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INTERPRETATIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS OF 03/04-183
During the process of implementing the new BSC Core Curriculum, the BSC community raised many questions about how the document would be interpreted. In addition, several academic departments were reconfigured. The first set of interpretations listed below is "Technical Corrections." These changes were necessary due to either departmental changes or other college policy changes. Since the Chair of the Core Curriculum Subcommittee and the Associate Dean of Arts and Sciences are charged in the document with the day-to-day management of the Core Curriculum, they interpreted the document when the questions could be answered by a close reading of it. These are the second set of interpretations listed below as CCAD 05/06-xxx. For some questions, the committee believed that a discussion and vote by the committee was necessary. In these cases, the Core Curriculum Steering Committee discussed the question and voted to approve the third set of interpretations listed below as CCSC 05/06-xxx.
I. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS TO CORE CURRICULUM DOCUMENT, 03/04-183
- Page 7: Change reference of 30 credits to 24 and 60 credits to 54 credits to keep the Core Curriculum guidelines the same as the federal and state requirements for full time status for financial aid, housing, etc.
- Page 9: Change cap for Writing I and Writing II to 20.
- Page 10: Communication Studies should be listed under Behavioral/Social Science but not Theater and Dance. They were in the same department when the 03/04-183 was passed and they have since become 2 departments.
- Page 10: Geography, but not Earth Sciences, should be listed under Behavioral/Social Science.
- Page 10: Sociology and Criminal Justice are listed in one department; they have now separated and should be listed as two different departments.
- Page 10: Under Fine and Performing Arts, Theater and Dance, but not Communication Studies, should be listed.
- Page 10: Both Earth Science and Geography should be listed as Natural Science but as separate departments.
- Page 16: Change to the First and Second Year Seminar designations.
- Communication Studies, but not Theater and Dance, in Behavioral/Social Science.
- Geography, but not Earth Science, in Behavioral/Social Science.
- Sociology and Criminal Justice as separated departments in Behavioral/Social Science.
- Theater and Dance, but not Communication Studies, under Fine and Performing Arts.
- Both Earth Sciences and Geography as separate departments under Natural Science.
- Since Geography is listed in 2 areas, they will designate which distribution area they will fulfill for First and Second Year Seminars without having to go through governance. The committee discussed this item and had concerns that many departments really offer courses in two areas. However, since Geography is the only department listed in two places, the committee decided to leave the designation to departmental discretion.
II. COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON AND ASSOCIATE DEAN INTERPRETATIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS
CCAD 05/06-001
Re: Distribution Requirements may be met by multiple courses taken in the same department.
Pursuant to the mandate in 03/04-183 (Core Curriculum) that the Chairperson of the Core Curriculum Steering Committee (Chairperson) and the Associate Dean of Arts and Sciences (Associate Dean) shall provide day-to-day management necessary to run the Core Curriculum, the Chairperson and Associate Dean at a meeting held on November 15, 2005 by agreement made the following interpretation of the Core Curriculum.
Students are not required to take their Fine and Performing Arts, Humanities, Natural Science and Social/Behavioral Science courses from different departments.
CCAD 05/06-002
Re: Fine and Performing Arts requirement may be met by two studio courses.
Pursuant to the mandate in 03/04-183 (Core Curriculum) that the Chairperson of the Core Curriculum Steering Committee (Chairperson) and the Associate Dean of Arts and Sciences (Associate Dean) shall provide day-to-day management necessary to run the Core Curriculum, the Chairperson and Associate Dean at a meeting held on November 15, 2005 by agreement made the following interpretation of the Core Curriculum.
Students may take two studio Arts courses to fulfill their Fine and Performing Arts requirement.
CCAD 05/06-003
Re: Courses in the students major may meet some Core Curriculum requirements.
Pursuant to the mandate in 03/04-183 (Core Curriculum) that the Chairperson of the Core Curriculum Steering Committee (Chairperson) and the Associate Dean of Arts and Sciences (Associate Dean) shall provide day-to-day management necessary to run the Core Curriculum, the Chairperson and Associate Dean at a meeting held on November 15, 2005 by agreement made the following interpretation of the Core Curriculum.
The Writing Intensive requirement in one of the distribution areas; the Quantitative Reasoning requirement; and the Global and Multicultural requirements may be taken in the students major.
CCAD 05/06-004
Re: One course may fulfill multiple Core Requirements.
Pursuant to the mandate in 03/04-183 (Core Curriculum) that the Chairperson of the Core Curriculum Steering Committee (Chairperson) and the Associate Dean of Arts and Sciences (Associate Dean) shall provide day-to-day management necessary to run the Core Curriculum, the Chairperson and Associate Dean at a meeting held on November 15, 2005 by agreement made the following interpretation of the Core Curriculum.
Students may use a single course to fulfill multiple requirements in the Core Distribution requirements, Additional Requirements, and the seminar categories.
CCAD 05/06-005
Re: No set cap for courses designated as addressing an application of quantitative skills
Pursuant to the mandate in 03/04-183 (Core Curriculum) that the Chairperson of the Core Curriculum Steering Committee (Chairperson) and the Associate Dean of Arts and Sciences (Associate Dean) shall provide day-to-day management necessary to run the Core Curriculum, the Chairperson and Associate Dean at a meeting held on December 15, 2005 by agreement made the following interpretation of the Core Curriculum.
The Core Curriculum requires:
At least 6 credits must be completed in courses designated as addressing quantitative reasoning skills. This may be accomplished in either of the following ways:
- 3 credits of Foundations of Mathematical Reasoning and 3 credits designated as addressing an application of quantitative skills.
- 6 credits of Foundations of Mathematical Reasoning
The Core Curriculum has set a cap of 25 for any course satisfying the requirement in Foundations of Mathematical Reasoning.
However, the Core Curriculum has not set any cap regarding any course designated as addressing an application of quantitative skills.
This Interpretation/Clarification is not designed to provide any opinion on the appropriateness of any cap set by any academic department and/or any administrator for any particular course.
This Interpretation/Clarification also recognizes that future contingencies may require the administration to modify any cap.
CCAD 05/06-006
Re: Waiver of the First Year Seminar for students who matriculate at Bridgewater State College after the completion of 24 credits
Pursuant to the mandate in 03/04-183 (Core Curriculum) that the Chairperson of the Core Curriculum Steering Committee (Chairperson) and the Associate Dean of Arts and Sciences (Associate Dean) shall provide day-to-day management necessary to run the Core Curriculum, the Chairperson and Associate Dean at a meeting held on January 25, 2006 by agreement made the following interpretation of the Core Curriculum.
The Core Curriculum requires that the First Year Seminar be taken during a students first academic year. Therefore, it would be inconsistent to require a student who matriculates at Bridgewater State College after the completion of 24 credits to take the First Year Seminar. The requirement of the First Year Seminar is waived for students matriculating at Bridgewater State College after the completion of 24 credits.
The Core Curriculum has a requirement relative to writing and speaking intensive courses as follows:
At least 6 credits in the distribution areas must be satisfied through courses designated as writing intensive. (One of these courses may be the First Year Seminar.) Beyond these 6 credits, 3 additional credits in the distribution areas must be satisfied through a course designated as either writing or speaking intensive. (This may be the Second Year Seminar and may not be satisfied by the upper-level writing intensive course in the students major, cf. below.)
The waiver of the First Year Seminar does not effect the requirement relative to writing and speaking intensive courses which must be met in its entirety. The waiver of the First Year Seminar is not to be interpreted as fulfilling any of the requirements relative to writing and speaking intensive courses. However, the Associate Dean may determine that courses taken prior to matriculating at Bridgewater State College meet part or all of the requirements relative to writing and speaking intensive course.
CCAD 05/06-007
Re: Waiver of the Second Year Seminar for students who matriculate at Bridgewater State College after the completion of 54 credits
Pursuant to the mandate in 03/04-183 (Core Curriculum) that the Chairperson of the Core Curriculum Steering Committee (Chairperson) and the Associate Dean of Arts and Sciences (Associate Dean) shall provide day-to-day management necessary to run the Core Curriculum, the Chairperson and Associate Dean at a meeting held on January 25, 2006 by agreement made the following interpretation of the Core Curriculum.
The Core Curriculum requires that the Second Year Seminar be taken during a students second academic year. Therefore, it would be inconsistent to require a student who matriculates at Bridgewater State College after the completion of 54 credits to take the First Year Seminar. The requirement of the First Year Seminar is waived for students matriculating at Bridgewater State College after the completion of 54 credits.
The Core Curriculum has a requirement relative to writing and speaking intensive courses as follows:
At least 6 credits in the distribution areas must be satisfied through courses designated as writing intensive. (One of these courses may be the First Year Seminar.) Beyond these 6 credits, 3 additional credits in the distribution areas must be satisfied through a course designated as either writing or speaking intensive. (This may be the Second Year Seminar and may not be satisfied by the upper-level writing intensive course in the students major, cf. below.)
The waiver of the Second Year Seminar does not effect the requirement relative to writing and speaking intensive courses which must be met in its entirety. The waiver of the Second Year Seminar is not to be interpreted as fulfilling any of the requirements relative to writing and speaking intensive courses. However, the Associate Dean may determine that courses taken prior to matriculating at Bridgewater State College meet part or all of the requirements relative to writing and speaking intensive courses.
CCAD 05/06-008
Re: Waiver of the First Year Seminar for students who switch over to Core Curriculum after the completion of 24 credits
Pursuant to the mandate in 03/04-183 (Core Curriculum) that the Chairperson of the Core Curriculum Steering Committee (Chairperson) and the Associate Dean of Arts and Sciences (Associate Dean) shall provide day-to-day management necessary to run the Core Curriculum, the Chairperson and Associate Dean at a meeting held on January 25, 2006 by agreement made the following interpretation of the Core Curriculum.
Students who have matriculated at Bridgewater State College and have commenced their course of studies at Bridgewater State College prior to the Fall 2006 Semester are not required to meet the requirements of the Core Curriculum. These students would be subject to the prior existing system of General Education Requirements.
However, students who have matriculated at Bridgewater State College and have commenced their course of studies at Bridgewater State College prior to the Fall 2006 Semester may choose to meet the requirements of the Core Curriculum instead of the prior existing General Education Requirements.
The Core Curriculum requires that the First Year Seminar be taken during a students first academic year. Therefore, it would be inconsistent to require a student who has already completed 24 credits by the beginning of the Fall 2006 Semester to take the First Year Seminar. The requirement of the First Year Seminar is waived for students at Bridgewater State College who have completed 24 credits prior to the beginning of the Fall 2006 Semester.
The Core Curriculum has a requirement relative to writing and speaking intensive courses as follows:
At least 6 credits in the distribution areas must be satisfied through courses designated as writing intensive. (One of these courses may be the First Year Seminar.) Beyond these 6 credits, 3 additional credits in the distribution areas must be satisfied through a course designated as either writing or speaking intensive. (This may be the Second Year Seminar and may not be satisfied by the upper-level writing intensive course in the students major, cf. below.)
The waiver of the First Year Seminar does not effect the requirement relative to writing and speaking intensive courses which must be met in its entirety. The waiver of the First Year Seminar is not to be interpreted as fulfilling any of the requirements relative to writing and speaking intensive courses. However, the Associate Dean may determine that courses taken prior to the Fall 2006 Semester meet part or all of the requirement relative to writing and speaking intensive courses.
CCAD 05/06-009
Re: Waiver of the Second Year Seminar for students who switch over to Core Curriculum after the completion of 54 credits
Pursuant to the mandate in 03/04-183 (Core Curriculum) that the Chairperson of the Core Curriculum Steering Committee (Chairperson) and the Associate Dean of Arts and Sciences (Associate Dean) shall provide day-to-day management necessary to run the Core Curriculum, the Chairperson and Associate Dean at a meeting held on January 25, 2006 by agreement made the following interpretation of the Core Curriculum.
Students who have matriculated at Bridgewater State College and have commenced their course of studies at Bridgewater State College prior to the Fall 2006 Semester are not required to meet the requirements of the Core Curriculum. These students would be subject to the prior existing system of General Education Requirements.
However, students who have matriculated at Bridgewater State College and have commenced their course of studies at Bridgewater State College prior to the Fall 2006 Semester may choose to meet the requirements of the Core Curriculum instead of the prior existing General Education Requirements.
The Core Curriculum requires that the Second Year Seminar be taken during a students second academic year. Therefore, it would be inconsistent to require a student who has already completed 54 credits by the beginning of the Fall 2006 Semester to take the Second Year Seminar. The requirement of the Second Year Seminar is waived for students at Bridgewater State College who have completed 54 credits prior to the beginning of the Fall 2006 Semester.
The Core Curriculum has a requirement relative to writing and speaking intensive courses as follows:
At least 6 credits in the distribution areas must be satisfied through courses designated as writing intensive. (One of these courses may be the First Year Seminar.) Beyond these 6 credits, 3 additional credits in the distribution areas must be satisfied through a course designated as either writing or speaking intensive. (This may be the Second Year Seminar and may not be satisfied by the upper-level writing intensive course in the students major, cf. below.)
The waiver of the Second Year Seminar does not effect the requirement relative to writing and speaking intensive courses which must be met in its entirety. The waiver of the Second Year Seminar is not to be interpreted as fulfilling any of the requirement relative to writing and speaking intensive courses. However, the Associate Dean may determine that courses taken prior to the Fall 2006 Semester meet part or all of the requirement relative to writing and speaking intensive courses.
CCAD 05/06-010
Re: Presumption regarding status of a course as being writing or speaking intensive.
Pursuant to the mandate in 03/04-183 (Core Curriculum) that the Chairperson of the Core Curriculum Steering Committee (Chairperson) and the Associate Dean of Arts and Sciences (Associate Dean) shall provide day-to-day management necessary to run the Core Curriculum, the Chairperson and Associate Dean at a meeting held on January 25, 2006 by agreement made the following interpretation of the Core Curriculum.
The Core Curriculum has a requirement relative to writing and speaking intensive courses as follows:
At least 6 credits in the distribution areas must be satisfied through courses designated as writing intensive. (One of these courses may be the First Year Seminar.) Beyond these 6 credits, 3 additional credits in the distribution areas must be satisfied through a course designated as either writing or speaking intensive. (This may be the Second Year Seminar and may not be satisfied by the upper-level writing intensive course in the students major, cf. below.)
For periods commencing with the Fall Semester of 2006 the College governance process shall make the determination of whether a course is designated as either writing or speaking intensive. However, the Associate Dean may determine that courses taken prior to the Fall 2006 Semester meet part or all of the requirement relative to writing and speaking intensive courses. In making such determinations the Associate Dean shall presume that any course designated as either writing or speaking intensive for periods commencing with the Fall Semester of 2006, shall have the same properties for periods prior to the Fall Semester of 2006.
III. CORE CURRICULUM STEERING COMMITTEE INTERPRETATIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS
CCSC 05/06-001
Re: Number of courses that can be used for both the major and the Core Curriculum
Pursuant to the mandate in 03/04-183 (Core Curriculum) that the Core Curriculum shall be managed by the Core Curriculum Steering Committee (CCSC), the CCSC at a meeting held on November 1, 2005 by vote of the CCSC made the following interpretation of the Core Curriculum.
Regarding the issue of how many courses can be used for both the major and Core Curriculum:
Since 03/04-183 does not say anything about the number of courses that could be used for both the Core and major this issue should be left to the departments.
CCSC 05/06-002
Re: The requirement for an "Upper-Level Writing Intensive Course"
Pursuant to the mandate in 03/04-183 (Core Curriculum) that the Core Curriculum shall be managed by the Core Curriculum Steering Committee (CCSC), the CCSC at a meeting held on November 1, 2005 by vote of the CCSC made the following interpretation of the Core Curriculum.
To satisfy the requirement for an "Upper-Level Writing Intensive Course": Each department must identify at least one course in the major or in its cognates to fulfill this requirement and receive approval from governance and that the course so designated shall be a 300-400 level course.
CCSC 05/06-003
Re: Clarification of Requirements of Course that has "an application of quantitative skills"
Pursuant to the mandate in 03/04-183 (Core Curriculum) that the Core Curriculum shall be managed by the Core Curriculum Steering Committee (CCSC), the CCSC at a meeting held on January 23, 2006 by vote of the CCSC made the following interpretation of the Core Curriculum.
An application of quantitative skills course must have quantitative skills as a fundamental part of the course and students must apply those skills on a regular and continuing basis.
The CCSC took no position on the issue of, "What constitutes quantitative skills?"
Membership for Core Curriculum Steering Committee, 2005-2006
Harold Silverman, Chair Rita Miller, Associate Dean of Arts and Sciences
Austin Awasung
Gregory Chaplin Pamela Hayes-Bohanan
Arthur Dirks Steve Haefner
Steve Greenberg Ellen Ingmanson
Last Modified: October 16, 2007
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