Excerpt of the GE Policy relevant to Constitution and American Ideals (D2)

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.

3.2.4.2.1              Across the disciplines in Area D, students will learn how human social, political and economic institutions and behavior are inextricably interwoven. Through fulfillment of the Area D requirement, students will develop an understanding of problems and issues from the respective disciplinary perspectives and will examine issues in their contemporary as well as historical settings and in a variety of cultural contexts. Students will explore the principles, methodologies, value systems, and ethics employed in social scientific inquiry. Area D excludes courses that emphasize skills development and professional preparation.

3.2.4.2.1.2           Criteria for Subarea D2, Constitution and American Ideals

Courses in fulfillment of Area D2 will give students a comprehensive understanding of and appreciation for American political institutions and processes established by the US Constitution and the California state constitutions, as provided for in Title 5, Article 40404 of the California Code of Regulations. Students will acquire the knowledge and skills necessary for effective political participation and citizenship. Courses in fulfillment of Subarea D2 will, at a minimum, include the following course content:

• a comparison of different forms of government, including democracy, oligarchy and autocracy, with attention to how these are represented in the “mixed” American constitutional system;
• the political philosophy of the framers of the Constitution and the nature and operation of US political institutions and processes that operate under the Constitution as amended and interpreted;
• the rights and obligations of citizens in the political system established under that Constitution;
• the principles and practices of political organization, including political parties, interest groups, social movements and the news media;
• an examination of the interactions between and the evolution, development and contemporary dynamics of the American presidency, the United States Congress and the federal judiciary;
• an introduction to constitutionally and legislatively established administrative and regulatory institutions;
• an analysis of bureaucracies and their impact on citizens at the national, state, and local levels;
• an analysis of the US citizenry, including demography, political culture, public opinion and political behavior;
• the constitution of the state of California within a framework of the historical evolution of the state and the nature of the processes of state and local government under that constitution;
• the nature of federalism, including the relationship of federal to state and local practices, the resolution of jurisdictional conflicts, and the political processes involved.