Assessment of General Education
(February 2005)
General Education and Assessment at Alfred State College
In Fall 2000, SUNY's new General Education Requirements (SUNY-GER) for graduation took
effect. Mandated by the SUNY Trustees and developed by an advisory group of faculty and
academic leaders across the system, the intent of the requirements is to provide all SUNY
graduates with a broadly based set of knowledge areas and competencies.
The SUNY-GER consists of 10 learning outcomes and two competencies required of all
baccalaureate students. Although the SUNY trustees’ mandate applies to baccalaureate students
only, Alfred State College has set similar requirements for many of its associate degree programs
as well. This was done in accordance with our curriculum reform initiative and to better serve our
students as they transfer to four-year programs. The specific requirements for all Alfred State
College degrees currently stand as follows:
PROGRAM
Student Learning Outcomes
Bachelor degree programs (not ABET) ................................................. 10/10
B.T. in Information Technology ............................................................. 8/10
B.S. and B.T. ABET-accredited programs (including
those programs applying for ABET accreditation) ................................. 7/10
A.S. in Engineering Science ................................................................. 5/10
A.S. and A.A. ........................................................................................ 7/10
A.A.S. (except Nursing which requires 3.5 outcomes) ......................... 5/10
The plan includes a timetable making it clear that all General Education learning objectives will be
completed within a three-year cycle.
The combination of 10 knowledge and skill areas (Alfred State separates communication
into two parts) and the two competencies create a total of 13 areas to be assessed. These
are assessed at a rate of approximately two areas per semester, with all 13 completed in six
semesters, or three years, according to the following schedule:
1
2
3
4
5
6
Semester
Spring 2003
Fall 2003
Spring 2004
Fall 2004
Spring 2005
Fall 2005
Learning Objective
Mathematics, Communication (written), American History
Natural Sciences, Humanities, Communication (oral)
Social Sciences
Western Civilization, Foreign Language
The Arts, Other World Civilizations
Critical Thinking, Information Management
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Knowledge and Skill Areas
Mathematics
Natural Science
Social Science
U. S. History
Western Civilization
Other World Civilizations
Humanities
The Arts
Foreign Language
Basic Communication – Written and Oral
Knowledge-area departments, in consultation with other appropriate departments, identify
specific courses as appropriate venues for gathering data about student performance in
particular knowledge areas. For example, Freshman Composition might be identified as an
appropriate course in which to gather data about student writing skills (as might any course in
which writing occurs), and American History I would be identified as an appropriate course in
which to gather data about student knowledge of U. S. History. Because student performance
is being assessed and not the course, eventually a fairly wide range of courses across campus
will be identified as appropriate for many areas. For example, any course that contains writing
might be identified as appropriate for measuring writing skills, and any course in which students
demonstrate critical thinking might be identified as appropriate for measuring critical thinking
skills. The Faculty Senate recognizes that some skills surface less frequently (for example,
knowledge of history) than do others (for example, writing skills), but it is committed to
assessing students in as many settings as possible.
Competency Areas
Critical Thinking
Information Management
The two competency areas will be assessed in courses offered across our curricula. For
Information Management the identified course is COMP 1503. For Critical Thinking, the rubric
will be applied to student work in courses across the Alfred campus. Because student
performance is being assessed and not a course, the college is committed to assessing
students in as many settings as possible.
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SUNY General Education Requirements
Knowledge Areas
1. MATHEMATICS
Knowledge and Skill Area
Outcomes:
Students will demonstrate competence in the following quantitative reasoning skills:
o Arithmetic
o Algebra
o Geometry
o Data Analysis
o Quantitative Reasoning.”
SUNY waiver criteria are listed in Appendix A.
(Criteria changing Spring 2005)
(Strengthening Campus Based Assessment – will require change in ASC current plan and
implementation)
2. NATURAL SCIENCES
Knowledge and Skill Area
Outcomes:
Students will demonstrate
o methods scientists use to explore natural phenomena, including observation,
hypothesis development, measurement and data collection, experimentation,
evaluation of evidence, and employment of mathematical analysis; and
o application of scientific data, concepts, and models in one of the natural sciences.
3. Social Sciences
Knowledge and Skill Area
Outcomes:
Students will demonstrate
o
knowledge of the methods social scientists use to explore social phenomena,
including observation, hypothesis development, measurement and data
collection, experimentation, evaluation of evidence, and employment of
mathematical and interpretive analysis; and
o
knowledge of the major concepts, models, and issues of at least one
discipline in the social sciences.
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4.
U. S. History
Knowledge and Skill Area
Outcomes:
Students will demonstrate
o
knowledge of a basic narrative of American history: political, economic, social, and
cultural, including knowledge of unity and diversity in American society,
o
knowledge of common institutions in American society and how they have affected
different groups; and
o
knowledge of America’s evolving relationship with the rest of the world.
5. WESTERN CIVILIZATION
Knowledge and Skill Area
Outcomes:
Students will demonstrate
o
knowledge of the development of the distinctive features of the history, institutions,
economy, society, culture, etc. of Western Civilization, and
o
knowledge of the development of Western Civilization and its relation to other
regions of the world.
6. OTHER WORLD CIVILIZATIONS
Knowledge and Skill Area
Outcomes:
Students will demonstrate
o
knowledge of either a broad outline of world history, or
o
knowledge of the history, institutions, economy, society, culture, etc. of one nonWestern civilization.
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7. HUMANITIES
Knowledge and Skill Area
Outcomes:
Students will demonstrate
o knowledge of the conventions and methods of at least one of the humanities in addition to
those encompassed by other knowledge areas required by the general education program,
o understanding of self and demonstration of sensitivity to others of different cultures or
perceptions in order to work constructively in a pluralistic society,
o analysis of moral and ethical dilemmas as expressed in artifacts of the humanities, and
o application of knowledge to promote common good.
8. THE ARTS
Knowledge and Skill Area
Fine Arts
Outcomes
Students will demonstrate
o knowledge of the principles and elements used in the art form and
o knowledge of the distinctive features associated with the art form.
9. FOREIGN LANGUAGE
Knowledge and Skill Area
Outcomes
Students will demonstrate
o basic proficiency in the understanding and use of a foreign language and
o knowledge of the distinctive features of culture(s) associated with the language being
studied.
SUNY waiver criteria are listed in Appendix A.
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10. BASIC COMMUNICATION
Knowledge and Skill Area has two (2) parts – 10A (Written) and 10B (Oral)
10A. Written Communication
Knowledge and Skill Area
Outcomes
Student will demonstrate
o competence in the skill of written communication and
o knowledge of basic research tools and the demonstrated ability to present that information
in a manner appropriate to audience and discipline.
(Strengthening Campus Based Assessment – will require change in ASC current plan and
implementation & these are not the outcomes provided by SUNY)
10B. Oral Communication
Knowledge and Skill Area
Outcomes
Students will be able to
o develop proficiency in oral discourse and
o evaluate an oral presentation according to established criteria.
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Competencies
11. CRITICAL THINKING (REASONING)
Competency Area
Outcomes:
Student will be able to
o identify, analyze, and evaluate arguments as they occur in their own or others’ work and
o develop well-reasoned arguments.
(Strengthening Campus Based Assessment – will require change in ASC current plan and
implementation)
12. Information Management
Competency Area
Outcomes:
Students will
o perform the basic operations of personal computer use (Outcome #1),
o use basic research techniques (Outcome #2), and
o locate, evaluate, and synthesize information from a variety of sources (Outcome #3).
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APPENDIX A
ALFRED STATE COLLEGE COURSES THAT FULFILL GEN ED
SUNY LEARNING OUTCOMES – KNOWLEDGE AND SKILL AREAS
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Mathematics
Natural
Sciences
Social
Sciences
American
History
Western
Civilization
Other
World
Civilizations
Humanities
The Arts
Foreign
Languages
Basic
Communications
Waiver
MATH 1033
MATH 1054
MATH 1063
MATH 1084
MATH 1113
MATH 1123
MATH 1143
MATH 2003
MATH 2043
MATH 2074
MATH 2094
MATH 2124
MATH 2133
MATH 2153
MATH 3104
MATH 4114
MATH 7113
MATH 7123
Waiver
AGPS 1103
AGPS 2203
AGSC 2304
AGSC 4913
ANSC 2013
BCHM 3444
BCHM 4543
BCHM 4545
BIOL 1104
BIOL 1143
BIOL 1303
BIOL 1404
BIOL 1813
BIOL 2204
BIOL 2303
BIOL 2504
BIOL 2803
BIOL 4254
BIOL 4403
BIOL 4534
CHEM 1013
CHEM 1114
CHEM 1514
CHEM 1614
CHEM 1984
CHEM 2124
CHEM 2614
CHEM 2984
CHEM 3414
CHEM 3514
CHEM 4524
HLTH 1313
HORT 1313
NASC 1003
NASC 2003
PHYS 1024
PHYS 1044
PHYS 1064
PHYS 2023
PHYS 2044
PHYS 2064
PHYS 3064
PHYS 8013
Waiver
ANTH 1013
ECON 1013
ECON 1033
ECON 2023
EDUC 2013
PLSC 1043
PSYC 1013
PSYC 1023
PSYC 1033
PSYC 1053
PSYC 1063
PSYC 2093
PSYC 5103
SOCI 1163
SOCI 1183
SOCI 1193
SOCI 1223
SOCI 1233
SOCI 1243
SOCI 5213
Waiver
HIST 1143
HIST 2153
PLSC 1043
Waiver
HIST 1113
Waiver
PLSC 1053
SOCI 1193 3
PLSC 1183 1
Waiver
LITR 2033
LITR 2343
LITR 2603
LITR 2703
LITR 2813
LITR 2900
LITR 2903
LITR 2913
LITR 3233
LITR 4333
PHIL 1073
PHIL 2173
PHIL 2900
Waiver
FNAT 1013
FNAT 1023
FNAT 1313
FNAT 2413
FNAT 2423
FNAT 2433
FNAT 2900
FNAT 3513
Waiver
FLNG XXX3
SPAN 1203
Waiver
COMP 1503
&
BUAD 2033 2
1
2
3
1
1
1
COMP 1503
&
SPCH 1083
COMP 1503
&
SPCH 5083
3
1
3
1
Courses Deactivated
Business Communications satisfies the oral component for two year business degrees only
Effective Fall 2002
Updated 06/03
See Records Office website for most current table.
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ALFRED STATE COLLEGE
SUNY GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
SUNY – G.E.R. applies to NEW students, Fall 2000 or after. SUNY – G.E.R. applies to TRANSFER and RETURNING/READMIT
students Fall 2002 or after. Students may need to complete from five to ten of these learning outcomes, knowledge, and skill
areas as follows:
Bachelor’s degree programs (not ABET)
B.T. in Information Technology Programs
B.S. and B.T. ABET-accredited programs (including those applying)
A.S. and A.A.
A.S. in Engineering Science
A.A.S. (effective Fall 2002)
A.A.S. in Nursing (effective Fall 2002)
10/10
8/10 (Areas 1,2,3,7,10 required)
7/10
7/10
5/10
5/10
3.5/10 (Areas 2,3,7,10 – Comp 1503)
PLEASE REFER TO ACADEMIC REGULATION 200 FOR COMPLETE GRADUATION
REQUIREMENTS.
Some requirements may be waived based upon high school work or test scores. (See waiver criteria).
WAIVER CRITERIA
KNOWLEDGE AND
SKILL AREAS
1. Mathematics
2. Natural Sciences
3. Social Sciences
AP SCORES OF
3, 4, OR 5
Calculus (AB)
Calculus (BC)
Biology
Chemistry
Physics (B or C)
Psychology
Political Science
Economics: Macro
Economics: Micro
4. American History
History: United States
Gov’t & Politics: U.S.
5. Western Civilization
History: European
6. Other World
Civilizations
7. Humanities
Government & Politics:
Comparative
Art History (B)
English: Lit & Comp
8. The Arts
History of Art
Music Theory
French
German
Spanish
9. Foreign Language
CLEP
(MINIMUM SCORE)
Calculus w/Elementary
Functions
College Algebra
College Algebra-Trig
Trigonometry
General Biology
General Chemistry
50
50
50
50
50
50
American Gov’t
Intro to Psychology
Intro to Sociology
Princ of Microeconomics
Princ of Macroeconomics
Human Growth & Devel
American Government
American Hist I: to 1877
American Hist II: 1865+
Western Civ I: to 1648
Western Civ II: 1648 +
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
American Literature
English Literature
Analys & Interp of Lit
50
50
50
College
College
College
College
College
College
50
62
50
63
50
66
French I
French II
German I
German II
Spanish I
Spanish II
OTHER
3 years of sequential
Regents-level Math in high
school: 85% or above on
Regents Course III exam
or Course B
3 years foreign language in
high school and 85% or
above on Regents, or
graduate of foreign high
school where language of
instruction is other than
English
10. Basic Communication
On the back, students may circle courses completed and maintain this document to record requirements that have been fulfilled.
Updated 06/03
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