Spring Break
Political science department to add four-credit curriculum
Noelle Myers
Issue date: 3/10/09 Section: News
03/10/09 -The University of Rhode Island's political science department is preparing a new four-credit curriculum that will tae effect during the fall semester.
The new curriculum will be mandatory for incoming declared political science majors. Majors will be obligated to take eight, four-credit classes as opposed to taking 10 three-credit classes currently required. The required political science credits will change from 30 credits to 32 credits. Six courses from the old political science three-credit curriculum will be deleted and seven new courses will be added to the new four-credit curriculum.
Chair of the political science department, Gerry Tyler said students who have already declared a political science major will have the option to take a mix of three-credit courses and four-credit courses. This option will be available for the next couple of years until every current political science major has graduated.
"We are very conscious of the graduation issues," Tyler said. She said the new curriculum is not going to effect graduation dates.
According to Tyler's curriculum proposal, this new four-credit curriculum will also affect minors. Political Science minors will now be required to take 20 total political science credits, as opposed to the old 18-credit requirement. Completing a minor in political science will be accomplished by taking five four-credit courses rather than six three-credit courses.
Tyler also discussed how the new four-credit system will affect transfer students.
"We will make it as convenient as possible for transfers," she said.
Some colleges already have a four-credit based curriculum making it easier for transfer students, she added. However, with the four-credit and four-credit mix option, the curriculum will be sufficient for transfers from any college, Tyler said.
The curriculum proposal Tyler submitted provided sample course schedules of currently enrolled students, transfer students and incoming students.
The new curriculum will be mandatory for incoming declared political science majors. Majors will be obligated to take eight, four-credit classes as opposed to taking 10 three-credit classes currently required. The required political science credits will change from 30 credits to 32 credits. Six courses from the old political science three-credit curriculum will be deleted and seven new courses will be added to the new four-credit curriculum.
Chair of the political science department, Gerry Tyler said students who have already declared a political science major will have the option to take a mix of three-credit courses and four-credit courses. This option will be available for the next couple of years until every current political science major has graduated.
"We are very conscious of the graduation issues," Tyler said. She said the new curriculum is not going to effect graduation dates.
According to Tyler's curriculum proposal, this new four-credit curriculum will also affect minors. Political Science minors will now be required to take 20 total political science credits, as opposed to the old 18-credit requirement. Completing a minor in political science will be accomplished by taking five four-credit courses rather than six three-credit courses.
Tyler also discussed how the new four-credit system will affect transfer students.
"We will make it as convenient as possible for transfers," she said.
Some colleges already have a four-credit based curriculum making it easier for transfer students, she added. However, with the four-credit and four-credit mix option, the curriculum will be sufficient for transfers from any college, Tyler said.
The curriculum proposal Tyler submitted provided sample course schedules of currently enrolled students, transfer students and incoming students.
