WHEREAS,   The University of Delaware does not have a set of breadth courses that meet requirements for all majors and

WHEREAS,   it has been difficult for students, advisors and faculty to understand which courses transfer between colleges, departments, majors and programs, and

WHEREAS,   it would benefit all students to be exposed to courses outside of their major area of study, be it therefore

RESOLVED,  that beginning with the academic year 2010-2011 a list of courses submitted by the Colleges will be designated as meeting University breadth requirements, and be it further

RESOLVED,  that all students will be required to complete a minimum of 12 credits from the list of breadth courses, and be it further

RESOLVED,  that all students will be required to take a minimum 3 credits from each of the following categories, receiving a minimum grade of C-,  in order to meet the University requirement:

-          Creative Arts and Humanities

-          History and Cultural Change

-          Social and Behavioral Sciences

-          Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Technology

and be it further

RESOLVED,  that a standing faculty senate sub-committee, with representation from all the Colleges, which reports to the Senate Undergraduate Studies Committee would provide the oversight of the placement of breadth courses in appropriate categories, and ensure that the intent of breadth remains inclusive while maintaining a substantial list of courses that encourage exploration by the students in areas outside of their major.

University Breadth Requirement Outline

 

There would be a minimum University breadth requirement of 12 credits.

a.       The requirement would include at least one course from each of four categories (for categories see below), with no more than one course taken from any single subject area (i.e. the four- letter subject code ACCT, HIST etc.).  This would include courses that are cross-listed with that subject area.

b.      University breadth courses would and should include courses from all Colleges.

c.       To meet the University Breadth requirement students enrolled in a single major would not be permitted to take courses with the subject area of that major (e.g. Chemistry majors could not use CHEM courses).  A course cross-listed with the student’s major subject area would not satisfy the breadth requirement. If multiple subject areas exist within a department the student could satisfy the breadth requirement from a subject area that does not represent their major.  (Example:  NTDT 200 meeting the breadth requirement for Health Behavior Science Majors which has a HESC subject area.)

d.      When the college/major breadth requirements exceed 12 credits then the additional course(s) could come from the subject area of the student’s major.  This would be determined by the college or department and designated under College/Department requirements.

e.            Because pursuing multiple courses of study constitutes another way to accomplish the goal of academic exploration embodied in the breadth requirement, students who are enrolled in more than one major or degree can meet the University breadth  requirement by taking approved breadth courses from within the subject areas of their major(s)

f.       A minimum grade of C- would be required for the four courses designated to meet the University breadth requirement.

g.        The breadth requirement would not include ENGL110

h.       Breadth courses would be required to be open to all students (not majors and minors only). When pre-requisites are required those courses would also be open to non-majors/non-minors.

i.       Colleges and departments would have the flexibility to require additional courses, beyond those used to satisfy the university breadth requirements, to meet their own breadth requirements.

j.         If a breadth course is required for a student’s major then that course would count for both breadth and major requirement, subject to the limitations in (c) above.

k.         Courses for which Advanced Placement credit or transfer credit has been given can be used to satisfy University breadth requirements, as long as the equivalent course appears on the list of breadth courses.

 

l.        There would be four categories ( see expanded description below)

                  - Creative Arts and Humanities

                  - History and Cultural Change

                  - Social and Behavioral Sciences

                  - Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Technology

Creative Arts and Humanities

Courses provide students with an understanding and appreciation of the visual and performing arts, of aesthetic forms, designs, or craftsmanship, or of literary, philosophical, and intellectual traditions.  Courses may focus on a single aesthetic form or intellectual tradition, or cross-cultural comparisons.

 

History and Cultural Change

Courses provide students with an understanding of the sources and forces of historical changes in ideas, beliefs, institutions, and cultures.  Courses may address social, cultural, intellectual, economic, technological, artistic, scientific, and political development, changes in a discipline, or globalization and its effects. 

 

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Courses provide students with an understanding of the behavior of individuals and social groups in the context of their human and natural environments.  Courses emphasize the empirical findings, applications, and methods of the social and behavioral sciences.  

 

Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Technology

Courses provide students with an understanding of fundamental and/or applied concepts and phenomena from mathematics, logic, natural or physical sciences, and technology including quantitative reasoning and methods used to approach and solve problems.