Our proposal recommends two three-credit courses in different disciplines with each course including a laboratory or applied component. Vice-Chancellor Collings stated in the Faculty Senate that the resource issues can be managed and should not be a deciding factor. Several committee members spoke eloquently for the need for non-science students to be exposed to more than one science discipline. It was suggested that there will be an increase in the number of departments involved in this category, since Applied Sciences is welcomed to contribute to the Liberal Studies program, and even Psychology might contribute to this category. This should help with the lab-space and teaching load concerns of the traditional science departments.
Class size is a consideration.
In order for three-credit courses with an applied component to be good courses, multiple smaller sections will need to become the rule rather than the exception. Faculty commitment to the present paradigm will make this implementation happen. Much of our proposal depends on faculty committing to the proposal's philosophy, and we will have to believe in the Oversight Committee's dedication to maintaining quality in the program. We cannot legislate the quality of the program. The committee believes the requirement of two different three-credit science courses is the best of the options.