Summary of Responses by Departments/Units Regarding Design of Effective Academic Programs within a 32-34 Course Model: Fall, 2001
School/Department/Unit
Response 
Comments
Arts, Media, and Music
Art Yes. Programs can be modified to meet a 32-4 course system. Provided possible distribution of courses in a 32-24 course model for existing major areas and possible new curricular areas
Music See benefits for campus, but do not believe 32-34 course model would benefit music students or faculty. Would like to pursue possibility, though, with external consultant(s). Concerns expressed about ability to meet accreditation standards, provide needed instruction.. 

Also responded with general education suggestions.

Business Yes, but probably needing a minimum of 36 courses.    Issues related to accreditation standards. Planning begun for extensive curricular change.  Possible interdisciplinary delivery of Common Body of Knowledge and intensifying breadth of fundamental disciplines.  Possible reduction in number of courses in a concentration, but encouraging students to add a 2nd concentration.
Accountancy, Economics,
Finance 
No written report  
International No written report  
Management, Marketing,
Information Systems
Management 
No written report  
Culture and Society    
African American Studies No current major.  Proposal for a major that would meet the 32-34 course standard has been submitted for consideration. 
Communication Studies Yes. Program has been redesigned to meet transformed system.  Detail provided for each of the specializations in the major. 
English
 
Yes. Programs can be modified to meet a 32-4 course system. Developed two models as examples of how to transform English Liberal Arts major. Have also discussed English Secondary Teaching and Journalism programs, but are not as far along with those proposals. Questions remain about staffing, differentiation of requirements for liberal arts and teaching majors, and balance between offering students flexibility as well as specific content. 
History Yes. Programs can be modified to meet a 32-4 course system. Department endorses change to transformed system and includes a detailed description of a revised major and accompanying general education requirements. Specific issues regarding teaching major are also discussed. 
International Studies Yes. Program is new, incorporates many aspects of transformed system, and could be modified to meet 32 course system.  Example of an 11 course major is included. Faculty express support for interdisciplinary and individualized focus in transformed system and is open to new curricular model. 
Law and Justice Yes. Programs can be modified to meet a 32-4 course system. Propose example of an 11 course major, indicating that this is still open to discussion and change. Department also interested in discussing links to programs in other departments. 
Modern Languages Yes. Programs can be modified to meet a 32-4 course system. Propose a 12 course major. Language requirement shifting from courses completed to proficiency attained was taken into account in proposal. Needs related to support for major, e.g., Language Laboratory upgrade, also discussed. 
Philosophy and Religion Yes. Programs can be modified to meet a 32-4 course system. Faculty agree that an 11 course major could be articulated, as could a possible 10 course second major in the department. 
Political Science Yes. Programs can be modified to meet a 32-4 course system. Department engaged in a long-term reassessment of its programs and sees no problem in specifying an 11 course major. Details are provided, with proviso that changes may occur in example included. Faculty see reduced course major as part of a larger context of program revitalization that includes more interdisciplinary work, more intensive experiences for students, and more experiential learning. 
Psychology Yes. Programs can be modified to meet a 32-4 course system. Revised structure for major is designed to consolidate core and foundation courses earlier in program to allow students to specialize in later years. Areas of concentration within major are articulated and a 14 course major is described. 
Sociology Yes. Program can be modified to meet 32-34 course system.  Faculty express enthusiasm for new curricular model. Propose a general sociology major and three concentrations in focused areas of study. Propose a 10 course model in each area and discuss related general education requirements. 
Women’s and Gender Studies Yes. Program can be modified to meet 32-34 course system.  Propose and describe a 10-course revision of major that reflects the interdisciplinarity that characterizes WGST. Raise concerns about making changes in general education that would reduce TCNJ commitment to challenging students’ existing beliefs and to focus on interdisciplinary work. 
Education No written report.  School and departments have been meeting to discuss issues of both faculty and student work. Consensus that transformed work that emphasizes intensive assignments and experiential and interdisciplinary work is very consistent with mission and framework of School and its programs. Much curriculum revision consistent with new system has taken and continue to take place. However, concerns about accreditation issues, general education requirements, demands on faculty time, and effects on graduate programs need to be addressed before implementation details are determined. 
Counselor Education Yes. Program modifications in line with the spirit of the transformed system are recommended.  The graduate programs of the department undergo continual review and renewal. Dual degree programs in counselor education are described in a document that delineates a new course sequence and an opportunity to provide students with both master’s and educational specialist degrees in their area of emphasis. 
Educational Administration and Secondary Education  No written report.  
Elementary and Early 

Childhood Ed.

No written report.  Discussions have been held related to transformation of major to meet requirements of a 32-34 course system and consensus is that program could be modified to meet standard. 
Health and Physical Education No written report.   
Language and Communication 
Sciences
No written report.  
Special Education No written report.   
Engineering
Engineering Yes. Programs can be modified to meet a 32-4 course system. Faculty see transformed system as an opportunity to strengthen programs and become national exemplar. Propose a curriculum that meets ABET standards, prepares students for national examinations, and uses a course-based system of 39 courses. Offer comparison to comparable institutions. 
Technological Studies Yes. Programs can be modified to meet a 32-4 course system.  Faculty used opportunity to make major more attractive to potential students, to link to other programs, and to develop new curricular proposals. Developed proposal(s) for 32 course major. Recommendations offered for general education. 
Nursing No written report.  School has designated a task force and met as a unit to look at how other nursing programs have been modified to meet a course-based system. Would need more than 34 courses to meet accreditation and clinical requirements, but would be able to modify programs. Concerns remain about graduate programs and clinical requirements. 
Science  No written report. School has met as a unit on several occasions. While concerns remain regarding implementation, including questions about the nature of general education and the way in which laboratory courses will be offered in the new system, there is general agreement that the programs could be modified to fit a transformed system. Each department has also met to discuss how programs might look in a transformed system and what issues would need to be addressed.
Biology No written report Need more information on nature and number of courses in general education before design of new system can be completed.
Chemistry No written report Program could be modified to fit new system. 
Computer Science No written report Program could be modified to fit new system. 
Mathematics and Statistics No written report Several options could be modified. Some questions remain about statistics option. 
Physics No written report Believe they would need more than 34 courses to meet program needs. 
Other Units    
General Education Yes. Programs can be modified to meet a 32-4 course system. Report issued by Bob Anderson with summary of issues, description of alternative models, and discussion of next steps for community consideration