An overview of new General Education framework for RIT undergraduate students

Agenda Why the change? What changed? Requirements of the new GE Curriculum Framework

“The only education that prepares us for change is a liberal education “The only education that prepares us for change is a liberal education. In periods of change, narrow specialization condemns us to inflexibility – precisely what we do not need. We need the flexible intellectual tools to be problem solvers, to be able to continue learning over time.” -David Kearns, former CEO of Xerox Corporation, 2002

Guiding Principles Supporting programs/majors Provide a progression of courses that are integrated with major fields of study Provide courses that support the basic requirements for students in the majors Implementation  Be clear and concise to ease processes for: Scheduling, Auditing, Advising Offer students courses and programs that support their major field of study and other interests Provide students choices in how to fulfill their requirements Be clear and easy to understand for students, faculty, and staff Allow for easy adaptation for future reform Other Be intellectually stimulating for faculty and students Be adaptive to changing curricula and a changing world Support innovation, creativity, scholarship, and entrepreneurship

How the New Framework Differs University-wide engagement Not disciplinary, but outcome driven Opportunities for integrated and inter-/trans-disciplinary experiences Intentional scaffolding Writing intensive

NYSED Requirements Students in all BS degree programs are required to complete at least 60 semester credit hours of general education. Students in BFA programs are required to take 30 semester credit hours of general education.

General Education Framework BS Degree Immersion Foundation Perspectives Global Science Principles Critical Reading & Writing 1 Social Minor 4 (optional) Science Inquiry First Year Writing 2 Ethical Math-ematical Minor 5 (optional) FY Elective Artistic 3 Math-ematical Plus + Elective General Education courses to bring total to 60 credits

General Education – BFA Degree Immersion Foundation Perspectives Critical Reading & Writing 1 Global Minor 4 (optional) Social First Year Writing 2 Ethical Minor 5 (optional) FY Elective 3 Artistic Total should be a minimum of 30 credits

Critical Reading & Writing General Education – AS Degrees Foundation Perspectives Global Critical Reading & Writing Social First Year Writing Science Principles Ethical FY Elective Artistic Additional program determined or elective courses to bring total to 30 credits

Critical Reading & Writing General Education – AAS Degrees Foundation Perspectives Global Critical Reading & Writing Social Science Principles First Year Writing Ethical FY Elective Artistic Additional program determined or elective courses to bring total to 25 credits

RIT’s GE Framework General Education Framework BS BFA AAS AS Note: There may be some flexibility depending on whether student takes 3 or 4 credit courses in some of the Perspectives categories; may change number of GE electives General Education Framework BS BFA AAS AS Foundation Foundational Elective First-Year Writing 6 Perspectives Categories 24 12 15 Immersion Requirement Three additional, related courses 9 General Education Electives 21 3 MINIMUM TOTAL 60 30

Foundation Two courses in the first year that introduce students to intellectual life of the university, and prepare them for future coursework and career preparation: First-Year Writing Should be taken in their first year First-Year Elective Foundational Elective Note: The General Education Committee is currently revisiting these three credits. Currently students may use these 3 credits as ANY general education course.

Perspectives Introduce students to fundamentals of liberal arts and sciences Students must choose one course from each of the 7 categories: Artistic Social Global Ethical Scientific Principles Natural Science Inquiry Mathematical (2 courses)

Artistic Will enable students to interpret and evaluate artistic expression considering cultural context in which it was created Examples of courses: Literary and Cultural Studies Intro to Visual Arts Intro to Music Intro to Film Intro to Western Art & Architecture English and World literature courses

Social Focus on the analysis of human behavior within the context of social systems and institutions Examples of courses: Microeconomics Macroeconomics Themes in US History American Politics Intro to Psychology Abnormal Psychology Foundations of Sociology Intro to Criminal Justice Systems

Global Will enable students to examine connections among the world’s populations Examples of courses: Microeconomics Macroeconomics Cultural Anthropology Literary and Cultural Studies History of Modern East Asia 20th Century Europe Intro to International Relations Foreign Languages

Ethical Focus on ethical aspects of decision-making and argument, whether at the individual, group, national or international level Examples of courses: Intro to Philosophy Critical Thinking Professional Ethics Intro to Environmental Studies Science, Technology & Values

Scientific Principles Provide an opportunity to apply methods of scientific inquiry in the natural or social sciences Examples of courses: Intro to Psychology Developmental Psychology Human Biology General Biology College Physics Solar System Astronomy General & Analytical Chemistry Concepts of Environmental Science

Natural Scientific Inquiry Courses in this category focus on the basic principles and concepts of one of the natural sciences. Students apply methods of scientific inquiry and problem solving in a lab or field experience. Courses include Natural science courses that include a lab component College and University Physics (combining lecture and lab) General & Analytical Chemistry Human Biology General Biology

Mathematical Courses in this category focus on identifying and understanding the role that mathematics plays in the world. Students comprehend and evaluate mathematical or statistical information and perform college level mathematical operations on quantitative data Students must take two from this Perspective category Courses include All Math Courses at the 100-level and above in the semester numbering system Intro to Computational Problem Solving Introduction to Statistics

Perspectives Important Points: Courses may be listed in more than one category A student may only use a single course to fulfill a single category Students must complete one writing intensive course in their general education curricula

Immersion Three courses linked by theme or discipline (courses may be across departments and/or across Colleges) Supports deeper learning within a focus area Immersions ideally lead to minor with two additional courses Programs cannot require students to complete specific immersion as part of their requirements Examples: Foreign Languages Communications Text & Code Sociology Philosophy Mathematics Astronomy

Gen Ed Electives Remaining GE elective credits may be specified by programs in order for students to fulfill supporting requirements (e.g. mathematics, science, ethics, etc.) Ideally, some of these credits should be free GE electives that can be chosen by students Credits in the Perspectives category that exceed minimum requirement will be applied toward elective credits

Questions? Contacts: John Smithgall Assistant Dean College of Liberal Arts jssgla@RIT.edu Elizabeth Hane Faculty Associate to the Provost for General Education College of Science enhsbi@rit.edu