|
|
 |
GE Area F: Technology
Elective
|
GE Program Goals
The upper-division technology elective should be integrative in nature, requiring the application and generalization of basic scientific and mathematical knowledge from foundation Area B courses. This elective should integrate the study of particular technologies with the critical examination of technology from multiple perspectives, which may include ethical, social, ecological, political, or economic viewpoints.
By
placing knowledge in a larger context, these courses provide
a vision of why this area is an important component of general
education. Faculty from all Colleges are encouraged to participate
in this area. Courses satisfying the technology elective must
include an applied component and cannot be entirely theoretical.
Consequently, courses in this area must include instruction
on how the technology works, and not simply the use of the
technology as a tool. Courses in this area also emphasize
writing as an integral part of the process of learning and
discovery.
Upper-division
courses in Area F must fulfill EACH
of the following objectives:
After completing the technology elective students should have
an enhanced ability to:
Area F: Upper-Division Educational Objectives
EO 1 understand the relationship between technology and its scientific basis;
EO 2 understand and be able to articulate the considerations (which may include scientific, mathematical, technical, economic, commercial, and social) that are necessary for making rational, ethical, and humane technological decisions.
Upper-division
Courses in Area F must meet EACH
of the following criteria:
Since courses satisfying the technology elective are integrative
in nature and build on an Area B foundation, they must be
upper-division and, as a minimum, require junior standing
and have as a prerequisite the completion of Area B. If necessary,
specific Area B foundation courses (e.g. Math 141, BIO 151,
etc.) may be listed as prerequisites. Since GE technology
elective courses should be designed to be accessible to a
wide range of students, the prerequisites may not be overly
restrictive. The course proposal and expanded course outline
must clearly indicate how the course is accessible to a broad
audience, as well as how the course:
Area F: Upper-Division Criteria
CR 1 builds on the Area B foundation;
CR 2 will instruct students about one or more areas of technology having a coherent theme, with an emphasis on how the technology works.
CR 3 develops an awareness of how basic scientific and mathematical knowledge is used to solve technical problems;
CR 4 develops an awareness of the methods used and difficulties inherent in applying technology to solve social, economic, scientific, mathematical, artistic, and/or commercial problems;
CR 5 addresses the ethical implications of technology;
CR 6 includes critical examination of technology from multiple perspectives;
CR 7 provides students with an historical, contemporary, and future-looking perspective of the technology;
CR 8 incorporates a writing component.
In addition
to the above criteria, the following are strongly encouraged:
C9 courses that are interdisciplinary in nature;
C10 courses that examine local or current issues;
C11 courses that address how new and emerging technologies impact society.
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.
|
