Finalize Request #5641

I.	Rationale for changes to the major/minor curriculum.
There are three main reasons for a change in the requirements for the major/minor in GPSP: (A) students have been reluctant to take courses in all four core areas; (B) students have expressed concerns that the number and breadth of courses for the major and minor have been too narrow; (C) the increase in the number of type of new courses related to the Great Plains has significantly increased over the recent years; and (D) the revision makes the Great Plains Studies major/minor more in line with other interdisciplinary programs such as Global Studies.
II.	Description and rationale for changes to specific major requirements.
The current major has students take 12 hours across 4 areas – this was considered to reduce the depth of study available to students. The current proposal has students take 18 credits, in addition to the current 6 credits in the core, but focuses those credits on just two of three thematic specializations. Although this changes the breadth of the major, it gives students the opportunity to have a greater degree of specialization in Great Plains Studies.
III.	Description and rationale for specific changes to tracks/emphases/concentrations.
Three new tracks are proposed: Arts & Literature; Culture & Community; and Land & Environment. These new tracks do a better job in organizing current course offerings in the major, as well as make it easier to add recent new course offerings to the list of courses. More importantly, by allowing students to choose to focus on only two of the three tracks, it will be easier for students to fit the major into their current programs of study. What this means is that students can focus on either the Humanities and Social Sciences or the Life/Natural Sciences, instead of being required to take courses in all areas. This revision allows students to have a narrower concentration if they so desire.
IV.	Description and rationale for changes to specific minor requirements.
The changes to the minor mirror the changes to the major in allowing students to concentrate their interests in Great Plains Studies if they so desire.
V.	Description and rationale for changes to electives.
The courses-at-large offering has increased for both the major and minor to reflect the increase in the number of type of new courses related to the Great Plains now being offered.
VI.	Written permission from all departments that might be impacted by the proposed changes has been obtained (see attachment).