TESC Overhauling Gen Ed Reqs. Not enrolled, watch out!

[LaceyLady]

I am not surprised, as many colleges have been turning to these types of requirements (or already had similar requirements). Though it is somewhat surprising that TESC is making so many changes within a relatively short period of time. Thankfully, I will not be affected, as I am already enrolled and close to graduating (I should have applied for graduation before the new requirements take effect). But this is very important for anyone who has not enrolled yet and will most likely change the required courses/exams for them. I second the suggestion of making this thread a sticky. BTW thank you for bringing this to our attention and posting it Alex (cooperalex2004).

The concern, as others mentioned, is whether students will be able to test out of these new requirements. That is unclear at this point, as these requirements are quite vague. It seems some of these requirements might be hard to test out of, since there do not appear to be corresponding tests. This is my best assessment of these requirements at this point (requirements listed in black, my comments in blue):

1.) Intellectual and practical skills (15 credits) - can probably be tested out of

3 credits in composition (CLEP College Composition)
3 credits in writing intensive course work (CLEP College Composition? - not sure about the writing intensive course part)
3 credits in math (any math test)
6 credits in intellectual and practical skills electives (Communication, Computer, Statistics, etc.?)

2.) Human cultures and the physical and natural world through study in areas including the sciences and mathematics, social sciences, humanities, histories, languages and the arts (18 credits) - should be able to test out of (mostly includes the current standard GE areas)

3 credits in social sciences (any social science - history, psychology, sociology, economics, etc.)
3 credits in natural sciences (any natural science - biology, chemistry, physics, computer science, etc.)
3 credits in humanities (any humanities - literature, art, English, communication, religion, etc.)
9 credits in human cultures and the physical world electives (religion, geography, environment, cultural studies, etc.?)

3.) Personal and social responsibility (9 credits) - some may be tested out of, but may be slightly more difficult

3 credits in diversity/global literacy (cultural diversity, intercultural communication, gender studies, African/Asian/African American/World etc. ethnic studies/history/literature, etc.?)
3 credits in responsible and ethical leadership (ethics/leadership: leadership, Ethics in America, Business Ethics and Society, etc.?)
3 credits in personal and social responsibility elective (ethics: Ethics in America, Business Ethics and Society?)

4.) Integrative and applied learning synthesized across general and specialized disciplines. Courses in this category will be integrated throughout general education and capstone courses (18 credits). - ? - other than the capstone course, I'm not exactly sure what would be included in this requirement

I dislike these types of requirements as they tend to be more vague and harder to understand than the old requirements. I am familiar with requirements like these because the colleges/universities in my state that I was considering attending, and therefore researched, have similar requirements (and others more specific such as Cultural Diversity in the U.S., Global Awareness, Historical Studies with Asian/African/Native Am./Latin Am. Focus, Literacy and Critical Inquiry, etc.). Even though the requirements in these colleges/universities have been in place for years and are explained, they can still be quite vague and confusing.

I also, personally, dislike the fact that the new requirements reduce the math and natural sciences. I only see 3 credits of math, 3 credits of natural sciences, possibly 3 credits of statistics, and perhaps the possibility of some more (I'm not sure what is Integrative and applied learning). Most of the new requirement categories are social sciences or humanities, which are fine, but I think math and natural sciences are important, as well. I also personally dislike taking courses in some of the more subjective areas. Even though any viewpoint can be injected into any subject, it is very easy to inject a viewpoint in more subjective subjects and base courses and course content and materials on a certain viewpoint.

I hope my breakdown of the requirements helps (despite the length of this post and my criticisms of the new requirements:leaving.