The College of Arts and Sciences' new program could go university-wide.
It’s not uncommon for students to take a course they dread during their time in college.
In fact, under the current general education requirements at Ohio University, this happens more often than not, according to officials.
The College of Arts and Sciences is looking to change that.
Through what the college has called “themes,” students have more freedom to explore interests they may have outside or within their field of study. Themes kicked off this semester.
There are currently 12 themes and about 10 to 12 new courses as a result of the initiative, said Robert Frank, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.
The plan initially received $500,000 from a fund in the Provost’s office used for short term special projects.
A theme, as defined by the college’s website, is a set of related courses and experiences that provide a guide to fulfilling a substantial portion of the breadth of knowledge requirement.
The breadth of knowledge requirement — included in OU’s Tier II general education requirement — focuses on students obtaining skills necessary for them to “function effectively in society,” according to OU’s website.
“The idea is that if you have an interest in (an) area, (a theme) provides a pathway for … you to think about how to structure your academic experience,” Frank said. “A major and a certificate would have requirements; themes are not like that. They are collections of courses … centered around some topic or some area.”
Some of the funding has gone toward creating new courses, paying for campus events and educational field trips, compensating teachers and sponsoring guest speakers, Frank said.
“This is really something different,” said Theresa Moran, an English lecturer and theme leader for the Food Studies theme. “We’re trying to work with both existing students and also with news students as well to make this really a way of invigorating what people do at Ohio University.”
Students have, for the most part, received the themes initiative well, said Anna Chleboun, a senior studying specialized studies in dance, psychology, religious studies and food studies.
“I’ve heard some criticism of people asking if it will be more work...but those are misunderstandings of what the themes are trying to do,” she said.
Chleboun, who is currently in the Food Studies theme, said the initiative allows students to be less constricted by requirements.
“For me, it’s just a really awesome opportunity to engage in a larger question and to see how the fields I’m interested in work into those bigger questions,” she said.
Frank, who currently co-chairs the General Education Task Force within OU’s Faculty Senate, says the success of the themes program may be included in discussions to update OU’s current general education requirements.
“(The general education requirements are a) checklist of sorts that doesn’t help students or teachers understand the holistic purpose of those requirements,” said Beth Quitslund, an associate professor of English and chair of Faculty Senate. “I think the themes are very much on the table.”
@Dinaivey
db794812@ohio.edu
