General Education Home       |       Provost Office

Background and Updates

General Education Curriculum Revision: BACKGROUND

In 2005 the University of South Carolina's Provost Mark Becker called for a revision of the undergraduate General Education curriculum. The General Education curriculum is the common core of knowledge, skill, and academic experience required of all Carolina students and provides the foundation for subsequent specialized study in the student's major discipline area. There has not been a systematic review of the USC General Education curriculum in more than a decade.

PHASE ONE: 2005 to 2007

Professor Frederic Medway of the Department of Psychology agreed to lead the General Education curriculum revision initiative. Initial focus groups made up of University faculty members across departments and across the USC system explored the questions "What should a college graduate today know?" and "How can universities best prepare undergraduate students for the 21st century?" The focus groups identified six preliminary areas for development, namely, Effective and Persuasive Communication; Effective Mathematical Reasoning and Problem-Solving; Science and Technology Literacy; Global Awareness and Multicultural Understanding; Values, Ethics, and Social Responsibility; and Life-Long Learning.

Representative faculty members then were assigned to teams, each responsible for one of the six inquiry areas. During 2007 more than 100 professors from across the system as well as student representatives met with their teams to discuss what students needed to learn in the particular knowledge or skill area. Teams explored pathways for learning, including traditional classes, interdisciplinary courses, residential living-and-learning centers, undergraduate research programs, service-learning outreach, international study abroad, and other beyond-the-classroom learning opportunities. Across all six teams emphasis was on the application and integration of knowledge to solve societal and global problems. In December 2007 the teams concluded their work and recommended learning outcomes for their inquiry area.

PHASE TWO: 2008 to present

In February 2008 President Andrew Sorensen called for formation of the General Education Committee to provide oversight and guidance of the General Education program including but not limited to revision of the curriculum. The membership of the committee represents faculty from across all colleges and schools with undergraduate programs as well as representatives from the regional campuses and from the Division of Student Affairs and the Department of Academic Support.

Building on the work of Dr. Medway and the six teams the General Education Committee will identify learning outcomes to present to faculty, staff, and students for discussion and comment. Ultimately new General Education learning outcomes will be presented for adoption to the Faculty Senate. The General Education Committee will provide guidance in the process of identifying existing and new courses that provide pathways to the new General Education learning outcomes. The Committee will also provide guidance as needed in overseeing assessment of General Education.

QUESTIONS? COMMENTS?

The General Education Committee welcomes your comments and questions at any time. Please contact the Chair of the General Education Committee: Dr. Helen Doerpinghaus, Associate Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Studies, at doerp@sc.edu or 803.777.2808.

PREVIOUS UPDATES

9/10/07 Update on General Education Curriculum Revision (PDF)