University of Nebraska Kearney

Attachment, February 5, 2004

Capstone Proposal

General Studies Council
Approved February 5, 2004
A Proposal
Bill Wozniak

Proposed Change to the Capstone Section of General Studies: I propose that we alter the capstone requirement from 0-1 credit hours to 0-3 credit hours and eliminate the requirement in the objectives that specifies addressing culture.

Rationale: It was suggested in the APR that we move forward with a capstone course. Rather than try to make the capstone course achieve both goals of being interdisciplinary and multicultural, I suggest that we focus on the interdisciplinary nature of the course.

In this case, "interdisciplinary course" is defined as a course that covers material shared by disciplines or falls between the traditional areas claimed by a discipline (or, in many cases, a department.) For example, a course on Water Issues could certainly be relevant for Biologists, Chemists, Geographers, Political Scientists, and other Social Scientists. It would be advantageous that the first offerings of the course be team taught by faculty members from at least two different departments. After the first offering, the course then could be offered by a single faculty member from one department with the approval of the other department affected. It would be preferred though that subsequent offerings would include some form of team teaching. Other teaching models will be considered.

I also propose that we change the hours to accommodate 3-hour courses that can count in their entirety in the total number of required hours for General Studies.

Finally, I propose that any course offering in this category must include, as part of the course requirements some form of student outcome assessment that addresses the 4 major student outcomes (objectives) for the General Studies program.

Current Version Objectives/Student Outcomes:
VIII. CAPSTONE COURSE
In addition to those objectives required of all General Studies courses, students will:

1. demonstrate the ability to use the breadth and diversity of knowledge and experience from a variety of disciplines in order to solve real world problems.
2. demonstrate an understanding of cultures other than their own.
3. demonstrate the understanding and knowledge needed to function responsibly in one's natural, social, and political environment.

Proposed Version Objectives/ Student Outcomes:
VIII. CAPSTONE COURSE
In addition to those objectives required of all General Studies courses, students will:

1. demonstrate the ability to use the breadth and diversity of knowledge and experience from two or more academic disciplines.
2. demonstrate the understanding and knowledge needed to function responsibly in one's milieu.

Current Catalog Copy:
VIII. CAPSTONE COURSE
(Up to 1 semester hour counts as General Studies credit, after development and approval of the course.)
The University is in the process of developing General Studies Capstone Courses. When such courses become available, students may apply up to 1 hour of a capstone course to meet the 45 hours General Studies requirement...

Proposed Catalog Copy:
VIII. CAPSTONE COURSE
(Up to 3 semester hours count as General Studies credit, after development and approval of the course.)
The University is in the process of developing General Studies Capstone Courses. When such courses become available, students may apply up to 3 hours of capstone courses to meet the 45 hours General Studies requirement...