Excerpt of the GE Policy relevant to Social and Behavioral Sciences and History (D3)

For the complete GE policy, please visit the Academic Senate website

STRUCTURE OF THE GENERAL EDUCATION CURRICULUM

2.3          Although the primary purpose of Explorations is the development of breadth of knowledge, it is expected that all courses will offer opportunities for continued development of foundational skills.

2.3          All courses in Explorations must have at least one pre- or co-requisite from the Foundation.

2.3          In addition, as students progress through their Explorations, they will be expected to develop additional skills and attributes, including ethical reasoning, analytical reading, creativity, respect for difference, awareness of other cultures, questioning of stereotypes, the values of citizenship, negotiating skills, and other attributes of use in a diverse society. Courses at this level will be evaluated for their attention to one or more of these areas and to Foundation skills, as well as content.

GENERAL CRITERIA

3.1         When requesting GE certification for a certain Area or Subarea a course may be the only exposure a student gets to that Area or Subarea. The course as a whole—and not the general topic or discipline—must be appropriate to that Area or Subarea and taught at the university level. Rather than GE being an afterthought to make a course fit into that Area or Subarea, with just perfunctory treatment or minimal coverage of the Area or Subarea, a course must be created around the concept of covering GE explicitly, directly, thoroughly, and significantly, integrating the Area or Subarea throughout the course. The course may simultaneously cover discipline-specific material; however, that material must be integrated with the GE content.

3.1          Courses beyond the Foundation stage must continue to enhance the Foundation skills, as well as build additional skills as indicated in the descriptions of the specific levels.

3.1          Wherever appropriate, instruction approved to fulfill the GE requirements should recognize the contributions to knowledge and civilization that have been made by members of various cultural groups and genders. Wherever appropriate, the content of courses should include examples of the relationship of human and cultural diversity to the subject matter.

3.1         In order to be approved for a specific GE Area or Subarea, the course must include:

  • for all GE courses: textbooks/readings and bibliography items that clearly address the Area or Subarea being requested;
  • for all GE courses: Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) dedicated to the Area or Subarea being requested and taken or adapted from the implementation document defining GE SLOs approved by the Academic Senate and maintained by the GEGC;
  • for all GE courses: scheduled class topics that directly address the GE SLOs dedicated to the Area or Subarea being requested;
  • for Exploration courses: at least one third of the SLOs, assignments, assessments, evaluative criteria, and final course grade dedicated to the Area or Subarea being requested.

GENERAL EDUCATION COURSE CONTENT CRITERIA

Subarea D3, Social and Behavioral Sciences and History

3.2.4.2.1              Across the disciplines in Area D, students will learn how human social, political and economic institutions and behavior are inextricably interwoven. Through fulfillment of the Area D requirement, students will develop an understanding of problems and issues from the respective disciplinary perspectives and will examine issues in their contemporary as well as historical settings and in a variety of cultural contexts. ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ will explore the principles, methodologies, value systems, and ethics employed in social scientific inquiry. Area D excludes courses that emphasize skills development and professional preparation.

3.2.4.2.1.3           Courses in fulfillment of Area D3 will foster in students an awareness that human social, political, and economic institutions and behavior are inextricably interwoven. Problems and issues in these areas may be examined in their contemporary as well as historical settings.

EFFECTIVE: Fall 2018

 

REQUIRED GENERAL EDUCATION LEARNING OUTCOMES

The following are the specific learning outcomes approved by the Academic Senate (General Education Learning Outcomes)and required for all classes seeking certification for this area. 

ALL learning outcomes listed below must be included in your proposal, and covered and assessed in your class. 

Learning outcomes should NOT be copied and pasted into your GE Form. Rather, they should be adapted to the course content, maintaining their intent while showing how it applies to the course subject and criteria. 

Subarea D3: Social and Behavioral Science and History

Required Learning Outcomes 

As measured by students being able to:

  1. Explain how the interrelationship between human social, political and economic institutions has influenced the development of society.
  2. Utilize principles, methodologies, value systems, and thought processes employed in social scientific inquiry to examine cultural endeavors and/or legacies of world civilizations.
  3. Discuss the influence major social structures, culture, diversity, economy, politics and other key elements have on individual perception, actions, values and/or institutions.