Area I & II Academic Committee

Specific guidelines and criteria in the humanities and fine arts require that courses should be broad in scope and content rather than specific and should emphasize a global perspective. Course syllabi should include information about the resources available to support the proposed course (e.g., art galleries, collections, slides).

Courses in Art and Art History must:

Develop better understanding of the nature and validity of visual art through:

1. Global and multicultural perspectives,
2. Historical and cultural content,
3. Creative processes, and
4. Aesthetics and critical thinking.

In most cases, the following course titles suggest content APPROPRIATE for general studies:

• Art Appreciation
• Appreciation of Visual Arts
• Introduction to Art
• Art History

In most cases, the following course titles suggest content NOT APPROPRIATE for general studies:

• Specific Studio Courses
• Specialized Art History Courses

Specific guidelines and criteria in Speech or Public Speaking courses for Area II are as follows:

1. Courses must include some introduction to the historical foundations of speech and rhetoric in the humanities;
2. Courses must provide emphasis in:
   1. The cognitive process (invention) including critical thinking skills, knowledge generation, research skills, context/situation assessment skills, audience awareness, and skills in ethics/values assessment;
   2. Organizational skill development (arrangement) including logical and sequential order, linguistic choices for comprehension enhancement, and appropriate format; and
   3. Language facility development (style) including grammatical correctness, aesthetics, audience appeal, and appropriateness.
3. Courses must require competent performance in oral communication including aspects such as nonverbal (body movement, gestures, facial expression), and verbal (voice modulation and articulation) communication, and the ability to overcome speaker apprehension;
4. Course grading criteria must ensure that competent performance in oral communication is necessary for passing the course;
5. Course enrollments should have 25 students or fewer, to the extent possible, to ensure the opportunity for demonstration of competent performance involving factors in Item #3 above.

In most cases, the following course titles suggest content APPROPRIATE for general studies:

• Public Speaking
• Fundamentals of Speech Communication

In most cases, the following course titles suggest content NOT APPROPRIATE for general studies:

• Oral Interpretation
• Voice and Diction

Specific guidelines and criteria in Written Composition require that courses should provide instruction and practice in writing, analyzing, and evaluating standard edited American English.

Students should meet prerequisite basic skills in grammar, punctuation, mechanics, and sentence and paragraph structure before enrollment in freshman-level academic credit courses in Written Composition. These prerequisites should be determined at each institution through placement examinations or writing samples. The following are specific guidelines and criteria for the first freshman-level course (English 101) in Written Composition:

1. Develop and use strategies for writing essays from development of subject through revision of essay;
2. Develop and use focused structure, incorporating logical and coherent generalizations and details on a variety of subjects;
3. Develop basic reference and documentation skills with emphasis on quotes and paraphrases;
4. Develop analytical and critical reading skills;
5. Must include a minimum of four (4) extended compositions or equivalent assignments; (Updated by vote of AGSC from 6 to 4 July 12, 2019)
6. Should be taught with 25 or fewer students per section, to the extent possible, in compliance with NCTE standards;
7. Grading must be based on at least 80% of grades earned on compositions;
8. A grade of C or better must be required for passing or for transfer of credit.

Specific guidelines and criteria for the second freshman-level course (English 102) in Written Composition are:

1. Meet prerequisite of a grade of C in the first freshman-level course in Written Composition;
2. Require formal, analytical essays;
3. Require a research project using outside sources and/or references effectively and legally (e.g., documented essay);
4. Develop analytical and critical reading skills;
5. Must include a minimum of four (4) extended compositions or equivalent assignments; (Updated by vote of AGSC from 6 to 4 July 12, 2019)
6. Should be taught with 25 or fewer students per section, to the extent possible, in compliance with NCTE standards;
7. Grading must be based on at least 80% of grades earned on compositions;
8. Require a grade of C or better for passing or for transfer of credit.

In most cases, the following course titles suggest content APPROPRIATE for general studies:

• Written Composition I or II
• English Composition I or II
• Freshman Composition I or II

In most cases, the following course titles suggest content NOT APPROPRIATE for general studies:

• Writing for Young Students
• Creative Writing
• Fiction Writing
• Non-Fiction Writing

Specific guidelines and criteria in Literature are as follows:

1. Courses must be at the 200 level with the written composition requirements as prerequisites;
2. Courses must present major intellectual and aesthetic ideas;
3. Courses must cover multiple genres and multiple historical/literary periods and represent diversity;
4. Courses must include substantial in class/out of class writing that:
   1. Encourages the development of critical thinking skills and requires students to analyze, synthesize, and evaluate knowledge;
   2. Reinforces and advances the skills from written composition.
   3. Is a significant determinant of the final grade;
5. Courses must consider the subject in its relation to other disciplines and its application to human concerns.

In most cases, the following course titles suggest content APPROPRIATE for general studies:

• World Literature I or II
• British Literature I or II
• American Literature I or II

In most cases, the following course titles suggest content NOT APPROPRIATE for general studies:

• Single Author Courses
• Single Period Courses
• Single Genre Courses

Specific guidelines and criteria in Foreign Languages are as follows:

1. Courses at the 100-level must be titled "Introductory";
2. Courses at the "Introductory" level must emphasize basic communication skills and knowledge of the culture where the specific language is spoken;
3. Courses at the 200-level must be titled "Intermediate";
4. Courses at the "Intermediate" level must emphasize review and further development of communication skills, and include readings of literary, cultural, and/or historical texts in the language.

In most cases, the following course titles suggest content APPROPRIATE for general studies:

• Introductory Spanish
• Intermediate Spanish
• Introductory French
• Intermediate French
• Introductory German
• Intermediate German
• Introductory Japanese
• Intermediate Japanese
  etc...

In most cases, the following course titles suggest content NOT APPROPRIATE for general studies:

• French for Business
• German Travelers
• Spanish for Doctors

Specific guidelines and criteria in Music and Music History are as follows:

1. Courses must be at the survey level and incorporate several modes of instruction including lecture, guided listening, and similar experiences involving music.
2. Courses must cover at least three (3) stylistic periods, provide a multi-cultural perspective, and include both vocal and instrumental genres in their content.

In most cases, the following course titles suggest content APPROPRIATE for general studies:

• Music Appreciation
• Music History
• Survey of Music Literature
• Introduction to Music

In most cases, the following course titles suggest content NOT APPROPRIATE for general studies:

• Single Period Courses (e.g., Music of the Baroque Era)
• Choral Participation
• Ensemble or Performance Courses
• Music Theory
• Marching Band
• Symphonic Band
• Survey of Popular Music

Specific guidelines and criteria in Philosophy and Religious Studies are as follows:

1. Freshman- and sophomore-level courses in professional ethics appropriate for general studies should include a substantial introduction to general ethical theory,
2. Courses which focus on specific religious texts may be appropriate so long as they are not taught from a specific doctrinal perspective.
   

In most cases, the following course titles suggest content APPROPRIATE for general studies:

• Introduction to Philosophy
• Introduction to Ethics
• Critical Thinking
• Ethics and Society
• History or World Religions
• Comparative Religions
• Survey of Old Testament
• Survey of New Testament

In most cases, the following course titles suggest content NOT APPROPRIATE for general studies:

• Introduction to Symbolic Logic
• Philosophy of Science
• Evangelism
• Church Administration

Specific guidelines and criteria for courses in Theater are as follows:

1. Develop an understanding of the various components of theater production, including directing, acting, scene design, lighting design, costume design, choreography, etc.;
2. Develop a general understanding of historical styles, genres, and forms integral to theater;
3. Develop an understanding of theater etiquette, and the skills to analyze and critique a live performance;
4. Develop an understanding of theater as a reflection of culture and society;
5. Develop an understanding of the contributions of minorities to theater;
6. Develop an understanding of dramatic structure and read at least one play;
7. Provide opportunities for participation in theater performance, production, or promotion.

Specific guidelines and criteria for courses in Dance are:

1. Develop an understanding of the various components of Dance, including choreography, set and lighting design, dance techniques, etc.;
2. Develop an understanding of historical styles, genres, and forms integral to dance;
3. Develop an understanding of theater etiquette and develop the skills to analyze and critique dance performance-
4. Develop an understanding of dance as a reflection of culture and society;
5. Develop an understanding of the contributions of minorities to the art of dance;
6. Provide opportunities for participation in dance performance, production, or promotion.

In most cases, the following course titles suggest content APPROPRIATE for general studies:

• Introduction to Theatre
• Theatre Appreciation
• Plays on Film
• Theatre History
• Introduction to Dance
• Dance Appreciation
• Dance History
  

In most cases, the following course titles suggest content NOT APPROPRIATE for general studies:

• Acting I
• Stagecraft
• Period Acting Styles
• Modern Dance Fundamentals
• Jazz Dance Techniques
• Costume Construction

Other discipline areas considered to be in English, Humanities, or Fine Arts - Please contact our office for assistance.