St. Cloud State University
General Education Goal Area 2
Critical Reasoning
Academic Affairs Use Only:
Response Date:
Effective Date:
1.
Proposal Number:
Prepared by: Christopher Lehman
Phone: 8-5217
Email: cplehman@stcloudstate.edu
2.
Requesting Unit: Ethnic Studies Department
3.
Department, Course Number, Title: ETHS 305: Topics in Ethnic Studies
4.
New Course
5.
Will this course be flagged as a diversity course?
Already Designated as Diversity
6.
Will this course also satisfy another General Education Goal Area?
If “Yes” specify which goal area.
Existing Course
No
Diversity Proposal Accompanying This Form
No
Yes
7.
Course bulletin description, including credits and semesters to be offered:
An intermediate level course focusing on select topics, issues, developments, and concerns affecting
Asian-American, Black, Latino and American-Indian communities. May be repeated to a maximum of 6 credits.
1-3 Cr. DEMAND.
8.
Indicate the clientele for whom this course is designed. Is the course for general education only, or
does it fulfill general education and other program needs for this or another department? Obtain
signatures from any affected departments.
An elective course in the Ethnic Studies minor.
9.
Indicate any changes that must be made in offerings or resources in your department or other
departments by offering this course.
10.
For new courses or courses not yet approved for General Education, indicate any other SCSU departments
or units offering instruction that relates to the content of the proposed course.
11.
Courses designated as General Education are included in the assessment plan for the Goal Area(s) for
which they are approved. Courses for which assessment is not included in the annual GE assessment
12/11/2009
report for two years will be removed from the General Education Program.
The Requesting Unit understands and recognizes the above conditions.
12.
Provide a concise explanation of how the following goal is a “significant focus” of the proposed course.
Goal Area 2: Critical Reasoning
Identify, analyze, and critically evaluate reasoning in a variety of domains in order to develop well founded
beliefs and engage in rational and effective action.
The course asks the students to evaluate different theses regarding issues and problems faced by minority
ethnic groups of the United States. Students are asked to examine the sociopolitical contexts of the theses and
assess the practicality and legacies of them.
13. In order for a course to be designated as fulfilling Goal Area 2, it must address at least 5 of the 6 student learning
outcomes (SLOs) below. Check the SLOs below that are focused on in the proposed general education course.
1. Distinguish between discourse that contains reasoning and that which does not.
2. Distinguish between different types of reasoning.
3. Analyze arguments, distinguishing premises and conclusions.
4. Evaluate inductive and deductive reasoning.
5. Apply basic logical techniques.
6. Identify and avoid fallacies.
14.
Discuss how each Student Learning Outcome checked above is achieved in this course. (Note: Although
descriptions of typical assignments or types of assignments may be part of this discussion, it is not
appropriate to submit copies of actual assignments.)
SLO 1 is addressed when students discuss methods of analyzing theories about ethnicity.
SLO 2 is addressed when students discuss the differences in works about an ethnic group written by group
members and works by non-group members.
SLO 3 is addressed when students discuss the theses of the readings and of their papers or presentations.
SLO 4 is addressed when students discuss what conclusions to draw from the research of their papers about an
issue facing a minority ethnic group.
SLO 6 is addressed when students study stereotypes and discuss how to avoid them when writing about minority
ethnic groups.
15.
List or attach the Course Outline (adequately described and including percentage of time to be allocated
to each topic). Curriculum Committees may request additional information. Topics larger than 20% need
to be broken down further. Indicate in your course outline where the Student Learning Outcomes
checked above are being met.
Religious Issues - 20% - SLO 1, 2, 3, 4, 6
Educational Issues - 20% - SLO 1, 2, 3, 4, 6
12/11/2009
Health Issues - 20% - SLO 1, 2, 3, 4, 6
Political Issues -20% - SLO 1, 2, 3, 4, 6
Cultural Identity - 20% - SLO 1, 2, 3, 4, 6
12/11/2009
St. Cloud State University
General Education Transmittal Form
Academic Affairs Use Only:
Response Date:
Effective Date:
Proposal Number
Department: Ethnic Studies Department
Course or Course(s): ETHS 305: Topics in Ethnic Studies
Christopher P. Lehman
Department or Unit Chair Signature
Apr. 6, 2010
Date
Department forward to Academic Affairs for publication and electronically to Chair of General Education Committee, Chair
of College Curriculum Committee, College Dean
Recommendation of General Education Committee:
Approve
Remarks:
Disapprove
Chairperson
Committee
Signature
Date
Recommendation of University Curriculum Committee:
Approve
Remarks:
Disapprove
Chairperson
Committee
Signature
Date
Recommendation of Faculty Association:
Approve
Remarks:
Disapprove
FA Senate
Signature
Date
Action of Academic Vice President:
Approve
Disapprove
Signature
Entered in Curriculum Data File
12/11/2009
Remarks:
Date