UMM CURRICULUM COMMITTEE

2012-13 MEETING #6 Minutes

October 11, 2012, 1:00 p.m., MFR

Members Present: Bart Finzel (chair), Charlie Abraham, Joe Alia, Donna Chollett, Clare Dingley, Josh Godding, Aaron Goemann, Sara Haugen, Leslie Meek, Peh Ng, Gwen Rudney, Jeri Squier, Tisha Turk, Zac Van Cleve

Members Absent: Carol Cook, Pilar Eble, Pieranna Garavaso

Visitors: Julie Eckerle, Terri Hawkinson, Nancy Helsper

In these minutes: catalog program changes in the Division of the Social Sciences and in the Division of Science and Mathematics

Approval of Minutes – October 4, 2012

MOTION (Meek/Ng) to approve the October 4, 2012 minutes. Motion passed by unanimous voice vote.

Catalog Course Changes

Finzel explained that each division was asked to provide a Form A, which gives a snapshot of the discipline and major to see if changes made to the courses have resulted in more or less work, and more or fewer courses. Every major and/or minor program will submit a Form A as well as the PCAS form. However, it is not necessary for the committee to see the PCAS forms if the approved course changes do not affect the major/minor programs.

Division of the Social Sciences Catalog Program Changes

Anthropology (Anth)

Meek stated that Anthropology decided to remove the headers “Lower Division Elective Courses” and “Upper Division Elective Courses” under “Elective Courses.” Meek added that one course Anth 3402, which has not yet been approved by the Committee, will change to a double-listed course in Anth and Hist, removing the AmIn triple listing.

Economics (Econ)

Meek stated that there are no major program changes in Economics.

Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies (GWSS)

Meek stated that the Form A should show zeros in the “Net Change” column. That will be corrected before it goes to Campus Assembly. Meek noted a clarification: two courses (in Studio Art and German) should be removed because they were deactivated during the last catalog cycle because they do not expect to offer the courses in the future. This is a clarification, not a change. The changes to the minor parallel those of the major.

History (Hist)

Meek stated that History has program changes to both the major and the minor programs. The program requires at least one course from three of the following geographic areas: Asia, Europe, Middle East/Africa, Latin America, Native American/Indigenous, and the United States. Subheaders were added to identify which courses fall into each geographic category. The minor has the same change.

Liberal Arts for the Human Services (LAHS)

Meek stated that the total courses required for a major have increased from 58 to 62. The additional four credits are due to the addition of a four-credit research methods course requirement to reflect the need for assessment, grant writing, and other research-related skills in all human resource fields. They have also added Soc 3103. LAHS majors can take either one of the two new courses to fulfill the major. She noted that she shared Finzel’s concern that the major requires more than 60 credits. Finzel stated that the Chemistry major can be completed with 60 to 76 credits, which means that students can complete it with 60 credits. The only exception he has found is the Environmental Science major, which requires 76 credits. The all-University policy says that we cannot require more than 132 credits. Morris has a requirement that students take 60 credits outside of the major. Dingley interjected that the limit is in the discipline, not the major. Finzel reiterated that it is his understanding that we require 60 credits outside of the major. Dingley stated that he was not correct, and Environmental Science doesn’t have an “outside of the major” because it’s interdisciplinary. Ng stated that no major may require students to take more than 40 credits in any one discipline. If Environmental Science or LAHS can’t violate that rule, then we can require more for the major, which is not the intent of the rule. Finzel stated that his understanding of the 40-credit limit is that there also has always been an implied limit of 60 credits in a major. The only exception at this time is Environmental Science. Ng stated that Biology requires more than 60 credits. Finzel noted that Biology requires a range of 60 to 61, so minimally, once could graduate with 60 credits. Ng stated that 60 credits are supposed to come from general education courses outside the discipline. She asked for a definition of “outside the discipline of the major.” Dingley answered that the 60-credit rule was meant to ensure breadth. Meek suggested that the LAHS program be pulled from discussion and tabled until later. In the meantime, she will ask the discipline coordinator if the discipline would be willing to cut the number of required electives.

Management (Mgmt)

Meek stated that there are changes to the Management major, but not the minor. The number of required credits has increased by two. A public speaking course (CMR 1052) is now required. Finzel noted that the course was required for many years but was dropped during the last catalog cycle. Rudney asked if that addition will impact CMR. Meek answered that the CMR discipline is very supportive of the change. Finzel added that CMR actually requested that the course return to the Management requirement. Meek stated that the title of “General Management Sub-Plan” has changed to “Financial and Organizational Sub-Plan.”

Political Science (Pol)

Meek stated that the only change to the Political Science program is the removal of four general education designators from 4xxx-level courses, and the deletion of one course.

Psychology (Psy)

Meek stated that there are no major program changes in Psychology other than the deactivation of four courses and the addition of new courses, and the removal of 11 general education designators from 4xxx-level courses.

Social Science Major

Meek explained that the Social Science major is made up of minors from other majors in the social sciences. Program changes simply reflect course changes to minors that are already approved. Squier noted that Soc 3251 will be added as an elective. Somehow, it got deleted.

MOTION (Rudney/Eckerle) to approve the Division of the Social Sciences program changes (with the exception of LAHS, which was tabled).

The motion passed unanimously (11-0-0).

Division of Science and Mathematics Catalog Program Changes

Biology (Biol)

Ng presented a new Biology course for approval: Biol 4122-Virology (4 cr; prereq 3121 or #; spring, even years). This course has provisional approval to be taught spring 2013. If approved today, it will be added to the list of Biology electives, and it will be added to the Form A.

MOTION (Chollett/Abraham) to approve the new course, Biol 4122-Virology.

The motion passed unanimously (11-0-0).

Ng noted that the only other program changes in Biology involve the addition of an upper level elective, and the removal of 15 general education designators from 4xxx-level courses. Now that it has been approved, Biol 4122 will be added to the list of Non-Organismal Electives in PCAS. One correction is noted: Geol 3111 is listed correctly under “Organismal Electives” but should be removed from the list of “Other Electives.”

Chemistry (Chem)

Ng stated that the prominent change is the increase in credits for most upper level elective courses. Other changes include an IC course that has been added and the removal of seven general education designators from 4xxx-level courses.

Computer Science (CSci)

Ng stated that only small changes have been made to the Computer Science major. Since the last catalog, grade expectations have been increased for intro courses to count toward the major, prerequisites have been updated for CSci 3601, and 29 courses at the 4xxx-level removed the general education designators. An IC course has been added as well as two new elective choices. The minor was made more flexible by allowing students to choose a 4xxx-level course instead of requiring two 3xxx-level courses.

Environmental Science (ESci)

Ng stated that additions were made to the list of electives in the major. Environmental Science has the same issue as LAHS, in that the total number of 76 credits required for the major exceeds the 60-credit limit discussed earlier. There are options that can bring it down to a range of 69-74. Finzel asked if the discipline would be amenable to adjusting the Form A to show 69-74, rather than 76. A large number of electives are required. Perhaps they could keep the same number of elective choices but reduce the number required, allowing students to get an Environmental Science major without having to take 76 credits. It would be best if the discipline would consider reducing the requirement to a range beginning at 60 credits. Ng will consult with the discipline about reducing the number of elective credits required for the major. Squier stated that ESci/Chem 3301 needs to be added. She will make that change in PCAS.

Geology (Geol)

Ng stated that few changes were made to Geology. Students are allowed to choose ESci courses for the seven cognate science requirement. An upper level course was deactivated, as well as the removal of general education designators from two 4xxx-level courses.

Mathematics (Math)

Ng stated that Math is the easiest: when something is good you don’t have to change it.

Physics (Phys)

Ng stated that several changes were made in the Physics program. Four courses were eliminated, and an IC course was added. To increase the breadth of course offerings while also increasing the discipline’s ability to respond to increasing enrollments in Phys 1xxx courses, a two-credit module for upper-level electives has been adopted.

Statistics (Stat)

Ng stated that Statistics has removed the general education designator from its 4xxx-level courses and has added a new course.

MOTION (Meek/Van Cleve) to approve the Division of Science and Mathematics program changes.

The motion passed unanimously (11-0-0).

The committee discussed the detailed information needed in the “Rationale” section of PCAS. Dingley had suggested that specific changes be listed to help the Twin Cities decide how far to route the form for approval. Committee members asked for examples of the detail expected, since there is limited space to provide the rationale.

Finzel stated that next week’s meeting will cover the Division of the Humanities program changes. The LAHS program will come back to the committee the following week.

Submitted by Darla Peterson