University of North CarolinaCharlotte

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University of North Carolina-Charlotte

• Current enrollment 20,000 (undergrad 16,000 )
• Doctoral/Research intensive (12 doctoral
  programs)
• Current general education program initiated in
  Fall 2003
• Semester hours in general ed 34-37
• NOT a vertical model
• Associate Dean for General Education (COAS)
• http//www.gened.uncc.edu

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• Curriculum addresses FOUR areas of liberal
  education

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• I. Development of Fundamental Skills of Inquiry
• Basic college-level writing
• Use of information technology
• College-level mathematical and logical skills
• II. Inquiry in the Sciences
• Understanding of the methods of scientific
  inquiry
• III. Liberal Studies (LBST)
• Themes of Liberal Education
• IV. Communication Skills
• Specialized skills for disciplinary writing
  and oral presentations

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I. Development of Fundamental Skills of
Inquiry(9-12 semester hours)

• First year writing courses (ENGL 1101 and 1102 or
  1103)
• Goal- ability to write at college level and edit
• MATH ( 1 course) and choice of second course from
  MATH, STAT or deductive logic (PHIL)
• Basic information literacy (ENGL 1101 and 1103)

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II. Inquiry in the Sciences(11 semester hours)

• Two courses total (one with a laboratory) in Life
  Sciences and/or
• Physical Sciences (7-8 hrs.)
• Astronomy
• Physics (Non Majors- Sports Physics)
• Biology (Non Majors- General and
  Anatomy/Physiology)
• Chemistry (Non Majors- Chemistry in Todays
  Society)
• Psychology
• One course in Social Sciences (3-4 hrs.)
• Anthropology
• Geography
• Economics (Non Majors- Principles of
  Macroeconomics)
• Political Science
• Sociology
• Observation-----Syllabi state which core
  curriculum requirement
• each course satisfies

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III. Themes of Liberal Education for Private
and Public Life(12 semester hours)

• Four courses required (from 12 offered), one each
  in four areas
• 1. Arts (5)
• The Arts and Society- Dance, Film, Music
  Theater, Visual Arts
• Western Tradition (1)
• Western Culture and Historical Awareness
• 3. Global Understanding (1)
• Global and Intercultural Connections
• 4. Ethical Issues and Cultural Critique (5)
• Subjects include Issues in Personal and
  Professional Life, Science, Technology and
  Society, Literature and Culture, Citizenship

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The Arts and Societysample course themes (and
departments)

• LBST 1101--Dance (4 sections, 1 department)
• Similarities between folk and ethic dances around
  the world (DANC)
• LBST 1102--Film (9 sections, 6 departments)
• Issues of crime and justice in popular movies
  (CJUS)
• LBST 1103--Music (5 sections, 1 department)
• Western art music from middle ages to 20th
  century (MUSC)
• LBST 1104--Theatre ( 3 sections, 1 department)
• Theatre as performing art and cultural form
  (DATH)
• LBST 1105--Visual Arts (9 sections, 3
  departments)
• Artistic ideas and concepts that have shaped
  American architecture (ARCH)

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• LBST 2101--Western Culture and Historical
  Awareness
• 38 sections, 10 departments represented
• Sample course themes
• Masterpieces of art (ART)
• Evil and unjust suffering in the West (RELS)
• Impact of cities in American culture and society
  (ENGL)
• LBST 2102--Global and International Connections
• 39 sections, 12 departments represented
• Sample course themes
• Pre-Columbian civilizations (LANG)
• Socio-cultural, economic and environmental
  diversity (GEOG)
• How politics, economics and culture in one region
  impacts another on the planet (HIST)

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Ethical Issues and Cultural Critiquesample
course themes (and departments)

• LBST 2211--Ethical Issues (12 sections, 3
  departments)
• Identify and analyze ethical decisions from
  actual cases (PHIL)
• LBST 2212--Literature and Culture (6 sections, 1
  department)
• Poetry and society- interact with students in the
  International Studies Program (ENGL)
• LBST 2213--Science, Technology and Society (12
  sections, 8 departments)
• Role of science and technology in society (CHEM)
• LBST 2214--Issues of Health and Quality of Life
  (12 sec, 5 depart.)
• Individual and social aspects of health (SOCW)
• LBST 2215--Citizenship (5 sections, 2
  departments)
• Role as citizens related to moral and political
  values (POLS)

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IV. Communication Skills

• Writing in the Discipline (6 hrs.- 3 in major)
• Courses with W
• Oral Communication
• One course in curriculum with O
• Foreign Language
• None in General Education Program but Department
  and College specific

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Issues and Solutions at UNC-C

• Transition from old program to new (3-4 years)
• Identify corresponding courses in old program
  for credit
• Staffing all of the offered sections
• Requires an institutional commitment to General
  Ed
• Crediting departments (colleges) with Student
  Credit Hours
• Getting faculty on board to offer courses
  appropriate for the core
• Articulation agreement with Community Colleges
• Exempt students with AA, AFA, etc. from taking
  some core requirements
• Advice-- Get the administrative structure in
  place 1-2 years before implementation to start
  the transition process with Departments, Colleges
  and Deans