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,
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
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.