For Review
CALL FOR PROPOSALS
Perspectives Courses for Fall 2013 Semester
PERS 2001 - Perspectives on Comparative Culture
PERS 2002 - Scientific Perspectives on Global Problems
BACKGROUND
Area B of the semester core curriculum, Institutional Options, is composed of courses that
address institution-wide general education outcomes at Georgia State University. Courses in the
area are designed to strengthen basic skills that are promoted throughout the core curriculum and
to broaden the curriculum by encouraging interdisciplinary and international perspectives. The
inclusion of Perspectives courses in the core is an expression of Georgia State University's
mission as an urban institution with an international and multi-cultural focus.
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Students select two courses from Critical Thinking (PHIL1010), Fundamentals of Human
Communication (SPCH 1000), Perspectives on Comparative Culture (PERS 2001), and Scientific
Perspectives on Global Problems” (PERS 2002). Only one course of two semester hours from the
cluster of PERS 2001 and one from the corresponding PERS 2002 offerings may be used to
fulfill the complete requirement of four semester hours for Area B. Topics for PERS 2001 and
PERS 2002 are selected annually by a Perspectives Committee composed of faculty from
throughout the University.
The committee seeks courses that are issue-oriented and
interdisciplinary in nature, and that will excite the students and you.
This is an opportunity to share an area in your discipline that engages you. It might be an area
that you plan to develop into a full three-credit course, or it might be a topical course that you
would not be able to teach routinely to a small number of majors. This is your chance to explore
your interests with a broad group of students who might otherwise miss an introduction to your
discipline. It is a time to share your academic passion with the University community.
Perspectives courses are typically large sections. These sections might be good opportunities for
Maymester and Summer semester teaching. Check with your Department Chair for possible
Maymester or Summer funding.
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COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
(For past offerings visit: www.gsu.edu/success and click on Perspectives.)
PERS 2001 - Perspectives on Comparative Culture (2)
This category is composed of a group of interdisciplinary courses that provide a better
understanding of the contemporary world through the study of different cultures. Sections will
feature comparative culture study across societies or multi-cultural study within societies.
Although courses may take a historical perspective, the goal is to foster a fuller understanding of
the contemporary world.
PERS 2002 - Scientific Perspectives on Global Problems (2)
This category is composed of a group of interdisciplinary courses that deal with scientific
approaches to important issues on the environment, public health, or technology.
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GUIDELINES FOR PERSPECTIVES COURSES
(Revisions Approved by the Undergraduate Council of CAP on April 22, 2008
1. Any college or department may propose a section in this area as long as it meets the
course description and section guidelines.
2. Interdisciplinary courses are strongly encouraged, through either a single faculty
member presenting various disciplinary perspectives, guest lectures, or team-taught
courses.
3. Sections of PERS 2001 and PERS 2002 should be taught by full-time faculty. This rule
does not preclude the use of outside speakers or guest lecturers who are not GSU fulltime faculty. Exceptions to this rule must be approved in advance by the Perspectives
Committee.
4. All sections will be two semester hours of credit and may be scheduled for either two
50-minute class periods per week or one two-hour class period per week.
5. Perspectives courses are approved for a three-year period.
6. We anticipate these courses will typically enroll 60-100 students per section; however,
Deans/Chairs may request smaller or larger enrollments consistent with their
programmatic requirements.
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FORMAT OF PROPOSAL - WHAT TO SUBMIT
1) Completed Form A—see attached. (Any questions on Form A requiring explanation may be
included in the narrative.)
2) Complete Syllabus, including sections on course requirements, weekly content, grading,
reading assignments, and/or other learning activities. Important: A list of Learning outcomes
must be included in the syllabus, and should be stated in terms of what a student should be
able to do upon succesful completion of the course. Please see section 401 of the faculty
handbook (http://www2.gsu.edu/~wwwfhb/fhb.html) for details regarding the syllabus.
3) Written description of 1-2 pages that address the following issues:
a) What are the goals of the section?
b) How do these goals relate to the topics of Pers 2001 and Pers 2002?
c) What forms of grading and student evaluation will be used?
d) How does the section address the core general education requirements?
e) If the section is to be team taught or is interdisciplinary in nature, how will the work load
and teaching credit be distributed?
f) If the section has been previously offered, what revisions, if any, are planned?
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Important Note: Proposals were rejected in the past primarily because the following points
were not addressed adequately:
1. Proposals for PERS 2001 must demonstrate the comparative cultures aspect, not simply
the American point of view.
2. Proposals for PERS 2002 must address some global issue(s). The approaches may be
different, but the focus should be on the global aspect.
3. All proposals must have a complete syllabus included.
WHEN AND WHERE TO SUBMIT PROPOSALS
The proposal should be submitted no later than Friday, February 3, 2012, to Nikolas Huot at
nhuot1@gsu.edu.
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FORM A - Perspectives Courses for Fall 2013
Check one of the following:
Date _____________
___ Pers 2001 - Perspectives on Comparative Culture
___ Pers 2002 - Scientific Perspectives on Global Problems
Section Name:
Proposed abbreviated title for transcript (25 characters or less-including spaces):
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Department and College: ________________________________________________________
Instructor(s): _________________________________________________________________
Full Time Faculty
____ Yes
_____ No
Additional faculty or guest lecturers: _______________________________________________
Preferred offering: (check one) ___AM
___PM ___Evening
___Does not matter
Preferred scheduling: (check one) (Please note that every effort will be made to match your
preference with the schedule. However, due to the clock schedule, changes may be
necessary.)
___2 meetings per week (MW or TT)
___1 meeting per week
___either
Preferred Semester: (check one or more)
___Fall 2013
___Spring 2014
___ Summer 2014
___Fall 2014
___Spring 2015
___ Summer 2015
___Fall 2015
___Spring 2016
___ Summer 2016
How many students can this section accommodate? (Sections with fewer than 60 students require
a request from the department chair.)
How many sections of this course would your department prefer to offer? ____
Does this section involve instructors from two or more departments or colleges? (If yes, provide
details either here or in the narrative and provide signature(s) for all colleges or departments
concerned.)
Signature of department chair/director. (Signature indicates willingness to staff the course, as
indicated in the proposal.)
Department Chair
Additional signature(s) for interdisciplinary sections
_________________________________
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