GE Program Goals

B5 Educational Objectives and Criteria - Introduction

Lower-division courses suitable for Area B5 satisfy the same educational objectives and criteria as listed above for Areas B1-4, but are not foundational courses. As such, they are appropriate as second courses in science and mathematics.

Upper-division courses in B5 must be integrative in nature, requiring application and generalization of basic scientific or mathematical knowledge from foundation Area B courses to new settings and problems. B5 courses may be interdisciplinary in nature, and could provide a capstone experience in science, mathematics, or statistics for students majoring in the Liberal Arts. Courses in this area also include writing as an integral part of the process of learning and discovery. 

Upper-division courses in B5 must fulfill EACH of the following objectives:
After completing the upper-division elective, students should have an enhanced ability to:

B5: Upper-division Educational Objectives

EO 1  integrate the concepts from foundation courses;

EO 2  apply the fundamental scientific, mathematical, or statistical concepts from the foundation courses to solve problems in new or more advanced areas

Upper-division courses in B5 must meet EACH of the following criteria:
The course proposal and expanded course outline must clearly indicate that the course is at the 300 level and has one or one or more prerequisites from the Area B foundation courses, as well as how the course:

B5:  Upper-Division Criteria

CR 1  integrates concepts from foundation courses;

CR 2  applies fundamental scientific, mathematical, or statistical concepts from the foundation courses to solve problems in new or more advanced area;

CR 3  includes an appropriate writing component.

In addition to the above criteria, the following are strongly encouraged:

CR 4  courses that are interdisciplinary in nature;

CR 5  courses that include a significant writing component;

CR 6  courses that examine contemporary issues in the discipline.

Writing Component

All General Education courses must have a writing component. In achieving this objective, writing in most courses should be viewed primarily as a tool of learning (rather than a goal in itself as in a composition course), and faculty should determine the appropriate ways to integrate writing into coursework. While the writing component may take different forms according to the subject matter and the purpose of a course, at least 10% of the grade in all GE courses must be based on appropriate written work.