Core Curriculum
Revision
Dr. Don Pratt
Associate Professor Biology
Chair Core Curriculum Advisory Committee
Presentation Objectives
O Provide a history of the Core and Core
revision process
O Discuss new Core Objectives
O Identify some unresolved issues
O Present the Core Application Process
History
Current Core
O Established in 1997
O 42-46 SCH
O 37 EEOs
O Why change the core?
O THECB wants the core to help students build
real world skills and capabilities
Philosophical Shift
Old Core
O Accumulate credits
O Across a wide
academic
background
O EEOs were unique to
a discipline
New Core
O Master six key skills
O In a variety of
academic disciplines
O Core objectives are
shared across the
institution
Purposes of the Core
O Students will gain
O Knowledge of human cultures and physical
and natural world
O Principles of personal and social
responsibility
O Intellectual and practical skills
Workforce Report
O Interviewed
O 400+ employers
O Expectations and experiences with
O High School Graduates
O Jr College Graduates
O University Graduates
Workforce Report Skills
O Basic Knowledge
O Applied Skills
O English
O Critical Thinking
O Reading/writing
O Communication
O Math
O Quantitative
O Science
Reasoning
O Teamwork
O Personal and Social
Responsibility
O Art
O Social Studies
Core Objectives
Foundational
Areas
Communication
Math
Nat. Sci.
Language,
Philosophy,
Culture
Creative Arts
Am. History
Government
Social &
Behavioral Sci.
CAO
Crit.
Think
Comm
Empir.
Quant.
Team
Soc.
Resp.
Pers.
Resp.
Current
42-46 Revised
42
Communication
12-14 Communication
6
Math
Science
3
6-8
Math
3
Science
6
Humanities
3
Language/Philosophy/C
ulture
3
Fine Arts
3
Fine Arts
3
US History
6
US History
6
Government
6
Government
6
Social Science
3
Social Science
3
Institutional Option
EEOs
0
37
Component Area Option
Core Objectives
6
6
Core Objectives
Critical Thinking
O Includes
O Creative thinking and innovation
O Inquiry
O Analysis, evaluation, and synthesis of
information
O Addressed in ALL core courses
Communication
O Effective development, interpretation, and
expression of ideas
O Includes
O Written communication
O Oral communication
O Visual communication
O Addressed in ALL core courses
Empirical and Quantitative
O Includes
O Manipulation and analysis of numerical data
or observable facts
O Create informed conclusions
O Addressed in Math, Science, and Social
sciences
Teamwork
O Includes
O Ability to consider different points of view
O Ability to work with others towards a shared
goal
O Addressed in Communication, Sciences, and
Fine Arts
Personal Responsibility
O Ability to connect personal choices, actions,
and consequences to ethical decision
making
O Addressed in Communication,
Language/Philosophy/Culture, History,
Government
Social Responsibility
O Includes
O Intercultural competence
O Civic responsibility
O Ability to engage in regional, national, and
global communities
O Addressed in Language/Philosophy/Culture,
Fine Arts, History, Government, Social
Sciences
Unresolved Difficulties
The Issues
1. How to handle four credit hour courses
O Science courses
O Foreign Language courses
2. How to allocate the Component Area
Option
Four SCH Dilemma
O New core allocates
O 6 hours to sciences
O 3 hours to Language, culture, and philosophy
O But
O Science and foreign language courses are 4
SCH
Option 1
O Account for extra hours at the degree level
O Science
O Six hours count towards core
O Two hours accounted for in each degree
O The Math
O Current Core ranges from 42-46 SCH
O New Core 42 SCH
Option 2
O Account for extra science hours using credits
from the Component Area Option
O Leaves four hours
O Decreases flexibility in how we use the CAO
Component Area Option
O 6 SCH to be applied by the University
O Common opinions so far
O Fourth Science hour
O Communication
O Ethics
O Address student weaknesses
ETS Data
O Compares performance of Freshman and
Senior students
O SFA Students
O Weak in
O Critical Thinking
O Reading
O Writing
O VERY weak in
O Math
Core Application Process
Stages
1. Submit application to the Core Curriculum
Advisory Committee
2. Submit assessment documents to
Assessment Committee
3. Submit course changes to Undergraduate
Curriculum Committee
Timeline
O Feb. 15, 2013- Application to Core
O Fall 2013- Course changes to
Undergraduate Curriculum Committee
O Oct. 1, 2013- Core documentation,
justification, assessment due to Provost
O Nov. 30, 2013- Core documentation,
justification, assessment due to THECB
O Fall 2014- Begin new core