Implementation Timetable
New UAlbany General Education Program Advisor Fact Sheet (Summer 2012)
1. The University at Albany's General Education Program is undergoing a three-year transition to new requirements. It applies to all students matriculating Fall 2012 and to continuing students graduating in December 2012 and thereafter.
2. The new General Education program requires students to complete a minimum of 30 credits in General Education approved courses or their equivalent.
3. Once we have fully transitioned to the new General Education Program there will be two sets of requirements that students will complete for graduation:
I. Students will be required to complete a course in each of the following 10 academic categories:
SUNY Mandated Categories:
(1) Mathematics and Statistics
(2) Lower-Level Writing Intensive
SUNY Flex Categories Required at UAlbany:
(3) Arts
(4) Humanities
(5) Natural Sciences
(6) Social Sciences
(7) U.S. History
(8) International Perspectives (a new category-- comprised of Europe and Regions Beyond Europe courses or a term abroad)
(9) Foreign Language
UAlbany Local Requirement:
(10) Challenges for the 21st Century: a new category that addresses a variety of issues focusing on challenges and opportunities in such areas as cultural diversity and pluralism, science and technology, social interaction, ethics, global citizenship, and others, and may include interdisciplinary approaches. Courses in this category will be expected to address the historical roots and contemporary manifestations of challenges that lie ahead as students move into the world beyond the University at Albany. [Note: Many courses that currently count as Global and Cross-Cultural Studies or U.S. Diversity and Pluralism under the present General Education program may be approved for this category.]
II. Departments will need to demonstrate that students complete the following academic competencies within their major:
(1) Critical Thinking
(2) Advanced Writing
(3) Oral Communication
(4) Information Literacy
4. The new program requires fewer credits than the previous General Education program.
5. The first nine academic categories are part of the SUNY-wide General Education curriculum. Students who complete A.S. or A.A. degrees at another SUNY college/university are exempt from additional General Education requirements that are part of the SUNY-wide General Education curriculum.
6. Challenges for the 21st Century is a UAlbany local requirement. Even students who have completed all their general education courses at another SUNY college/university, or have completed their A.A. or A.S. at from another SUNY campus, must complete 3 credits in this local UAlbany category.
7. Courses that are currently approved for General Education will apply to the new General Education program with a few exceptions. In particular, courses that were approved for categories that are not included in the new General Education program will not count for General Education credit unless they also count toward another General Education in the new program.
8. The International Perspectives category includes courses that currently count as Europe and Regions Beyond Europe. Many Global and Cross-Cultural Studies courses will likely be approved for this category by Fall 2013 once they are reviewed, but they currently do not count in this new category unless they previously double-counted with the Europe and/or Regions Beyond Europe categories.
9. Change in Foreign Language requirement: "One course of at least 3 credits in a language other than English. This requirement is also considered satisfied for students who have:
- demonstrated competency in a language other than English, including languages not currently offered for formal instruction at this university; or
- passed a Regents “Checkpoint B” Examination or a Regents-approved equivalent in a foreign language, with a score of 85 or above; or
- completed three or more years of a foreign language in high school with a course grade in the third year of 85, or B, or better or
- earned a score of 530 or better on an SAT II Subject Test in a foreign language."
10. As noted above, the Challenges for the 21st Century category will include issues-based courses that will integrate challenges and opportunities in such areas as cultural diversity and pluralism, science and technology, social interaction, ethics, and global citizenship. Courses that currently count in the categories of Global and Cross-Cultural and U.S. Diversity and Pluralism will be reviewed for inclusion in this category.
11. Each department will determine how students in their majors will become proficient in the four academic competency areas (critical thinking, advanced writing, oral communication, information literacy).
12. The timeline for the meeting General Education Program requirements:
A. For students matriculating in Fall 2012, Spring 2013, or Summer 2013:
· 1 course in each of the first 9 academic categories (NOT Challenges for the 21st Century)
· 1 more course in any of the “flex” categories (academic areas # 3 – 9)
· 1 Information Literacy course.
B. For students matriculating in Fall 2013, Spring 2014, or Summer 2014:
· 1 course in each of the first 9 academic categories
· 1course in the Challenges for the 21st Century category
· 1 course in Information Literacy
C. For students matriculating in Fall 2014 and thereafter:
· 1 course in each of the first 9 academic categories
· 1 course in the Challenges for the 21st Century category
· 4 academic competencies (critical thinking, advanced writing, oral communication, information literacy) within their major.
13. It is likely that until Fall 2014, when Departments are responsible for overseeing that students become proficient in advanced written communication within their major, any course that currently carries a writing-intensive designation (either lower- or upper-level) will meet the new General Education lower-level writing intensive requirement.
14. The General Education Committee of the UAC will continue to review courses for General Education Designation and a General Education Advisory Board is being created to help departments implement the new requirements of the General Education Program.
15. Send questions and comments to:
Leslie Halpern, Ph.D.
Associate Dean for General Education, LC 31
Ph: (518) 591-8516 / Fax: (518) 442-4959
lhalpern@albany.edu
