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 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 English O Reading/writing O Math O Science O Art O Social Studies O Applied Skills O Critical Thinking O Communication O Quantitative Reasoning O Teamwork O Personal and Social Responsibility

Core Objectives Foundational Areas Crit. ThinkComm Empir. Quant.Team Soc. Resp. Pers. Resp. Communication Math Nat. Sci. Language, Philosophy, Culture Creative Arts Am. History Government Social & Behavioral Sci. CAO

Current42-46Revised42 Communication12-14Communication6 Math3 3 Science6-8Science6 Humanities3 Language/Philosophy/C ulture 3 Fine Arts3 3 US History6 6 Government6 6 Social Science3 3 Institutional Option 0 Component Area Option 6 EEOs37Core Objectives6

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 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, Application to Core O Fall Course changes to Undergraduate Curriculum Committee O Oct. 1, Core documentation, justification, assessment due to Provost O Nov. 30, Core documentation, justification, assessment due to THECB O Fall Begin new core