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General Standards for Courses Accepted for Area D
Courses approved for Area D must:
1. contain a significant commitment to and provide a breadth of
coverage within the specific social or behavioral science
discipline, providing a general overview of the area as
reflected in required readings, lectures, and assignments in the
course;
2. contain an introduction to independent learning through an
assigned library research component related to the discipline
under study, which should include a short written assignment(s)
designed to introduce students to the literature in the specific
discipline under study and the notion that work completed should
be original; and
3. require completion of English 110 or concurrent enrollment in
the course.
Specific Student Learning Outcomes for Area D Courses
(Findings of Roundtable Discussion for GE Area D and Area D on
2/26, 2002)
Upon completion of the specific Area D requirement, the student
will be able to demonstrate general knowledge in the following
areas:
| Goal 1:
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Understand the basic terms and
perspectives, whether quantitative or qualitative, in
the area of study (Anthropology, Economics, Political
Science, Psychology, and Sociology).
|
| Objective 1: |
Demonstrate general knowledge obtained
from the specific discipline in the social sciences.
|
| Objective 2: |
Explain the general
perspective taken by the specific social science
studied. |
| Goal 2:
|
Know the basic concepts and theories of the studied social
science.
|
| Objective 1: |
Demonstrate knowledge of general terms
and concepts that characterize the specific discipline
being studied.
|
| Objective 2: |
Demonstrate knowledge of
general sub-areas with the discipline being studied.
|
| Objective 3: |
Describe the perspective
from which the social science issues are investigated. |
| Goal 3:
|
Understand the method applied within the discipline to make
sense of the world in which we live.
|
| Objective 1: |
Demonstrate an understanding of the
social science studied in terms of the information that
can be understood (American economics, culture,
politics, or social phenomena and trends).
|
| Objective 2: |
Demonstrate how the
specific social science allows us to understand
differences in a comparative perspective.
|
| Objective 3: |
Demonstrate how the
specific social science allows us to understand
individual and/or group behaviors.
|
| Objective 4: |
Demonstrate how the
specific social science allows us to understand
diversity issues. |
Modification of Area D Course Standards
To respond properly to the changing needs of the University, the
Area D Committee will periodically review the criteria for Area
D courses and make changes where appropriate. Such reviews will
be based on the input derived from an annual group discussion of
the instructors of Area D courses. The discussion, to be hosted
by the TLC, will take place in the Spring Quarter of each year.
The discussion group will provide an opportunity for instructors
to better align course content with the Area D objectives.
Approval Process for Area D Courses
Each of the programs responsible for course offerings in Area D
(Economics, Political Science, Psychology, and
Sociology-Anthropology) will designate which courses they will
offer for Area D credit, subject to the standards described
above. Programs have primary responsibility for ensuring that
their courses adhere to the guidelines. Syllabi for Area D
courses will be provided to the Area D committee, but full
review will occur only when requested by a majority vote of the
Area D committee.
Each of the designated Area D Programs may specify any number of
Area D courses that will satisfy the requirement, subject to the
standards above and below.
Courses from programs other than designated Area D programs
(defined above) may be approved by the Area D Committee after a
full review of those courses. Decisions concerning the
acceptance of these courses will be based upon:
1. adherence to the course standards as described above; and
2. programmatic concerns, including student demand and the
impact upon courses already approved for Area D; and
3. approval by one of the Area D programs that the course meets
the criteria within the discipline.
Course Scheduling
To ensure the quality and integrity of Area D courses, an
enrollment ceiling of 50 students will be imposed on each
class so as to better enable faculty members to design and offer
courses that fully meet the prescribed Area D standards, or the
instructor must be awarded twice the normal WTU if the course is
to be offered with 100 students. An annual review of the
configuration of course offerings and the number of sections
will be undertaken to assure the integrity of Area D offerings
and student access. Courses offered by non-responsible programs
will have limits established for the number of offerings per
year, set at the time of approval and subject to annual review.
Specific time blocks will be determined on a quarter-by-quarter
basis, with the objective of making Area D courses available to
students in a variety of time blocks to allow students with
various scheduling needs to take these courses. Within these
broad guidelines, courses will be scheduled to be compatible
with instructor and departmental interests, with each program
offering courses in time blocks that appeal to differing student
scheduling needs.
Failure to comply with the standards and review processes will
result in withdrawal of Area D approval.
Approved this date, April 14, 2003 by the Chairs of the
responsible programs.
Jess F.
Deegan II
Chair of GE Area D Committee
Chair/Professor of Psychology
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Margaret
Malixi
Chair/Professor of Economics |
J. Daniel
McMillin
Chair of Sociology/Anthropology
Professor of Sociology |
C. Kaye
Bragg
Chair/Associate Professor of
Political Science |
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