A One-Year General Education Transfer Module (15 Sept 2004)

Rationale: The existing AA/OT degree includes both General Education and elective coursework and is designed to be completed in 2 years. The proposed Transfer Module includes one year of coursework, exclusively General Education, and could lead either to an AA/OT or AS/OT-BUS degree from a community college or to a baccalaureate degree from a university. By marking a level of academic achievement that is short of a degree, but still significant, the Module would complement the AA/OT degree. The Module would represent a substantial subset of the General Education part of the AA/OT degree, and would substitute for the corresponding General Education requirements at any Oregon college or university. The Module would not be expected to fulfill all of the General Education requirements of any individual school, but would serve as a core to which each institution would add, according to its own design for General Education. After completing the Module, students would anticipate taking some additional, institution-specific, General Education coursework, if they pursued either an AA/OT, an AS/OT-BUS, or a baccalaureate degree.

Two practical aspects of implementing this Transfer Module are worth noting:

1. The Module could be based on a minimum number of courses, or credits, in each area. A design based on courses (assuming at least 3 credits/course), with some variation in total credit allowed, would accommodate students who take courses that are comparable, but that carry slightly different amounts of credit, at different institutions.

2. The Module would not replace effective academic advising to ensure efficient use of

credits. That is, students would need guidance in selecting the specific Module coursework that is most nearly congruent with their future academic plans. Electronic Degree Audit and Course Applicability Systems, currently in use on some Oregon campuses, would allow academic advisors to work effectively with students to meet this challenge.

Current Transferable 2 Possible Gen Ed

Subject areas AA/OT Degree Transfer Modules

Minimum Credits Credit-based Course-based

Foundational Skills

Writing 8 8 2 courses (6-8 credits)

Oral Communication 3 3 1 “ (3 cr.)

Math 4 4 1 “ (4 cr.)

Introduction to Disciplines

Arts & Letters 10 10 3 “ (9-12 cr.)

Social Science 15 10 3 “ (9-12 cr.)

Science/Math/CS 15 10 3 “ (9-12 cr.)

Electives 35 - -

Total: 90 45 13 “ (40 – 51 cr.)

Sample Wording for General Education Transfer Module

Any student holding a General Education Transfer Module that conforms to the guidelines below will have met the requirements for the Transfer Module at any Oregon community college or institution in the Oregon University System. Upon transfer, the receiving institution may specify additional General Education coursework that is required for a major or to make up the difference between the Transfer Module and the institution’s total General Education requirements.

GUIDELINES

The General Education Transfer Module includes the following coursework, which can be completed in one academic year (3 terms):

Foundational Skills

· Writing: Two courses/6 credits of college-level composition, with a grade of "C-" or better in each course.

· Oral Communication: One course/3 credits of fundamentals of speech or communication, with a grade of "C-'' or better.

· Mathematics: One course/4 credits of college-level mathematics, for which at least Intermediate Algebra is a prerequisite, with a grade of "C-" or better.

Introduction to Disciplines

· Arts and Letters: Three courses/9 credits, chosen from the courses approved for this category at each institution.

· Social Sciences: Three courses/9 credits, chosen from the courses approved for this category at each institution.

· Science/Math/Computer Science: Three courses/9 credits, chosen from the courses approved for this category at each institution.
NOTES

[The following notes are not part of the actual "Guidelines" (above), but are intended to clarify them. They would be attached to the "Guidelines" as reference material for participating institutions.]

All course/credit references are based on a quarter system.

Courses that are developmental in nature, designed to prepare students for college-level work, are not applicable to this degree.

Courses used for the "Introduction to Disciplines" part of the Transfer Module must be at least 3 credits each.

When choosing courses in science and mathematics, students and advisors should check the specific requirements at receiving schools. Courses that include a laboratory component, or that deal with specific subjects, may be required for some programs or majors.

Computer Science courses used in the Math/Science/Computer Science area must meet the intersegmental Computer Science chairs group criteria for a science course. This includes CS 120, 121, 122, 161, 162, 171, 260, and 271 from the list of commonly numbered courses. (http://cs.bmcc.cc.or.us/occc/)

In Arts and Letters, the second year of a foreign language may be included, but not the first year. ASL is considered a foreign language.

All Oregon community colleges and Oregon University System institutions will offer students the opportunity to complete a Transfer Module. Private colleges and universities within the state are also welcome to offer Transfer Modules, which will be honored in transfer to any Oregon public college or university.