Long Beach State’s community must wait until the Academic Senate convenes in the fall to learn if general education (G.E.) requirements will drop from 51 to 48 units.
During its last meeting of the 2006-07 academic year, the Senate failed to pass a widely supported plan to shift parts of current G.E. categories to other sections, while altogether eliminating three units from CSULB’s present requisite of 51 G.E. units.
Under the proposed changes, students would be able to use up to 10 units of qualified G.E. courses from their majors to fulfill their G.E. requirements.
Sen. William Johnson, representing the College of Liberal Arts (CLA), prompted a lively discussion with his proposal to not lower the G.E. requirements in the “Physical Universe” category from 12 to nine units.
Under the G.E. restructuring, Category B, Physical Universe, would become “Natural Sciences and Mathematics.”
Johnson proposed in writing that the science requirements “[B]e returned to its former state requiring at least 12 units in natural science and mathematics rather than the proposed [nine] units.”
Johnson told the Senate that the current system gives students a greater breadth of knowledge.
“I don’t think we should reduce G.E. requirements in the sciences,” he said.
Sen. Vincent Del Casino, also representing CLA, said students can get the same balanced education from courses in other G.E. areas, combined with the nine-unit shift being considered in the sciences.
“As much as I personally love science and math, general education is already designed for breadth,” said Del Casino.
The proposed changes would not impact students who have completed their G.E. requirements, but could potentially benefit students needing only a few more units.
Johnson was the only vote in keeping the existing 12-unit requirement in place.
Johnson also proposed to lower the number of units students might use from approved G.E. courses within their majors from 10 to seven, which the Senate rejected as well.
Many on the Senate have stated they believe the modified G.E. pattern would allow students more flexibility to try courses they might not typically have the time for or money to explore.
If passed by the Senate, the changes would need approval from the university and the CSU Board of Trustees. Citing time constraints, Senate Chair Praveen Soni asked to pass the proposal with its current amendments to the incoming Senate, which meets Sept. 6 of next semester.
Senate Highlights
Proposed changes to the General Education Plan:
- Restructuring Category B, Physical Universe, to reduce the section requirement from 12 units to nine.
- Removing one three-unit requirement from Category C, Humanities & the Arts and reduce the section from 12 units to nine.
- Adding a third Social Sciences requirement to Category D, Social & Behavioral Sciences, to increase the total from 12 units to 15.
- Allowing 9 units from a student’s major department to fill in categories A through E if the courses appear on the G.E. list.
- A total G.E. requirement reduction from 51 to 48 units.
