Study of Course Unit Loads for High Unit Majors

Spring
2013
Resolution Number
09.07
 
Contact
Assigned to
President
Category
Curriculum
Status
Not Addressed
Status Report

I do not remember this ever happening.

Whereas, SB 1440 (Padilla) established transfer model curriculum degrees (AA-T and AS-T) with a limit of 60 units, and established a limit of 120 units for bachelor’s degrees earned at a CSU for students who transfer with an AA-T or AS-T degree;

Whereas, SB 1456 (Lowenthal) requires that (1) registration priority be given to students with declared majors and (2) that students lose registration priority upon completion of 100 units, both of which may adversely impact degree completion for those students ill-prepared for college-level coursework or for students who change majors, especially to high-unit majors;

Whereas, There have been difficulties in developing TMCs for some high-unit majors, with the result that some TMCs cannot include all of the standard lower-division preparatory coursework required at the CSU and remain within the 60 unit limit, with the result that upon transfer students in high-unit majors may not be prepared to begin upper division coursework in the major; and

Whereas, There appears to be a lack of consistency in units awarded for courses required for high-unit majors offered at different campus within the CCC, CSU and UC systems, and consequently there may be a negative impact on degree completion and transfer for students in high-unit majors;

Resolved, That the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges work with the Intersegmental Committee of Academic Senates (ICAS) to conduct a study of course unit loads for high-unit majors across all segments of California higher education to determine at a minimum:

  • What changes, if any, over time there have been in the units awarded for required courses in high-unit majors;
  • The degree of present inconsistency in units awarded for courses required for high-unit majors at different CCC, CSU and UC campuses;
  • The impacts of any changes and inconsistencies in units awarded on the course requirements for local AA/AS degrees as well as AA-T/AS-T degrees;
  • The impacts on degree completion for students in high-unit majors at the community colleges and following transfer to a CSU or UC as a result of any changes and inconsistencies in units awarded;

and report the results of this study to the body by Fall 2014.

MSC