THE GENERAL EDUCATION PROGRAM AT INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY (ISU)

Edited by Shouhong Wang, CCB(Thanks to Dr. Linda Maule, General Education Program at ISU, for her generous help)

http://www.indstate.edu/gened/newfoundationalstudiesprogram.htm

THE GENERAL EDUCATION PROGRAM AT INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY IS A �“PROMISING INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY IS A PROMISING MODEL�” - AAC&U

OVERVIEW OF GE2000 MODEL AT ISUOVERVIEW OF GE2000 MODEL AT ISU

All students working toward a bachelor's degree All students working toward a bachelor s degree at Indiana State University are required to complete at least 47 hours of General complete at least 47 hours of General Education course work, including at least 11 hours in Basic Studies and 36 hours in Liberal ou s as c Stud es a d 36 ou s be aStudies.(You will see that ISU is moving to FS2010 (You will see that ISU is moving to FS2010 program in Fall 2010. The total hours for entire general education seem to be about the same )general education seem to be about the same.)

COMMON GOALS OF THE GE2000 PROGRAM:COMMON GOALS OF THE GE2000 PROGRAM:

Critical Thinking - To develop students' capacities for independent thinking, critical analysis, and reasoned inquiry.

Comm nications Skills To enhance st dents' riting Communications Skills - To enhance students' writing, speaking, reading, and listening abilities.

Issues of Value and Belief To enhance students' Issues of Value and Belief - To enhance students capacities for making informed and reasonable choices.

Lifelong Learning - To help students develop the Lifelong Learning To help students develop the knowledge and intellectual skills that encourage participatory citizenship, acknowledge the value of learning, and facilitate adaptation to change.g, p g

OVERVIEW OF GE2000 BASIC STUDIESOVERVIEW OF GE2000 BASIC STUDIES

The Basic Studies requirements promote The Basic Studies requirements promote refinement of communication communication, quantitative literacy, and information technology skills, encourage the study of a foreign language, and g g g gadvocate physical fitness for life.

OVERVIEW OF GE2000 LIBERAL STUDIESOVERVIEW OF GE2000 LIBERAL STUDIES

The Liberal Studies requirements encourage The Liberal Studies requirements encourage students to understand the value of a traditional university education in the arts, traditional university education in the arts, humanities, and sciences and to explore the relation of a liberal education to any major relation of a liberal education to any major course of study.

NEW MODEL OF ISUNEW MODEL OF ISU

ISU is moving away from GE2000 and beginning Foundational Studies Program in Fall 2010 (FS2010).FS2010 simplifies the structure of GE2000It is worth learning from this movement at ISU

NEW MODEL FS2010 �– LEARNING OUTCOMESNEW MODEL FS2010 LEARNING OUTCOMES

Locate, critically read, and evaluate information to solve problems; Critically evaluate the ideas of others; Apply knowledge and skills within and across the fundamental ways of knowing (natural sciences, social and behavioral sciences, arts and humanities, mathematics and history); mathematics, and history); Demonstrate an appreciation of human expression through literature and fine and performing arts; Demonstrate the skills for effective citizenship and stewardship; Demonstrate the skills for effective citizenship and stewardship; Demonstrate an understanding of diverse cultures within and across societies; Demonstrate the skills to place their current and local experience in a global, cultural, and historical context; cu tu a , a d sto ca co te t;Demonstrate an understanding of the ethical implications of decisions and actions; Apply principles of physical and emotional health to wellness; Express themselves effectively, professionally, and persuasively both orally and in Express themselves effectively, professionally, and persuasively both orally and in writing.

FS2010: THIRTEEN CATEGORIES OF GENERAL EDUCATION COURSES:

I. CompositionI. CompositionII. CommunicationIIIa. Quantitative Literacy IIIb. MathematicsIV. Non-Native LanguageV. Health and WellnessVI. Science and LaboratoryVII. Social and Behavioral SciencesVIII. Literary StudiesIX. Fine and Performing ArtsX Historical StudiesX. Historical StudiesXI. Global Perspectives and Cultural DiversityXII. Ethics and Social ResponsibilityXIII Integrative and Upper XIII. Integrative and Upper

FS2010 DETAILS OF EACH CATEGORY:FS2010 DETAILS OF EACH CATEGORY:

I. Composition (Freshman composition 1-2 I. Composition (Freshman composition 1 2 courses, Junior composition 1 course)II Communication (1 course)II. Communication (1 course)III. Mathematics or Quantitative literacy (MATH115 MET215 FIN108 MATH102 (MATH115, MET215, FIN108, MATH102, ECON101) (1 course or high SAT)IV.. Non-native language (2 courses)V. Health and Wellness (Health111 or PE101 and its lab) (1 course and lab)

FS2010 DETAILS OF EACH CATEGORY:FS2010 DETAILS OF EACH CATEGORY:

Eliminated ITL requirement (and made it a skill Eliminated ITL requirement (and made it a skill requirement in every FS course)VI Laboratory science (ENVI110 PHYS101 VI. Laboratory science (ENVI110, PHYS101, CHEM100, BIO112) (1 course or 2 science courses in different disciplines)courses in different disciplines)VII. Social or Behavioral science (AET461, ECON101 EPSY202 EPSY221 PSCI130 ECON101, EPSY202, EPSY221, PSCI130, PSY101, SOC101) (1 course)VIII. Literary studies (1 course)

FS2010 DETAILS OF EACH CATEGORY:FS2010 DETAILS OF EACH CATEGORY:

IX. Fine and performing arts (1 course)IX. Fine and performing arts (1 course)X. Global perspective and cultural diversity (1 course)course)XI. Ethics and social responsibility (1 course)XII. Upper, Division integrative electives (9 ch)- Upper division courses (3 ch)- Study abroad (6 ch)Second major (6 ch)- Second major (6 ch)

- Minor (6 ch)

LEARNING OBJECTIVES OF EACH CATEGORY:LEARNING OBJECTIVES OF EACH CATEGORY:

Each category has its specific learning Each category has its specific learning objectives. For example, V Health and WellnessV. Health and Wellness Understand how society benefits from healthy citizens; Demonstrate safe and effective physical activities and nutritionalDemonstrate safe and effective physical activities and nutritional strategies and describe informed decisions/choices about other issues that may affect one’s health; Articulate the effect of lifestyle on physiological and cognitive functions, and psychological well being; and Describe values and behaviors that lead to a healthy lifestyleDescribe values and behaviors that lead to a healthy lifestyle. (Please see the website for other categories)

STEPS FOR PROPOSING AN FOUNDATIONAL STUDIES COURSE STUDIES COURSE

I. Determine as a department how the department is going to participate in the FS Program (e.g., identify to which categories the department is going to propose courses) II Develop a new course or modify an existing course II. Develop a new course or modify an existing course III. Include in your course proposal the following a. Cover page for FS course proposals a. Cover page for FS course proposals b. One page narrative describing how the course meets the program and category learning objectives c. An �“exemplar�” syllabus with annotations IV. Go through your College�’s curricular process making sure that your department�’s course proposal reaches the General that your department s course proposal reaches the General Education Office by the submission deadline.

COMPARISON OF FS2010 AND OUR MODELCOMPARISON OF FS2010 AND OUR MODEL

The FS2010 model has detailed categories (12 The FS2010 model has detailed categories (12 categories) while our GenEd categories are a bit aggregated.bit aggregated.While the FS2010 model covers more categories than our model does it does not categories than our model does, it does not require ITL. Th FS2010 d l h i d The FS2010 model emphasizes upper and integrative electives, while our model does not h thi thave this part.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR OUR PROGRAM:RECOMMENDATIONS FOR OUR PROGRAM:

1. Make our GenEd categories more details1. Make our GenEd categories more details2. Each category has specific learning outcomes and objectives which will be used for outcomes and objectives, which will be used for GenEd course approval3 Add H lth&W ll d t G Ed3. Add Health&Wellness and capstone GenEdcourse to our GenEd program4. Eliminate IT literacy from GenEd program, and leave the ITL part to majors