Secondary Motion to Structure the Common Core
English Composition: 6 credits
Mathematical and Quantitative Reasoning: 3 credits
Natural and Physical Sciences: 3 credits
Flexible Common Core Credits: six 3-credit, liberal arts courses for 18 credits in the following areas, with at least one course from each area and no more than one course in any particular discipline.
World Cultures—courses drawn from foreign languages, anthropology, history, political science, economics, world literature, and other fields addressing global cultures.
U.S. Experience in its Diversity—courses drawn from history, political science, economics, sociology, U.S. literature, and other fields addressing the U.S. experience in its diversity.
Creative Expression—courses drawn from the fine arts, creative writing, communications, music, theater, and other fields addressing creative expression.
Individual and Society—courses drawn from anthropology, philosophy, psychology, religion, and other fields addressing the relationship between the individual and society.
Scientific World—courses drawn from computer science, the natural and physical sciences, mathematics, statistics, logic, technology studies, and other fields addressing the scientific world. [There is a question whether this area is included.]
Recommendation on 4-Credit Math and Science Courses
The Pathways Task Force recommends that colleges be required to offer enough 3-credit courses for all students to satisfy the Mathematical and Quantitative Reasoning and Natural and Physical Sciences credits of the Common Core. The Task Force also recommends that colleges be allowed to offer 4-credit math and science courses to satisfy these respective areas of the Common Core, particularly for those students who intend to major in STEM fields, provided:
The exemption for 4-credit courses applies only to math and science. It does not apply to courses in any other field.
The CUNY-wide Committee, consisting predominantly of faculty, tasked with reviewing and approving all courses proposed for the Common Core will not approve any 4-credit math or science course until after the submitting college has had approved a sufficient number of 3-credit math and science courses for students’ general education.
A college cannot require a student to take a 4-credit math or science course to satisfy any area of the Common Core. It may, however, recommend or require a student to take a 4-credit math or science course to satisfy the requirements of a major.
The college submitting a 4-credit math or science course for approval to satisfy the Mathematical and Quantitative Reasoning or Natural and Physical Sciences credits of the Common Core must certify that the course submitted counts toward the major in that field.
Pathways Steering Committee 10/14/11
Roberta Brody