Guidelines for Principal Courses

(Taken from the mail ballot to College Assembly members dated April 26, 1985)

The purpose of a Principal Course should be to acquaint students with the nature of the subject-matter studied in an area, with the types of questions that are asked about that subject-matter, with the knowledge that has been developed and is now basic to the area, and with the methods and standards by which claims to the truth are judged. Principal Courses may take the form of broad introductory surveys. They may also take other forms, however. A Principal Course might focus on a specific topic or theme, for example, using that as a way to introduce students to the area or discipline question. The essential point is that the course should be designed and taught with the aims of general education in mind, as an introduction to the area of discipline in question.

A principal course will be offered at least once a calendar year (fall or spring semester).

A principal course is normally open to all students without prerequisites other than regular college requirements (English, math, communication studies/logic, Western civilization, non-western culture). Principal courses that have special requirements (Honors sections, those taught in a language other than English, etc.) will be separately designated.

There will be a general limit of four principal courses at the lower level (299 and below) and four principal courses at the upper level (300 and above) that any one department may offer. However, departments may submit additional course beyond the limit that meet the above guidelines. Justification for exceeding the course limit must be included with such requests.

Each Principal Course should be identified as falling in one of the topical groups indicated below, and should be designed and taught accordingly:

NATURAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS:

PHYSICAL SCIENCES
BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
EARTH SCIENCES
MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES

Note: At least one of the courses taken in this division must be a 4 or 5 hour course involving a laboratory for students earning a B.A. degree.

SOCIAL SCIENCES:

INDIVIDUAL BEHAVIOR
CULTURE AND SOCIETY
PUBLIC AFFAIRS

HUMANITIES:

HISTORICAL STUDIES
LITERATURE AND THE ARTS
PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGION

Each Principal Course should be located within one of the indicated topical groups, and no such course should be located in more than one topical group.

No course should be considered by the College Academic Council for approval as a Principal Course until CUSA has reviewed it and made a recommendation for approval or disapproval. Before making such a recommendation to CAC, CUSA should seek the recommendation of an advisory committee (consisting of designated representatives of the departments in the appropriate division – typically division chairs) and of the Dean. Such recommendations should be sought both in the connection with any subsequent recommendation to approve changes in that list. Departments proposing courses for approval as Principal Courses will be expected to provide written justification for approval of each course as a Principal Course in a specified topical group.