| Suspension of College General Education Seminar/Second Writing II Requirement
The Faculty Executive Committee of the College of Letters and Science voted to suspend the College GE seminar requirement for all current students beginning Winter Quarter 2009. The 10 course GE requirement is still in effect, but there is no longer a requirement that 1 of the 10 courses be a GE Seminar (or the alternative second GE Writing Il course). Any GE seminar or GE Writing II course taken previously will still apply toward the applicable GE foundation area. Students are encouraged to enroll in GE Seminars to fulfill their GE coursework but a seminar will not be a graduation requirement.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Suspended for how long? Could this be re-instated and apply to me?
The suspension becomes effective Winter 2009. Fall 2008 graduates still need a second Writing II or GE approved seminar. The College may consider reinstating this requirement in the future but the reinstated requirement would apply to entering freshmen only. Continuing students, those of you now here at UCLA, will always have this suspension and will not be held for this requirement at graduation.
Why did this happen? What is the rationale for the suspension?
The College still supports the deeper level of learning that seminar courses provide. The College is encouraging departments to establish more senior-level seminars in majors. There are insufficient funds to do both, and there as been a growing shortage of GE seminars over the past few years as freshman enrollments have increased. The College will continue to offer excellent general education seminars through Freshman Cluster courses and Honors Collegium. Students who really want a GE seminar will still be able to enroll but it will not be a requirement for all students.
Do I still need a Writing II?
Yes, the Writing II requirement remains unchanged. You need a Writing II course completed with the letter grade of C or better, by the third quarter of your sophomore year. (Transfer students who completed IGETC will have satisfied Writing II.) Many Writing II classes will also fulfill a general education course requirement, though not every Writing II course is also a GE. See: http://www.registrar.ucla.edu/soc/writing.htm
Is it still the College’s recommendation to take my Writing II by the end of my second year?
Yes, we realize that sophomores were competing with graduating seniors for spaces in Writing II courses (sophomores trying to enroll in their first Writing II, graduating seniors trying to take the second writing II to meet their graduation requirement) Because of these enrollment challenges, the College was not enforcing the ideal of Writing II completion by the end of the sophomore year. Our hope is that this suspension will ease enrollment pressure and that students will more easily be able to enroll in Writing II courses in the future.
Will red drops of impacted Writing II classes now be considered?
No special consideration will be given. Regular regulations concerning impacted classes will still apply. Red drop petitions are rarely granted and only in cases of extraordinary and verifiable circumstances
Can I drop my second Writing II course now since I no longer need this?
Normal drop deadlines will apply. Impacted classes need to be dropped no later than Friday of week 2, allowing students on the waiting list to add in your place before the Friday, week 3 add deadline. All classes followed by a W are impacted and must be dropped no later than Friday of week 2. http://www.ugeducation.ucla.edu/counseling/petitions.htm
What happens if I have already taken a second Writing II?
The units and credit for your courses will still apply toward graduation and general education if appropriate and will still apply toward the writing requirements that are in place for many medical and professional schools.
What if I have already taken a GE approved seminar?
The GE seminar will still be applied to its appropriate GE category.
Should I drop my GE seminar?
Why would you do that? It still applies to the appropriate GE category mentioned above. There are unique educational advantages that a small twenty person class affords.
I was waiting to take a GE seminar, will they still be offered? Should I still take this class?
Absolutely. A GE seminar of twenty students trains you in academic discourse and helps you articulate a position and discuss a topic in an analytical fashion. The College fully supports GE seminars and will be offering GE seminars throughout the year, including CUTF courses (Collegium of University Teaching Fellows) and Honors Collegium seminars.
What is a CUTF?
The CUTF (Collegium of University Teaching Fellows program) allows some of UCLA’s very best advanced graduate students the opportunity to develop and teach a lower division seminar in their field of specialization on a one-time basis. This allows undergraduates students to take courses that are at the cutting edge of a discipline and to benefit from a small-seminar environment. CUTF seminars will continue to be taught every winter and spring quarters.
What is the advantage of my GE cluster?
Your GE cluster still affords the advantage of applying as three different GE course requirements AND will still satisfying the Writing II requirement. (assuming you complete Writing I no later than winter and pass your spring cluster with the grade of C or better).
When will I see this change/suspension reflected on my DPR?
You will see a notation on your DPR early Winter 2009.
I am still confused by all of this. Who can I talk to and who will address my concerns?
You should speak to a full time College of Letters and Science counselor in your specific counseling unit.
AAP: 1209 Campbell hall
Monday-Friday 9-5:00 PM
www.aap.ucla.edu/Counseling/index.html
College Academic Counseling: A-316 Murphy Hall
Monday-Friday 8:30-4:30 PM
www.college.ucla.edu/up/counseling
Honors: A-311 Murphy Hall
Monday-Friday, 8:30-4:30 PM
www.college.ucla.edu/up/honors
Student Athletes: JD Morgan Center, Suite 127
Monday-Friday, 8-5:00 PM
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