Steering Committee Recommendations for Change

(Excerpt from the final report of the Steering Committee for Studying General Education at CMU.)

Download the Steering Committee Recommendations - Final Report (516K PDF)

Choose from the list below to view the recommendations online:

• Recommendation for Changes - 1
• Recommendations for Changes - 2 & 3
• Recommendation for Changes - 4

Change Recommendations 2 and 3:

(2) Strengthen the Competency Requirements and (3) Revise the University Program
The Steering Committee presents two models for revising the general education curriculum.  Both models replace the WAUP with a series of writing-intensive courses, add options for quantitative literacy, and recommend some change to the UP.  The basics of each model are presented here; consult the final report [download .pdf] for additional details and discussion of the rationale for each model.

Model A
Competency Requirements:  12 hours
*Students may "test-out" of these three competencies.  Same alternatives for satisfying ENG 101 as currently exist.

• Writing (6 hours):  ENG 101*, ENG 201
  
• Speech* (3 hours):  SDA 101 (or other currently-accepted equivalents) 
  
• Quantitative* (3 hours): Any MTH or STA course numbered 105 or above, or a new Quantitative Literacy course.

University Program:  30 hours         
All courses currently in Groups I, II, and III would remain in the U.P.

• Humanities (9 hours):  Human Events and Ideas (3), The Arts (3), Additional course from either subgroup (3)
• Natural Sciences (9 hours):  At least one course must require quantitative competency as a prerequisite. A lab experience is required.
• Social Sciences (9 hours):  Behavioral Science (3), Social Structures (3), Additional course from either subgroup (3)
• Elective (3 credits)

Additional Writing Component  
In addition to the writing competency, students must take 3 courses (9 hrs) designated as writing intensive.  A minimum of two of these courses must be in the UP.  The third course may be any designated writing intensive class.  

Global Culture, Racism and Cultural Diversity Components  
Students must take one course (3 hrs) designated as a study in a culture substantially different than one's own, or a global studies course, or a foreign language course, or a sign language course, or study abroad.  This course may or may not be in the University Program. In addition, it may be a course in the major or minor.
Students must take one course (3 hrs) designated as a Study in Racism or Cultural Diversity.  This course may or may not be in the University Program.  In addition, it may be a course in the major or minor.

Model B
Competency Requirements:  15 hrs
*Students may "test-out" of these three competencies.

• Written English (6 hours) ENG 101 or 103*, ENG 201
  
• Oral English (3 hours) SDA 101*   (or other currently-accepted equivalents) 
  
• Mathematics: (3 hours) MTH 105*  (or other currently-accepted equivalents) 
  
• Quantitative Literacy: (3 hours) New Course* 

University Program Requirements:  27 hours           
Definitions and learning outcomes of the groups should be re-examined.
Students must take at least two courses from each of the university program content-area groups (one from each subgroup):

1. Humanities and Arts (6 hours, one in each subgroup)

2. Natural Sciences, including a lab experience (6 hours, one in each subgroup)

3. Social Sciences (6 hours, one in each subgroup)

4. Perspectives (6 hours, one in each subgroup

A:  Global Studies and Foreign Languages
B:  Race and Gender Studies 

5. Elective (3 hours) to reach 27 hour total.  May be in any of the 4 groups.

Within the University Program, students must take designated “intensive” courses to develop competencies along with other intellectual and practical skills.  These courses may be in any of the 4 groups. (Definitions and criteria for “intensive” courses are outlined in the final report. Specifically, students must take:

• Writing-intensive courses:  3  (9 hours)
• Critical-thinking-intensive course:  1 (3 hours)
  
• Quantitative-literacy-intensive course:  1 (3 hours)
  
• Information-literacy-intensive course:  1 (3 hours)
  
• Citizenship-and-public-ethics-intensive course:  1 (3 hours)

View recommendation 1, 2 and 3, 4