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S93-2

At its meeting of March 1, 1993, the Academic Senate approved the following Policy Recommendation presented by Kay Schwartz for the Curriculum and Research Committee.

GENERAL EDUCATION

Resolved, That S91-6 be modified to read as follows:

I. The San José State General Education Program shall consist of

A. Core General Education:

39-units containing basic elements of General Education that may be satisfied by Core, Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC), or complete lower division certification by a community college or CSU.

1. Basic Skills (12 units) a. Written Communication 1A (3 units) b. Oral Communication (3 units) c. Critical Thinking (3 units) d. Mathematical Concepts (3 units) Basic Concepts or Applications 2. Science (9 units) a. Life Science (3 units) b. Physical Science (3 units) c. Specialized or Integrative Science (3 units) 3. Social Sciences (9 units) a. Human Behavior (3 units) b. Comparative Systems (3 units) c. Social Issues (3 units) 4. Humanities and the Arts (9 units) a. Arts (3 units) b. Letters (3 units) c. Written Communication 1B (3 units)

B. Advanced General Education: 12 units of unique upper-division SJSU coursework dealing with writing skills and interdisciplinary societal-level issues which must be completed at SJSU by all students. 1. Areas a. Written Communication II: junior level writing courses focusing on advanced composition (3 units). b. Self and Society: topics dealing with the individual in relation to a larger group (3 units). c. Culture and Civilization: topics exploring an expression of human ideas over time (3 units). d. Earth and the Environment: issues concerning life forms and the physical universe (3 units). Within or independently of the above areas, students must complete one course in each of the following areas: e. Human Understanding and Development: issues of human development across the life span. f. Cultural Pluralism: topics focusing on cultural diversity. 2. General Criteria a. Courses should be multicultural and integrative wherever possible. b. All courses shall require significant writing that could be used in Outcomes Assessment and shall have multiple assignments totaling at least 3,000 words in each course. c. Prerequisites for enrollment shall be upper-division standing and either a passing score on the writing proficiency screening exam or a passing grade in the lower-division course alternative. d. Written Communication II shall require progressive, sequential assignments totaling at least 8,000 words and shall be taught by instructors with demonstrated writing experience.

II. Exceptions 1. High-unit majors: Departments and schools will meet individually with the Board of General Studies to discuss appropriate modification of requirements to minimize possible adverse effects of increased units. 2. Double-count: Approved G.E. courses offered in a student's major department may count for Core G.E. Skills and U.S. Institutions requirement (no limit), Core Science/Humanities and Arts/Social Science (one course limit) and Advanced G.E. (one course plus Written Communication II limit). 3. Interdisciplinary programs a. Programs that are team-taught with 6 or more units shall receive interim credit for all units in currently approved areas of the Core. Graduation requirement in U.S. Institutions may be satisfied within these units if both Core and Institutions criteria are met and course focuses on cultural pluralism. b. Permanent approval of distribution of units will be discussed with the Board of General Studies after criteria are finalized.

III. U.S. History, Constitution and American Ideals May be fulfilled at either SJSU or at the originating institution in a number of different ways: a. Six units of certified SJSU Coursework outside of General Education. b. Completion of a certified SJSU interdisciplinary General Education pro- gram. c. Completion of certified community college or CSU coursework. d. Passage of standardized waiver exams. IV. This General Education Program will be reviewed in the academic year 1995/96. V. Those portions of UP S85-7 entitled "Undergraduate General Education Requirements" and "General Provisions" are superseded; the portion entitled "Administrative Structure" (as amended) remains in effect.

 

ACTION BY THE UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT: