Task ForceTask ForceOnOn
Improving Arts & HumanitiesImproving Arts & HumanitiesAt KFUPMAt KFUPM
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AGENDAAGENDA
Task Force MembersTask Force Members Task Force ChargesTask Force Charges GER ComponentsGER Components GER Report FindingsGER Report Findings Academic Committee RecommendationsAcademic Committee Recommendations Current GS and IAS ElectivesCurrent GS and IAS Electives AccomplishmentsAccomplishments Task Force RecommendationsTask Force Recommendations
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Task Force TeamTask Force Team
Dr. Ibrahim Al-Jabri, LeaderDr. Ibrahim Al-Jabri, Leader Dr. Eid Al-Shammari, MemberDr. Eid Al-Shammari, Member Dr. Khudair Al-Khudair, MemberDr. Khudair Al-Khudair, Member Dr. Hocine Bahlouli, MemberDr. Hocine Bahlouli, Member
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Charges of the Task ForceCharges of the Task Force
Update report on GER submitted to VRAA.Update report on GER submitted to VRAA. Identify accomplishments made.Identify accomplishments made. Recommend options for adding 2 GS Recommend options for adding 2 GS
courses in the curricula as recommended by courses in the curricula as recommended by Academic Committee.Academic Committee.
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GER Components Identified in the GER Components Identified in the ReportReport
Math and SciencesMath and Sciences– Mathematical SciencesMathematical Sciences– Quantitative ReasoningQuantitative Reasoning– Natural SciencesNatural Sciences– Science, Technology and SocietyScience, Technology and Society
Critical thinkingCritical thinking Computer LiteracyComputer Literacy Communication Skills (Arabic and English)Communication Skills (Arabic and English)
– Written CommunicationWritten Communication– Oral CommunicationOral Communication– Visual & Electronic CommunicationVisual & Electronic Communication
Religion and HumanitiesReligion and Humanities– Islamic StudiesIslamic Studies– Ethics Ethics
Social SciencesSocial Sciences– Human behaviorHuman behavior– Social, cultural, and political processesSocial, cultural, and political processes
Attitudes and skills for healthy lifeAttitudes and skills for healthy life– Physical EducationPhysical Education
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Report FindingsReport Findings
After updating the GER report, the Task Force found After updating the GER report, the Task Force found the following:the following:
There are variations in the GERs from department to department.There are variations in the GERs from department to department. There is no well defined understanding of GER components in all There is no well defined understanding of GER components in all
departments.departments. Almost anything that is not part of the core/concentration requirements Almost anything that is not part of the core/concentration requirements
is considered GERs.is considered GERs. There is inadequate coverage of the human behavior. Arts and There is inadequate coverage of the human behavior. Arts and
Humanities are almost absent: history of civilizations, economic Humanities are almost absent: history of civilizations, economic developments, industrial revolution, philosophy, linguistics, …developments, industrial revolution, philosophy, linguistics, …
There is insufficient coverage of the social, cultural, and political There is insufficient coverage of the social, cultural, and political processes. A lack of social sciences ( psychology and sociology) in processes. A lack of social sciences ( psychology and sociology) in our GER curriculum. our GER curriculum.
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Academic Committee Academic Committee RecommendationsRecommendations
The Academic Committee discussed the GER report The Academic Committee discussed the GER report and made the following recommendations:and made the following recommendations:
The report recommendations should be made The report recommendations should be made
available to departments to see what GERs exist available to departments to see what GERs exist and what need to be implemented.and what need to be implemented.
Departments should revise their curricula so that Departments should revise their curricula so that the degree plan has room for more GS courses (2 the degree plan has room for more GS courses (2 courses) to satisfy GERs in Social Science and courses) to satisfy GERs in Social Science and Human behavior.Human behavior.
Faculty with special skills for the recommended Faculty with special skills for the recommended courses should be hired.courses should be hired.
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Current GS ElectivesCurrent GS Electives
The University offers some of the following The University offers some of the following GS courses:GS courses:
– GS 200: Info Searching SkillsGS 200: Info Searching Skills– GS 221: Industrial Sociology & ProductionGS 221: Industrial Sociology & Production– GS 321: Principles of Human BehaviorGS 321: Principles of Human Behavior– GS 423: International RelationsGS 423: International Relations– GS 424: Planning & Social DevelopmentGS 424: Planning & Social Development– GS 427: Man & EnvironmentGS 427: Man & Environment
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Current IAS ElectivesCurrent IAS Electives
The University offers some of the following The University offers some of the following IAS courses:IAS courses:
IAS 411: Contemporary Islamic WorldIAS 411: Contemporary Islamic World IAS 416: As-Sirah An-NabawiyyahIAS 416: As-Sirah An-Nabawiyyah IAS 418: Contemporary Financial IAS 418: Contemporary Financial
Transactions in IslamTransactions in Islam IAS 419: Inimitability of Al-QuranIAS 419: Inimitability of Al-Quran
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KFUPM Accomplishments to KFUPM Accomplishments to Improve GERsImprove GERs
Opening a new GS DepartmentOpening a new GS Department Appointment of a Chairman for the DepartmentAppointment of a Chairman for the Department Introducing two IAS course:Introducing two IAS course:
– IAS 212: Professional Ethics.IAS 212: Professional Ethics.– IAS 322: Human Rights in IslamIAS 322: Human Rights in Islam
Transforming two IAS courses:Transforming two IAS courses:– IAS 201: Writing for Professional NeedsIAS 201: Writing for Professional Needs– IAS 301: Oral Communication SkillsIAS 301: Oral Communication Skills
Searching for hiring more GS faculty members. Searching for hiring more GS faculty members.
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Task Force RecommendationTask Force Recommendation
There must be a common GER courses for all There must be a common GER courses for all colleges. (i.e. University Requirements).colleges. (i.e. University Requirements).
Departments may add relevant GER courses as Departments may add relevant GER courses as seen fit for their students.seen fit for their students.
A full revision of the present IAS credit-hour A full revision of the present IAS credit-hour requirements is very much needed. requirements is very much needed.
We should speed up building our capacity in the We should speed up building our capacity in the new GS department to take care of the new GS department to take care of the shortcoming in the GERs.shortcoming in the GERs.
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Task Force RecommendationTask Force Recommendation (cont’d)(cont’d)
In order to make up for the addition of 2 GS In order to make up for the addition of 2 GS courses (6 Credit Hours) recommended by courses (6 Credit Hours) recommended by the Academic Committee, the Task Force the Academic Committee, the Task Force recommends the following options:recommends the following options:
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Task Force Recommendation Task Force Recommendation (cont’d)(cont’d)
Option #1:Option #1:– Reduce the IAS credits from 14 to 8.Reduce the IAS credits from 14 to 8.
Option #2:Option #2:– Reduce the IAS credits from 14 to 10.Reduce the IAS credits from 14 to 10.– Reduce the COOP credits from 9 to 6.Reduce the COOP credits from 9 to 6.
Option #3:Option #3:– Reduce the IAS credits from 14 to 10.Reduce the IAS credits from 14 to 10.– Reduce the Major credits by at least 2.Reduce the Major credits by at least 2.
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TF Recommendation TF Recommendation (cont’d)(cont’d)
The Task Force recommends adopting The Task Force recommends adopting option #1 for the following reasons:option #1 for the following reasons:– The IAS and GS courses are part of the GERs.The IAS and GS courses are part of the GERs.– Some IAS courses have little benefit compared Some IAS courses have little benefit compared
to potential GS courses. (e.g. IAS 101 and IAS to potential GS courses. (e.g. IAS 101 and IAS 111 syllabi contain material to which students 111 syllabi contain material to which students have been exposed in the high school).have been exposed in the high school).
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Q & AQ & A