Spring Break
University drawing up new plans for the General Education Curriculum
Changes to the 'bread-and-butter' offerings part of "Second Century" campaign
Brooks Powell, Staff Writer, blpowell@smu.edubro
Issue date: 7/1/09 Section: News
Big changes are coming to the bread-and-butter of SMU's academic experience - also known as the General Education Curriculum (GEC) - as a review committee has spent the spring semester revamping the curriculum and drawing up a new plan.
Adopted in 1997, the current curriculum set, now 12 years old, is the subject of a dramatic rethinking by SMU to help boost the university's academic reputation and bring it boldly into the "Second Century," the name of SMU's current $750 million campaign financial goal for 2013.
Associate Provost Tom Tunks, co-chair of the curriculum review committee, assures students that "there is nothing wrong" with the current curriculum, but says "it's just good business to review what you're doing." Despite some setbacks during the last several years, the review process is now in full swing and is producing some intriguing results.
However, current SMU students and those matriculating in 2009 need not worry about adjusting quite yet. The complete overhaul is not likely to be reviewed, approved and instituted until Fall 2011 at the earliest, Tunks said.
Parents worried about new students being used as guinea pigs may now take a breath.
No matter what major or minor a student chooses, the GEC is a central part of an SMU education - for now. According to the Dedman College advising center, one of the first offices new students encounter, the GEC is "a core group of course requirements which all students must fulfill in order to graduate," emphasizing "the skills, knowledge and values of what historically has been known as a liberal arts education."
From fine art and literature to philosophy and even information technology, the GEC first gives students an opportunity to firm up foundational skills such as writing and reasoning. Then students are exposed throughout their undergraduate careers to a variety of topics and ideas that are often outside one's chosen field of study. Sometimes, exposure to new concepts helps students decide on their major or minor.
Adopted in 1997, the current curriculum set, now 12 years old, is the subject of a dramatic rethinking by SMU to help boost the university's academic reputation and bring it boldly into the "Second Century," the name of SMU's current $750 million campaign financial goal for 2013.
Associate Provost Tom Tunks, co-chair of the curriculum review committee, assures students that "there is nothing wrong" with the current curriculum, but says "it's just good business to review what you're doing." Despite some setbacks during the last several years, the review process is now in full swing and is producing some intriguing results.
However, current SMU students and those matriculating in 2009 need not worry about adjusting quite yet. The complete overhaul is not likely to be reviewed, approved and instituted until Fall 2011 at the earliest, Tunks said.
Parents worried about new students being used as guinea pigs may now take a breath.
No matter what major or minor a student chooses, the GEC is a central part of an SMU education - for now. According to the Dedman College advising center, one of the first offices new students encounter, the GEC is "a core group of course requirements which all students must fulfill in order to graduate," emphasizing "the skills, knowledge and values of what historically has been known as a liberal arts education."
From fine art and literature to philosophy and even information technology, the GEC first gives students an opportunity to firm up foundational skills such as writing and reasoning. Then students are exposed throughout their undergraduate careers to a variety of topics and ideas that are often outside one's chosen field of study. Sometimes, exposure to new concepts helps students decide on their major or minor.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Dallas Movers
posted 7/16/09 @ 11:49 AM CST
Having a solid core curriculum is definitely an important part of a good college education. It makes sense that it gets reviewed every once in a while to make sure that students are receiving a current and relevant education. (Continued…)
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