University Curriculum Committee

Annual Report

2005-2006

 

1. Summary of year’s activities

The University Curriculum Committee continued to review, change and approve new undergraduate programs.  The Committee updated its bylaws and created new bylaws and procedures for appointing members to the formerly ad hoc Course Review Subcommittee and General Education Subcommittee that are now full committees that report to the University Curriculum Committee.  The Committee also updated and expanded its web page to provide more current and complete information about the procedures for making changes in the curriculum.

 

1. Approved Computer Security track for the double major in Computer Science & Mathematics
2. Approved reorganization of Sociology concentration in the Sociology-Anthropology major
3. Approved adding the Global Skills track to the Geography major
4. Approved changes in the History Secondary Education requirements
5. Approved reorganization of the Special Education undergraduate program to produce graduates who are “highly qualified” in a content area in four years
6. Approved a consolidated Foreign Language major in the Modern Languages Department
7. Approved dropping the Medieval and Renaissance Studies track in the Interdisciplinary Studies major
8. Approved new Informal Environmental Education track under Environmental Studies concentration in the Environmental Science and Studies major
9. Approved course changes in the Communication Studies major
10. Approved ECON 305 as an elective for the Economics major and minor
11. Approved replacement of 12 credits of upper division Economics electives to 12 credits of Economics electives at either the upper or lower division level.
12. Approved dropping the Sports Studies major
13. Approved changes to the Honors College curriculum that will bring it to national standards
14. Approved changes in the lower division course requirements in the Deaf Studies major
15. Approved changes in the Film and Media Studies track of Electronic Media and Film major
16. Approved the change of Art History from a concentration in the Art major to a separate Art History major
17. Approved a fast track Master’s option in General Geography and in Environmental Geography and Planning
18. Approved dropping PHIL 101 or PHIL111 as a prerequisite for Psychology courses
19. Approved a proposal to replace ASTR 361 with ASTR 162 for the Astronomy Minor and for the Astrophysics Track within the Physics major

 

2. Policy Changes

Distinguished between Combined Major and Double Major

·        A combined major combines the requirements of two majors, allowing students to complete both majors by taking fewer unites than if each major were completed separately.

·        A double major refers to the completion of all the requirements for each of the two majors.

Approved changes to Gen-Ed Structure

·        Create a new Gen Ed category called IIA, Scientific Inquiry. All courses currently listed under II.A.1 and II.A.2 will be combined to create the new Gen Ed category, IIA, called Scientific Inquiry.  Students must complete a minimum of 8 units in the IIA category, of which 4 units must be a laboratory science course.

·        Unite all courses form categories II.B.2 and II.C.2 under II.C.2 and require two courses (from different disciplines) from that category

3. Pending Work

 

The Committee needs to meet with the College Curriculum Committee chairs in September to review procedures for making curricular changes and to comment on the new flowchart depicting “Steps in the Curriculum Process at TU”.

 

4. Problems needing the attention of the Committee or the University Senate

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Toni Marzotto, Chair, 2005-2006