Requirements:1. QNT: Quantitative Relationships Requirement (1) #2. WRT: Writing Requirement (6 courses) *3. ETH: Ethnicity Requirement (1) &4. NWC: Non-Western Culture Requirement (1) +

Proposed Change to Area EGeneral Area Requirements (B.A.)

AREA A - English Reading & Composition (2)AREA B - Foreign Language (AP/3yrs; 3rd q., exam)AREA C - Science, Mathematics, & Technology (3)AREA D - Social Science (3)

AREA E - Culture and Thought (3: 2 WCiv + 1 World)AREA F - Arts (2)AREA G - Literature (2)

Special Subject Requirements:1. QNT: Quantitative Relationships Requirement (1) #2. WRT: Writing Requirement (6 courses) *3. ETH: Ethnicity Requirement (1) &4. NWC: Non-Western World Cultures (1) +5. EurT: European Traditions (1) ~

GE: Subject Areas

Engl. Read

&

Cmp.

Area A

For. Lang.

Area B

Science,Math &

Technol.

Area C

Social Science

Area D

Civilizat. &

Thought

Area E

ArtsArea

F

Lit.Area

G

The subdivision disappears, that's all.

GE: Subject Areas

Engl. Read

&

Cmp.

Area A

For. Lang.

Area B

Science,Math &

Technol.

Area C

Social Science

Area D

Culture &

Thought

Area E

ArtsArea

F

Lit.Area

G

The subdivision disappears, that's all.

Text of Proposed Change• Area E: Culture and Thought

Objective: To provide a perspective on world cultures through the study of human history and thought. [change: "civilization" to "cultures"]

• European TraditionsAt least one course that focuses on European culture or the cultures in the European tradition.

• World CulturesAt least one course that focuses on a culture outside of the European tradition.

Why do we need this?3 Problems (name, students, admin.):• Bias towards "Western" (2:1, civ. vs. culture)• "Lock in" effect: students take one, must take

the second in the same sequence– They may have a bad experience

(heavy use of teaching associates in E1 courses)– Extremely limited time slots available– no "buy in" effect (when students are allowed to

choose the course themselves)• Administrative reason: Distortion of GE program:

specific content requirement as a disciplinary category (see text in main catalog for transfers)

Why not?Only argument we've heard: Students won't get

"depth" of sustained treatment1. They don't get it anyway since order is usually

random (AB, BC vs. AC, CA, CB, BA)2. not even taken in successive quarters3. usually taught by different instructors with

widely varying approaches (little continuity)4. They can be required to get depth by making

the "A" course a prerequisite of the "B" course5. They can also get depth by two approaches to

same time period (e.g.: Hist 4A and Phil 4A)6. Departments can consider developing/

modifying sequences to 2-quarter sequences

Implication: Enrollment shift?

Will there be a massive movement of students out of E-1 courses into E-2 courses?

• 3 courses total still required• Short answer: no, there can't be, because

realistically no more than 5% (4-11% at 100% capacity) could possibly shift from E1 to E2

• Most likely scenario: students will "shop around" more in E1. Statistically, students moving out of a sequence will be balanced by students moving in (over time: more into better-rated courses)

Enrollment capacity data

actual enrollments & room size F03+W04+S04

E1 E2 top 19

9128 total seats 4395 total 8091 enrolled=89% -4050=92% full

345 can shift (4%) (or total E2: 913=11%)

Why now?• Main reason: Benefit to students

• Consultation to date:– GE Task Force Minority report, May 2001– Senate Forum on GE, Oct. 2001– 2nd round of comments, Feb. 2002– 2nd GE Task Force report, May 2002– GE work group discussion document, Oct. 2003

(detailed responses from 8 HFA depts, also explicitly on this issue; discussed in depth in 2 more)

• Need for more departmental consultations?– Each department offering GE courses will be

consulted this summer & fall

E1, 15 courses: n=8500

HIST 2+442%

ARTHI 627%

RGST 8014%

PHIL 2010%

C LIT 307% HIST 2+4 3650

ARTHI 6 2295

RGST 80 1172

PHIL 20 813

C LIT 30 571

total 8501

E2, top 19: n=4000

PHIL 415%

PHIL 315%

PHIL 111%

RG ST 1+3+5

8%

BL ST 78%

ENV S 37%

PHIL 100A6%

BL ST 56%

RG ST 126%

HIST 85%

PHIL 100DBC

5%

POL S 189+188

4%

CLASS 100B+A

4%

PHIL 4 605PHIL 3 603PHIL 1 446RG ST 1+3+5 332BL ST 7 316ENV S 3 262RG ST 12 236PHIL 100A 233BL ST 5 232HIST 8 211PHIL 100DBC 200POL S 189+188 176CLASS 100B+A 142 3995

2nd chart: grouped by dept.

PHIL

100ADCB

11%

RG ST

1,3,5,12

14%

PHIL 4,3,1

41%

BL ST 7, 5

14%

ENV S 3

7%

CLASS

100B+A

4%HIST 8

5%

POL S

189+188

4%

new E, top 37: n=12,500

HIST 4ABC27%

ARTHI 6ABC18%

RG ST 80ABC9%

PHIL 20ABC7%

PHIL 45%

PHIL 35%

C LIT 30ABC5%

RG ST 1+3+53%

PHIL 100A2%

RG ST 122%

CLASS 100B+A1%

POL S 189+1881%

PHIL 100DBC2%

HIST 82%

ENV S 32%

HIST 2ABC3%

BL ST 73%

PHIL 14%

BL ST 52%

Amended wording for Proposed Change

• Area E: Culture and ThoughtObjective: To provide a perspective on world cultures through the study of human history and thought. [no change]

• European TraditionsAt least one course that focuses provides a broad historical and intellectual perspective on European culture or the cultures in the European tradition.