INTEGRATED ADVANCED GENERAL EDUCATION (9 units)

BIOL 110 - Biodiversity and Biopolitics (3)
DRAM 127 - Contemporary Theatre (3)
POLS 120 - Law and Society (3)

SYLLABUS - Spring 2000

new! Revised schedule and Project info

FACULTY

Dr. Mary E. (Betsy) Carroll
Political Science
BT 450 D
924-5569
mcarroll@email.sjsu.edu
FAX 924-5556
Office Hours:
M 2:30-4:30, T 2:30-5:30

Dr. David Kahn
Theatre Arts
HGH 110;
924-4540
dkahn@email.sjsu.edu
FAX 924-4543
Office Hours:
F 10:30-2:30

Dr. Michael Kutilek
Biology
DH 555;
924-4895
mkutilek@email.sjsu.edu
FAX 924-4840
Office Hours:

RESOURCES

Writing Rubric

CLASS MEETING TIME AND LOCATION -- MWF 10:30-13:20; DH 219

CREDIT AND ELIGIBILITY

This 9-unit package of course work provides integrated advanced GE education in three required areas--Earth and Environment (R); Self, Society, and Equality in the U.S. (S); Culture, Civilization, and Global Understanding (V).

Students from all majors are welcome provided that they have passed the WST, achieved upper division standing (56 units), and completed core GE.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This linked set of three upper-division GE courses is designed to offer integration between diverse disciplines: biology, political science, theatre arts. The points of contact between the three fields offer interesting perspectives not only on the specific academic areas, but also on a wider world that incresingly emphasises fusion and requires flexible, creative approaches.

All three courses will emphasize the relationship between theory and practice, moving ideas into action, learning how to identify and solve problems, and gaining important job-related experience.

Working with same students and instructors throughout the semester promotes a sense of community.

Themes unify our exploration of biodiversity, legal and political processes and contemporary culture.

Our focal point this semester is San Jose parks: to analyze ecological and other community issues, consider questions of public space and public policy, to design strategies for change, and to present influential projects designed to produce specified results.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

This block of classes is designed to enhance student mastery of knowledge and competencies that are a vital part of general education.

Theory and practice in written communication are central to the format of the three courses. Writing assignments include frequent in-class writing in response to assigned reading and class discussion with particular focus on designing strategies for effecting change within a community.

STUDENTS WILL RECOGNIZE:

  • interactions of science, technology and society
  • interactions of humans and the physical world
  • methodologies of scientific inquiry
  • differences between scientific, non-scientific and pseudo-scientific -approaches
  • values and limitations of science and scientific research
  • applications of science and technology
  • significant achievements of the human intellect and imagination
  • the relationship between the expression of ideas and culture
  • the historical context of ideas and culture
  • methods of critical analysis
  • the roles of people and physical environment in shaping culture and society
  • conflicts of interests and values in translating knowledge into social action
  • how people change and modify their behavior, values and attitudes, and those of others
  • how people interact in a diverse societyhow inequalities are structured in the U.S.

STUDENTS WILL DEVELOP AND DEMONSTRATE ABILITY TO:

  • critically analyse a wide range of materials
  • integrate reading comprehension and writing competence
  • use language and forms of writing appropriate to the discipline(s)
  • collaborate in the development of cross-disciplinary projects/presentations designed to solve particular problems or produce specified outcomes.

REQUIRED READING

see assignments for individual courses:
BIOL 110
DR 127
POLS 120

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES

  • class attendence and active participation
  • cooperation
  • creativity
  • evidence of reading and learning as demonstrated in class discussion and assignments
  • completion of class assignments on time, according to direction, and in academically correct writing
  • No late papers or presentations will permitted without legitimate excused absence. These assignments may not be made up.
  • Students should be aware of University Policies regarding "Academic Dishonesty."

GRADING
students will receive a single grade applied to all three classes
point system as follows:

250 pts. biology assignments
250 pts. political science assignments
250 pts. theatre arts assignments
250 pts. group project

GROUP PROJECTS

The culmination of all three courses is a group project with the following components:

  • Identify Problems related to parks;
  • Form groups (4-5 students);
  • Conduct analysis (literature review, determine audience for presentation etc.);
  • Design strategies for addressing problem;
  • Develop and deliver presentations and written summaries documenting process and stating targeted results.

Project work will focus on the following elements:

  • team building
  • contracts
  • action planning
  • group dynamics
  • thoughtfullness
  • evidence
  • presentation
  • innovation
  • creativity

SCHEDULE