2008 Woodie Awards
Requirements updated
Paula Skaggs
Issue date: 10/3/08 Section: News
For the first time since 1994, St. Olaf College has updated the general education requirements for the school. In order to stay current with the direction of the world, the school broadened the requisites in mathematics and the sciences, as well as refined many other aspects of the school's requirements.
The idea of revising St. Olaf's general education requirements came in 2004, when the former G.E. requirements were examined and deemed too out-of-date during a task force led by the Dean of the College, professor James May. Back then the requirements were 10 years old, and focused heavily on multiculturalism.
"[The revisions] require stronger courses because they have that disciplinary element," registrar Mary Cisar said.
The science general education requirements were bolstered in the new system. Instead of having a natural science topic and natural science lab, the Class of 2012 and all subsequent classes will need a scientific exploration and discovery class as well as an integrated scientific topics class.
The new science requirement coincidentally occurs in the same year as the opening of Regents Hall.
"There's no direct link between the two," Cisar said. "They both happened because science has become more interdisciplinary and people are more interested in the broader implications of science, which is shown in the way the building is set up and the new general education requirements. The two work very well together."
Minor changes were also made to the math, religion and physical education requirements. The Mathematical Reasoning requirement was transformed into the Abstract and Quantitative Reasoning requirement, the biblical and theological studies requirements were updated and the Studies in Physical Movement now includes a more cognitive aspect of the course.
The main purpose for the updated curriculum is to provide students with an updated and better-rounded education.
For example, the former Mathematical Reasoning requirement focused primarily on math, giving the student a better understanding of strictly that subject. But under the new requirement, the course must provide students with better analytical and reasoning skills.
Despite changing the requirements, St. Olaf did not add any completely new requisites for graduation.
"This is not a new curriculum. It doesn't add any requirements. There's still the same number of courses, and the same structure." Cisar said. "It's just that a few requirements have been revised and basically updated to reflect the current and changing state of knowledge in their field."
David Aron '12 is happy with the changes St. Olaf made to the general education requirements.
"Updating the curriculum to make it more relevant in the context of the world is likely a positive change," he said. "Hopefully the new requirements will improve St. Olaf graduates' ability to integrate into an ever changing world."
These changes currently only affect those entering St. Olaf in or after August 2008, the Class of 2012 and transfer students. Upper-classmen who were enrolled at St. Olaf before that time will continue to follow the previous curriculum.
The idea of revising St. Olaf's general education requirements came in 2004, when the former G.E. requirements were examined and deemed too out-of-date during a task force led by the Dean of the College, professor James May. Back then the requirements were 10 years old, and focused heavily on multiculturalism.
"[The revisions] require stronger courses because they have that disciplinary element," registrar Mary Cisar said.
The science general education requirements were bolstered in the new system. Instead of having a natural science topic and natural science lab, the Class of 2012 and all subsequent classes will need a scientific exploration and discovery class as well as an integrated scientific topics class.
The new science requirement coincidentally occurs in the same year as the opening of Regents Hall.
"There's no direct link between the two," Cisar said. "They both happened because science has become more interdisciplinary and people are more interested in the broader implications of science, which is shown in the way the building is set up and the new general education requirements. The two work very well together."
Minor changes were also made to the math, religion and physical education requirements. The Mathematical Reasoning requirement was transformed into the Abstract and Quantitative Reasoning requirement, the biblical and theological studies requirements were updated and the Studies in Physical Movement now includes a more cognitive aspect of the course.
The main purpose for the updated curriculum is to provide students with an updated and better-rounded education.
For example, the former Mathematical Reasoning requirement focused primarily on math, giving the student a better understanding of strictly that subject. But under the new requirement, the course must provide students with better analytical and reasoning skills.
Despite changing the requirements, St. Olaf did not add any completely new requisites for graduation.
"This is not a new curriculum. It doesn't add any requirements. There's still the same number of courses, and the same structure." Cisar said. "It's just that a few requirements have been revised and basically updated to reflect the current and changing state of knowledge in their field."
David Aron '12 is happy with the changes St. Olaf made to the general education requirements.
"Updating the curriculum to make it more relevant in the context of the world is likely a positive change," he said. "Hopefully the new requirements will improve St. Olaf graduates' ability to integrate into an ever changing world."
These changes currently only affect those entering St. Olaf in or after August 2008, the Class of 2012 and transfer students. Upper-classmen who were enrolled at St. Olaf before that time will continue to follow the previous curriculum.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Ethan Horan
posted 10/09/08 @ 1:37 AM CST
So I'm going to be taking more science than my body has room for.... greeaaaat.
Ryan
posted 10/09/08 @ 1:18 PM CST
You're lucky you get to take classes in the new science center! I never had that chance...
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