GENERAL EDUCATION PROPOSAL FINAL DRAFT Summary of Requirements Natural Science 8 hours Social Science 6 hours Foreign Language 6 hours Mathematics 4 hours Arts 4 hours Writing 6 hours Humanities 16 hours Physical Education 2 hours Bibliography Proficiency ----------- Total 55 hours General Note: The Academic Policies Committee will be responsible for reviewing courses suitable for general education as well as making recommendations concerning further specification or modification of the general curriculum. Natural Science (8 hours) --------------- Students must take one course from each of the following categories: 1. A 5-hour course from Biology, Chemistry, or Physics. This course must include a laboratory, must treat the historical development of the science, must explicitly employ and discuss the scientific method, must be interdisciplinary where feasible, and may not be the first course in a sequence taken by majors. An 8-hour sequence with laboratory from Chemistry, Physics, or Biology may substitute for the 5-hour course. 2. A 3-hour course from Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Atmospheric Sciences, Environmental Studies, or Special Topics Courses. These courses need not include a laboratory but must be interdisciplinary in content. Upper-level science courses may be interdisciplinary enough in scope for science majors to satisfy this requirement. Rationale: In general education students need both breadth and depth in their science experience. The first course provides depth through the content and methodology of a single science. Laboratory experience is essential to understand the method of science. Choices are limited to Biology, Chemistry, and Physics due to their fundamental character. The second course is designed to provide breadth and perspective. Courses from Atmospheric Sciences and Environmental Studies are especially suitable for this 3-hour requirement because they are interdisciplinary in nature. Courses may be developed in Biology, Chemistry, or Physics that meet the goals of the 3-hour requirement. Social Science (6 hours) -------------- Six hours are required in the social sciences. Two courses must be chosen from two different disciplines to include Economics, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, or interdisciplinary courses developed from these. Courses appropriate will emphasize the cultural and historical context of the discipline, and, where feasible, its interdisciplinary origins. No more than one course required as a major or cognate course in any major will count toward the six hours. Rationale: All students should be aware of the social sciences as ways of understanding distinct from those of other fields of inquiry. Because this is a general education requirement, no more than one of these courses may be dictated by major and cognate requirements. Foreign Language (6 hours) ---------------- Students must complete a two-course sequence of 6 hours in a single foreign or classical language combining intensive conversational study of the language (except in the case of classical languages) with the study of its associated culture. Students whose scores on a placement exam show them to be at the intermediate level may satisfy this requirement by taking one intermediate level course. Rationale: Language study expands intellectual horizons and provides the basis for communication in a pluralistic world. Although classical languages do not emphasize conversational skills, they provide important insights into the relations among languages, cultures, and forms of thought. Mathematics (4 hours) ----------- A student must complete a 4-hour course at the level of college algebra emphasizing word problems. Completion of 3 hours of mathematics at a higher level satisfies this requirement. Rationale: The study of mathematics is a traditional component of liberal education. College-level algebra is a reasonable minimum for a high quality liberal arts institution. Word problem skills are helpful and show the student the practical role of mathematics in many areas. Arts (4 hours) ---- A student must take a 4-hour interdisciplinary course with studio entitled "Art as a Way of Knowing." This is not an art appreciation course or an introduction to any of the particular arts, but stresses the human significance of art, its social role, its foundation in aesthetics, and its importance as a way of interpreting reality. Rationale: Artistic creation and aesthetic experience represent a distinct way of knowing which draws upon intuition, feeling, sensation, and thought. This course may incorporate elements of arts history and appreciation; psychology; study of materials, media, and form; experiment and participation; analysis of popular forms; and attendance at performances, exhibits, etc. Writing (6 hours) ------- The student meets the writing requirement through one of the following: 1. a high pass on a writing competency exam administered by the Department of Literature and a three-hour advanced writing course; 2. two 3-hour college level courses in writing and a pass on the writing competency exam. Rationale: Most students need the experience of two courses in writing to reach the level of competence expected of college students. Some students with superior preparation will only need one course at an advanced level to perfect their skills. The examination can serve both for placement and for exit competency. Humanities (16 hours) ---------- A four-course sequence of 16 hours covering the ancient world, the rise of European civilization, the modern world, and the future and the individual is required of all students. Rationale: An interdisciplinary course sequence from the humanistic disciplines following the historical development of civilization has traditonally been at the center of liberal education at UNCA. The faculty approves of the Humanities sequence in its current form as the foundation for general education at UNCA. It is assumed that the courses will continue to evolve in response to faculty and student concerns and needs. Physical Education (2 hours) ------------------ The physical education requirement is a sequence of two 1-hour courses. The first course emphasizes concepts concerning health, fitness, emotion, and self-concept. It also assesses individual health risk and fitness levels. The second course is an activities course which emphasizes basic physical development. Because of the laboratory nature of this second course, it meets for two hours per week for the entire semester. The second course will be graded on a pass/fail basis. Rationale: Development of the physical self is essential to a productive and fulfilling life, but this development must have a theoretical foundation. Hence the requirement includes one theoretical course and one activities course. The activities course may include more than one activity. Bibliography ____________ All students must pass a competency examination administered by the library prior to taking the first Humanities course. Students who do not pass this examination by this time must take a 1-hour Bibliography course concurrently with the first Humanities course. Rationale: The ability to use the library must be developed early to be of use to students. The Bibliography course will cover in more detail the topics on the competency examination. In order to encourage students to review their skills and exempt the course, the library will make study materials on the topics of the examination available to students.