Excerpt of the GE Policy relevant to Life Sciences (B2)

2.3          Although the primary purpose of Explorations is the development of breadth of knowledge, it is expected that all courses will offer opportunities for continued development of foundational skills.

2.3          All courses in Explorations must have at least one pre- or co-requisite from the Foundation.

2.3          In addition, as students progress through their Explorations, they will be expected to develop additional skills and attributes, including ethical reasoning, analytical reading, creativity, respect for difference, awareness of other cultures, questioning of stereotypes, the values of citizenship, negotiating skills, and other attributes of use in a diverse society. Courses at this level will be evaluated for their attention to one or more of these areas and to Foundation skills, as well as content.

3.1         When requesting GE certification for a certain Area or Subarea a course may be the only exposure a student gets to that Area or Subarea. The course as a whole—and not the general topic or discipline—must be appropriate to that Area or Subarea and taught at the university level. Rather than GE being an afterthought to make a course fit into that Area or Subarea, with just perfunctory treatment or minimal coverage of the Area or Subarea, a course must be created around the concept of covering GE explicitly, directly, thoroughly, and significantly, integrating the Area or Subarea throughout the course. The course may simultaneously cover discipline-specific material; however, that material must be integrated with the GE content.

3.1          Courses beyond the Foundation stage must continue to enhance the Foundation skills, as well as build additional skills as indicated in the descriptions of the specific levels.

3.1          Wherever appropriate, instruction approved to fulfill the GE requirements should recognize the contributions to knowledge and civilization that have been made by members of various cultural groups and genders. Wherever appropriate, the content of courses should include examples of the relationship of human and cultural diversity to the subject matter.

3.1         In order to be approved for a specific GE Area or Subarea, the course must include:

• for all GE courses: textbooks/readings and bibliography items that clearly address the Area or Subarea being requested;
• for all GE courses: Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) dedicated to the Area or Subarea being requested and taken or adapted from the implementation document defining GE SLOs approved by the Academic Senate and maintained by the GEGC;
• for all GE courses: scheduled class topics that directly address the GE SLOs dedicated to the Area or Subarea being requested;
• for Exploration courses: at least one third of the SLOs, assignments, assessments, evaluative criteria, and final course grade dedicated to the Area or Subarea being requested.

3.2.2.2.1              In Subareas B1, B2, and B3, students will develop knowledge of scientific theories, concepts, and data (…). Students will achieve an understanding and appreciation of scientific principles and the scientific method.   The potential limits of scientific endeavors and the value systems and ethics associated with human inquiry may also be explored as appropriate for the course. Wherever appropriate, courses may address the influence that the acquisition of scientific knowledge has had on the development of the world's civilizations.

3.2.2.2.1.2           Courses in fulfillment of Subarea B2 will develop students’ knowledge of the facts and principles which form the foundations of all living systems and organisms.