1. Course Certification Process General Education Board 2013-2014

2. Background Commitment to General Education – Undergraduate education at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign includes General Education as an essential complement to major fields of study. General Education uses the theories, concepts, and methods of the disciplines to broaden students' understanding and appreciation of human thought and achievement - and to provide a richer context within which to understand their own specialized fields. The campus General Education component is intended to help students understand and appreciate diverse areas of scholarship, to develop and enhance a wide range of intellectual abilities, and to strengthen students' abilities to develop and communicate ideas effectively and responsibly. About 600 courses are certified for GenEd Re-certification is required every 10 years

3. Governing Documents Senate Committee on Educational Policy – Proposal for Revision of Undergraduate General Education Requirements, 1989 (EP.89.09) General Education Board (GEB) – Guidelines for General Education Courses, Revised 2002 (GB.91.02)

4. GenEd Requirements CURRENT GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS Composition I, 1 or 2 course sequence from list of 6 Advanced Composition II, 1 course from list of 150 courses Cultural Studies, Non-Western, 1 course from list of 250 courses Cultural Studies, Western, 1 course from list of 150 courses Humanities & the Arts, 6 hours from list of 375 courses Language Reqt, 3-level course (campus) or 4-level course (LAS, BUS) Natural Sciences and Technology, 6 hours from list of 80 courses Quantitative Reasoning, 2 courses from list of 80 courses Social and Behavioral Science, 6 hours from list of 150 courses

5. How do I judge a course? First, it truly helps to read the two governing documents. They provide details and nuances beyond the summary presented here. Criteria on following slides – Common requirements for ALL courses – Specific requirements for each GenEd category GEB approval process – Courses are assigned to three reviewers in advance of regular business meeting – Lead reviewer provides a brief summary and recommendation for full Board consideration during the regular business meeting – Concerns can be addressed through requests for additional information – If approved, courses are available for General Education credit in the following term

6. Common Requirements ALL GenEd courses… – Emphasize Communication – Introductory and broad treatment of discipline – Minimum 3 credit hour – Taught by instructor with rank of at least Asst Prof (or TAs under them) – Appropriate setting e.g. not mass lecture without discussion

7. Advanced Composition Criteria: Either a) intensive writing course; b) other GenEd courses with substantial writing component; c) courses within a discipline designed to enhance writing within that discipline Substantial original composition (typ. 20-30 pages) Multiple drafts and review Appropriately small sections Substantial part of grade comes from writing

8. Quantitative Reasoning Criteria: Any math on calculus or requiring calculus as prerequisite, or course on logic Math courses above those used as prep for College Entrance Testing Also Computer science, probability, statistics, philosophy with focus on logic

9. Natural Science or Technology Criteria: Course should be introductory in nature Scientific methodology Applications of the sciences to the solution of human and societal problems Active student participation, e.g. collecting data Class size small enough to allow active participation

10. Humanities and the Arts Criteria: Foster skills in communication; discriminating judgment and the appreciation of ideas; an understanding of human cultural traditions; an appreciation of cultural, ethnic and national diversity; conceptions of literary, artistic, philosophical or historical criticism; and reflection on goals for human life. Should include study of texts and authors This category includes courses on the Arts

11. Social and Behavioral Sciences Criteria: Study social groups, institutions, and organizations, and their context Emphasize persons in relation to others and their environment Formulate basic questions and inquiry about the nature of social life through both interpretive and systematic analyses Address a broad area, chronologically, geographically or culturally Reflect concern both for methodological and substantive issues.

12. Cultural Studies Criteria: Concerned broadly with culture understood as the interaction among the intellectual, artistic, political, economic, and social aspects of a society of other cultural grouping Treat topics and issues that can be expected to promote a deepened understanding of the culture(s) focused upon Provide either (i) a broad description and analysis of the interaction of intellectual, artistic, political, economic, social, and other aspects of a societys cultural life; (ii) an intensive investigation of he cultural life of a society or group in a particular time and place; (iii) a focused investigation of particular aspects of a societys or groups culture (e.g., its art, literature and music); or (iv) a comparative investigation of cultural systems and the development of constructs for cross- cultural sensitivity and analysis. WESTERN: evolved from the confluence of Greek and Roman philosophical thought and European religious traditions NON-WESTERN: originating outside the Western cultural tradition or outside the dominant cultural tradition of the United States.