Recommended Reform of the General Education Program at WPUNJ

10/2/00

2. All GE courses will incorporate information technology as appropriate for the discipline.

3. All GE courses will include writing assignments which are critiqued and returned to the students in a timely manner so students can learn from the process.

4. All GE courses will integrate race, ethnicity, gender, and other diversity issues as appropriate for the discipline.

5. All GE courses will integrate an international or global perspective as appropriate for the discipline.

6. All GE courses should integrate issues of citizenship and meaningful civil participation as appropriate for the discipline.

7. Departments will develop honors courses in General Education in order to nurture and challenge high achieving students.

8. The General Education Committee supports the principle of interdisciplinary education through clustered courses or other innovative pedagogical models such as team-taught interdisciplinary courses. Students will be encouraged to complete at least one alternative learning experience (3-9 credits) while enrolled as an undergraduate at WPUNJ. Alternative learning experiences may include any combination of GE courses and should be taught around one of four central themes: (a) globalization; (b) diversity and tolerance; (c) technology and society; and (d) citizenship and civil participation. Note: Sections of each GE course in individual disciplines will still be offered separately.

Outline of GE Program Requirements and Student Curriculum Plan

The General Education program will consist of three tiers, or points at which students are required to have completed a specific number of GE credits. The tier approach is designed to ensure that students will complete the GE program in a timely manner. Departments/programs will develop a suggested sequence of courses that best fits the needs of their majors. A student who reaches the end of a tier without completing the required number of GE credits must meet with his/her academic advisor in order to schedule the missing GE course(s).

Students will be required to complete the following credits in GE:

Writing Effective Prose 3 credits

Introduction to Literature 3 credits

Western and World Civilization 6 credits

Introduction to Philosophy 3 credits

Language requirement 6 credits

Social Sciences 9 credits

Math 3-4 credits

Science 8 credits

Arts and Communication 6 credits

Racism and Sexism course 3 credits

Fitness/Health course 3 credits

GE electives 6 credits

TOTAL 59-60 credits

First Tier:

By the completion of 32 credits towards graduation, students must complete a minimum of 18 GE credits.

Second Tier:

By the completion of 64 credits towards graduation, students must complete a minimum of 36 GE credits.

Third Tier:

By the completion of 96 credits towards graduation, students must complete a minimum of 54 GE credits.

Graduation:

By the completion of 128 credits, a total of 59-60 credits of GE must be completed.

Links Between Major Curricula and the General Education Program

All students are required to complete a capstone course in their major program. Capstone courses should build upon skills and knowledge attained in both major and General Education coursework. The Senate document on Capstone Courses (May, 1998) includes seminars, independent study/research, internships, field studies, and other models as defined by departments and programs as appropriate capstone experiences.

It is recommended that all students be required to complete a portfolio that will include original artifacts from several major courses (including the capstone course) as well as several GE courses.

The non-western requirement is an integral part of a student's experience at WPUNJ and therefore, should be maintained in the existing undergraduate program.

The freshmen seminar requirement, an important orientation to both the GE program and the major coursework, should be maintained in the existing undergraduate program.