An overview of new
General Education framework
for RIT undergraduate students
Agenda
• Why the change?
• What changed?
• Requirements of the new GE
Curriculum Framework
“The only education that prepares us for change is
a liberal education. In periods of change, narrow
specialization condemns us to inflexibility –
precisely what we do not need. We need the
flexible intellectual tools to be problem solvers, to
be able to continue learning over time.”
-David Kearns, former CEO of Xerox Corporation,
2002
Guiding Principles
Supporting programs/majors
• Provide a progression of courses that are integrated with major fields of study
• Provide courses that support the basic requirements for students in the majors
Implementation
• Be clear and concise to ease processes for: Scheduling, Auditing, Advising
• Offer students courses and programs that support their major field of study and
other interests
• Provide students choices in how to fulfill their requirements
• Be clear and easy to understand for students, faculty, and staff
• Allow for easy adaptation for future reform
Other
• Be intellectually stimulating for faculty and students
• Be adaptive to changing curricula and a changing world
• Support innovation, creativity, scholarship, and entrepreneurship
How the New Framework Differs
• University-wide engagement
• Not disciplinary, but outcome driven
• Opportunities for integrated and
inter-/trans-disciplinary experiences
• Intentional scaffolding
• Writing intensive
NYSED Requirements
• Students in all BS degree programs are
required to complete at least 60 semester
credit hours of general education.
• Students in BFA programs are required to
take 30 semester credit hours of general
education.
General Education Framework
BS Degree
Foundation
Perspectives
Immersion
Global
Science
Principles
Critical
Reading
& Writing
1
Social
First
Year
Writing
Minor 4
(optional)
Science
Inquiry
2
Ethical
Mathematical
FY
Elective
Minor 5
(optional)
Artistic
3
Mathematical
Plus + Elective General Education courses to bring total to 60 credits
General Education – BFA Degree
Foundation
Perspectives
Critical
Reading
& Writing
Global
Immersion
1
Minor 4
(optional)
First
Year
Writing
Social
2
Ethical
Minor 5
(optional
)
FY
Elective
3
Artistic
Total should be a minimum of 30 credits
General Education – AS Degrees
Foundation
Critical
Reading
& Writing
Perspectives
Global
Social
First
Year
Writing
FY
Elective
Science
Principles
Ethical
Artistic
Additional program determined or elective courses to bring total to 30 credits
General Education – AAS Degrees
Foundation
Critical
Reading
& Writing
Perspectives
Global
Social
First
Year
Writing
Science
Principles
Ethical
FY
Elective
Artistic
Additional program determined or elective courses to bring total to 25 credits
RIT’s GE Framework
General Education Framework
BS
BFA
AAS
AS
Foundation
Foundational Elective
First-Year Writing
6
6
6
6
Perspectives Categories
24
12
15
15
Immersion Requirement
Three additional, related courses
9
9
0
0
General Education Electives
21
3
3
9
60
30
24
30
MINIMUM TOTAL
Note: There may be some flexibility depending on whether student takes 3 or 4 credit courses in
some of the Perspectives categories; may change number of GE electives
Foundation
• Two courses in the first year that introduce students to
intellectual life of the university, and prepare them for
future coursework and career preparation:
• First-Year Writing
• Should be taken in their first year
• First-Year Elective
• Foundational Elective
• Note: The General Education Committee is
currently revisiting these three credits. Currently
students may use these 3 credits as ANY general
education course.
Perspectives
• Introduce students to fundamentals of liberal arts and
sciences
• Students must choose one course from each of the 7
categories:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Artistic
Social
Global
Ethical
Scientific Principles
Natural Science Inquiry
Mathematical (2 courses)
Artistic
• Will enable students to interpret and evaluate artistic
expression considering cultural context in which it was
created
• Examples of courses:
• Literary and Cultural Studies
• Intro to Visual Arts
• Intro to Music
• Intro to Film
• Intro to Western Art & Architecture
• English and World literature courses
Social
• Focus on the analysis of human behavior within the context of
social systems and institutions
• Examples of courses:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Microeconomics
Macroeconomics
Themes in US History
American Politics
Intro to Psychology
Abnormal Psychology
Foundations of Sociology
Intro to Criminal Justice Systems
Global
• Will enable students to examine connections among the
world’s populations
• Examples of courses:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Microeconomics
Macroeconomics
Cultural Anthropology
Literary and Cultural Studies
History of Modern East Asia
20th Century Europe
Intro to International Relations
Foreign Languages
Ethical
• Focus on ethical aspects of decision-making and
argument, whether at the individual, group, national or
international level
• Examples of courses:
• Intro to Philosophy
• Critical Thinking
• Professional Ethics
• Intro to Environmental Studies
• Science, Technology & Values
Scientific Principles
• Provide an opportunity to apply methods of scientific inquiry
in the natural or social sciences
• Examples of courses:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Intro to Psychology
Developmental Psychology
Human Biology
General Biology
College Physics
Solar System Astronomy
General & Analytical Chemistry
Concepts of Environmental Science
Natural Scientific Inquiry
• Courses in this category focus on the basic principles and
concepts of one of the natural sciences. Students apply
methods of scientific inquiry and problem solving in a lab or
field experience.
• Courses include
•
•
•
•
•
Natural science courses that include a lab component
College and University Physics (combining lecture and lab)
General & Analytical Chemistry
Human Biology
General Biology
Mathematical
• Courses in this category focus on identifying and
understanding the role that mathematics plays in the world.
Students comprehend and evaluate mathematical or statistical
information and perform college level mathematical
operations on quantitative data
• Students must take two from this Perspective category
• Courses include
• All Math Courses at the 100-level and above in the semester
numbering system
• Intro to Computational Problem Solving
• Introduction to Statistics
Perspectives
Important Points:
• Courses may be listed in more than one category
• A student may only use a single course to fulfill a single
category
• Students must complete one writing intensive course in
their general education curricula
Immersion
• Three courses linked by theme or discipline (courses may be
across departments and/or across Colleges)
• Supports deeper learning within a focus area
• Immersions ideally lead to minor with two additional courses
• Programs cannot require students to complete specific
immersion as part of their requirements
• Examples:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Foreign Languages
Communications
Text & Code
Sociology
Philosophy
Mathematics
Astronomy
Gen Ed Electives
• Remaining GE elective credits may be specified by
programs in order for students to fulfill supporting
requirements (e.g. mathematics, science, ethics, etc.)
• Ideally, some of these credits should be free GE electives
that can be chosen by students
• Credits in the Perspectives category that exceed
minimum requirement will be applied toward elective
credits
Questions?
Contacts:
John Smithgall
Assistant Dean
College of Liberal Arts
jssgla@RIT.edu
Elizabeth Hane
Faculty Associate to the Provost for General Education
College of Science
enhsbi@rit.edu