This checklist will help instructors of WSU General Education courses with Social Science (SS) and SS/CC attributes to design a course syllabus that includes critical information about the General Education program.

 

Key Course Information

 Name of Course, with Gen Ed attributes specified (i.e., SS, SS & CC)
 Name of faculty member, meeting place and meeting time if F2F
 Contact info: office location, student hours, phone, email, faculty website link
 List of required texts   
 Provide the catalog course description
 Clearly outline the scope and focus of the class with course objectives
 Check with your department/program chair and the Center for Excellence in Teaching & Learning for additional information and policies to be included in your syllabus, including:

 Attendance policies
 Plagiarism, academic honesty, and AI policies
 ADA policies & statement
 Core beliefs statement
 Professionalism and Respect statement
 Inclusivity statement
 FERPA Rights
 Student Responsibilities
 Recording policies

Big Question and Signature Assignment:

 State the “Big Question” (BQ) of your Gen Ed course.
 Describe the Signature Assignment (SA) for your Gen Ed course. Examples can be found in the eWeber portal app titled, Signature Assignment samples.
Include and modify this language to inform students of the BQ and SA in your Gen Ed course.

This course is part of the WSU General Education program. GE courses introduce students to academic disciplines through important “big questions” (BQ). At their core, “big questions” provide students the opportunity to integrate and apply their knowledge of the discipline to address a significant, personal, social, or professional issue. GE courses also introduce students to underlying foundational knowledge and intellectual tools that run through all academic areas and are part of the ongoing preparation to address real world problems.

All WSU General Education courses have “signature assignments” (SA) that require you to integrate and apply course content to address a big question with, for instance, critical or creative thinking, problem solving, or analysis. Signature assignments 1) will address a specific audience, 2) will tackle personal, social, or a professional question or issue, and 3) will integrate and apply course content through the use of 4) intellectual tools. You are enrolled in the WSU General Education course _______________ which is designed to tackle the following big question (BQ)____________________________ through the signature assignment (SA)____________________________. Please see ______ for more detailed information about the signature assignment for this course.

 Name your SA in the Canvas Gradebook as “Signature Assignment”

The words “Signature Assignment” must be in the assignment title - not merely in the description of the SA, or on the syllabus. The actual assignment title should be something like “Signature Assignment,” “Final Paper (Signature Assignment)” or “Signature Assignment: Final Paper”. The General Education program cannot assess courses unless the Signature Assignment is labelled as such in the Canvas assignment title.

Social Science (SS) Area Learning Outcomes (LOs)

 Include the statement: "The mission of the Social Science general education area is twofold: 1. to provide students with a basic understanding of humans and their behavior within their environments; and 2. to empower students to contribute to society in their particular professions and as engaged citizens of their various communities".

 List the three Social Science Learning Outcomes (LOs):
Students completing a social science general education course will demonstrate their understanding of the following three outcomes:

1) Interactions betwen individuals and society: Students will describe how individuals and groups influence and are influenced by social contexts, institutions, physical environments and/or global processes.

2) Application of concepts, theories, and methods: Students will apply basic social science concepts, theories, and/or methods to a particular issue and identify factors that influence change.

3) Diverse perspectives: Students will identify an argument about a social phenomenon and understand alternative explanations.

 Write the relevant Social Science (SS) LO(s) next to the aligned course assignment(s).

Cultural Competence (CC) Area Learning Outcomes (LOs)

 Include the statement: "General Education at Weber State University supports the development of cultural competence through designated courses (CC), which prepare students to recognize a plurality of perspectives, including their own, to function successfully in a global society". 

 List the three CC Learning Outcomes (LOs):
A student who successfully completes a CC General Education course will:

1)  Evaluate their own perspective as one among many

2) Analyze the ways in which biases or values influence and/or have influenced the structures, policies, practices, norms, or perspectives often assumed to be neutral.

3) Apply diverse perspectives to complex subjects in the face of multiple or conflicting positions, in accordance with their sense of personal and civic responsiblility.

 Write the relevant CC LO(s) next to the aligned course assignment(s).