The Summer working group issued a report in which Three Options were described for revision of the General Education Requirements at UAA. In Options 1 and 2, it is assumed that an additional category of 8-9 credits would be added to the current categories. The Discussion Draft Document presented at the 10/25/01 meeting of UABGES opened the consideration of the content and implementation of such a new category.
The implementation of Option 3 has been associated in committee discussions with the current General Education Core program at UAF. It may be timely to present a draft implementation of Option 3 as it would apply to a revision of the UAA requirements. This is in the works.
To meet the demands of coherence and mission, the following revisions in the previous century's GER preamble are suggested (Orange is current language to be stricken; blue is its replacement) [this is a pre-cleanup text file which I got from Governance: the typos were fixed in the catalog]
GER Preamble
The General Education Requirements provide students with a common
educational experience that will foster the development of habits and
capabilities fundamental to personal growth and a productive life.
To this end, UAA students take courses in six basic areas: (1) Courses
in Written and Oral Communication develop the critical reading,
thinking, and communication faculties (writing, speaking, and listening)
necessary for personal and professional success. (2) Courses in
Quantitative Skills foster the analytical and mathematical abilities
necessary for success in undergraduate study and professional life.
(3)
Courses in the Humanities consider the cultural, historical, literary,
aesthetic, ethical, and spiritual traditions shaping the contemporary
world. (4) Courses in the Fine Arts examine the historical, aesthetic,
critical, and creative aspects of art. (5) Courses in the Social
Sciences explore insights about individuals, groups, and cultures
derived from empirical methodologies. (6) Courses in the Natural
Sciences present theoretical and descriptive approaches to understanding
the natural and physical worlds. Throughout these studies,
where
applicable, students are encouraged to
master information technologies;
appreciate the multicultural reality or contemporary
life, practice
critical thinking, and consider the ethical commitments
informing
responsible citizenship. to
consider implications for culture, ethics, and ideals;
to seek both local and global, national and international
perspectives;
and to apply the critical function, whether aesthetic
or analytic.
After completing the General Education Requirement, UAA students shall
be able to:
1 . Communicate effectively in a variety of contexts and formats
2. Reason mathematically, and analyze quantitative and qualitative
data
competently to reach sound conclusions.
3. Relate knowledge to the historical context in which it developed
and
the human problems it addresses.
4. Interpret different systems of aesthetic representation and
understanding their historical and cultural contexts.
5. Investigate the complexity of human institutions and behavior to
better understand interpersonal, group, and cultural dynamics.
6. Identify ways in which science has advanced the understanding of
important natural processes.
7. Locate and use relevant information to make appropriate personal
and
professional decisions.
8. Comprehend the concepts and perspectives needed
to function in a
multicultural society.
Adopt appropriate perspectives for understanding
the forces of globalization and diversity.
9. Integrate creative and critical thinking and personal experience
in a
meaningful and coherent manner.