1. An overview of new General Education framework for RIT undergraduate students

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

3. “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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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.

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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.

13. 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)

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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

24. Questions? Contacts: John Smithgall Assistant Dean
College of Liberal Arts
Elizabeth Hane
Faculty Associate to the Provost for General Education
College of Science