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

[cooperalex2004]

Well put. As I wrote in the original post, my state (Minnesota) has had these requirements since 2003, and unlike New Jersey the rules here are the exact same at every single public and private school. They have "human diversity", "global perspective", "ethical and civic responsibility", and "people and the environment" added to the other more typical areas (Minnesota Transfer, Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC)). If you want an Associates or Bachelors at any Minnesota school which is regionally accredited you will complete those types of courses. I don't see TESC being unreasonable in asking for a few more requirements to be met, and as Jonathan illistrated it seems to be possible to still use exams and transfer credit to complete the new areas (time will tell how that plays out once they go into effect). For those who are upset, now is the time to act. You can complete the degree under the existing rules and get your diploma, or you can wait (and as some have done complain) and do it later, where you will follow the new rules which I think are going to add some more variety to the learning and maybe strengthen the appearence of a degree from TESC.

A few thoughts.

The concern here seems to be about this part of TESC's coming new gen ed requirements especially:



The "Diversity/Global Literacy" requirement sounds almost exactly like the "Global Understanding" gen ed requirement COSC has had all along.

At Charter Oak, this very similarly stated "Global Understanding" requirement can be met with just one of these:

• DSST Human/Cultural Geography, Environment and Humanity, History of the Vietnam War, Introduction to the Modern Middle East, Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union, Western Europe Since 1945, Introduction to World Religions; ECE World Conflicts Since 1900, World Population; AP Human/Cultural Geography, Government & Politics/Comparative, Environmental Science.

There's also an ECE in Cultural Diversity, but surprisingly this isn't currently listed as meeting Global Understanding at Charter Oak. It's possible that they would accept it on review.

TESC's new "Responsible and Ethical Leadership" requirement, too, parallels Charter Oak's "Ethical Decision-Making" requirement, which can be met with any one of these:

• DSST Business Ethics & Society, Ethics in America; ECE Ethics: Theory & Practice, Bioethics: Philosophical Issues; TECEP Business in Society.

The third requirement TESC lists above, for an elective in the area that's a superset of these two areas, could be met with any one other nonduplicative test, or course, from either area.

So it seems to me that these new requirements can probably be met through standardized tests – and some of the same standardized tests that people, pursuing heavily test-based degrees, are already taking every day.

Similarly, courses in the same broad subject areas should also be accepted in transfer.