The Office of Undergraduate Studies (UGS) works in partnership with the academic colleges in the development, review and enhancement of the undergraduate programs to assist faculty to provide outstanding undergraduate education for students. The members of the UGS team work with faculty to establish and administer academic policies, assist with undergraduate curriculum development and review, and support proposals for new and revised programs and courses through the various approval processes. In addition to assisting with the academic programs offered by the colleges, Undergraduate Studies offers a number of academic programs:
Undergraduate Studies provides strong set of Student Success programs designed to make it more likely that students will successfully navigate the complexities of the transition to college and the baccalaureate experience. (It integrates academic endeavors with meaningful experiences within myriad student development programs.) Together, they aim to provide coordinated opportunities for students to develop their identities and intellectual competencies for successful careers and lifelong learning. Those services include:
It came to the attention of the Provost that although the majority of USF's 2,900+ undergraduate courses are 3-credit hour courses, there were a number of 4-credit hour courses that created scheduling conflicts as they overlapped with the other courses in USF's scheduling matrix. The Provost, Deans and others reviewed the rationale for the 4-credit hour courses to determine whether the courses might be changed, and in the process it was discovered that many courses were offered as 3-credit hour courses at other SUS institutions. In addition to the potential benefit of simplifying scheduling of courses, other advantages to changing many of the 4-credit hour courses to 3-credit hours were identified, including the increased possibility of students graduating within four years and completing their degree programs without incurring excess hour surcharges.
Only 5 percent (145) of the undergraduate courses were impacted by the credit hour change and the change will not be noticed by most students. There are four programs where a larger number of the changed courses are taught and those are History, Religious Studies, Geography and Art/Art History. Students in those programs will notice the changes but those departments are working to revise the program requirements to accommodate the changes in ways that will not disadvantage the students. The academic advisors in those programs are prepared to help make this a smooth process.
Only five percent of USF’s courses were affected by this change. Click here for a complete list of the courses. Please contact your academic advisor with any questions.
During the 2012 Florida legislative session, the Florida legislature voted to:
- Reduce the general education course requirements from 36 semester credit hours to 30 semester credit hours, beginning with students initially entering a Florida College System institution in 2014-2015;
- Require 15 semester credit hours of general education core courses consisting of one course from five options in each of the subject areas of communication, mathematics, social sciences, humanities, and natural sciences, plus an additional 15 semester credit hours to be determined by the individual institutions;
- Require a student to complete one course in each of those areas;
- Require that associate in arts degree students demonstrate competency in a foreign language; and
- Require the chairs of the State Board of Education and the Board of Governors to jointly convene faculty committees to identify statewide general education core course options.
For more information on Section 1007.25 Florida Statute General Education courses; common prerequisites; other degree requirements and the General Education Steering Committee, please visit: www.fldoe.org/articulation/hb7135gep.asp.
Last Updated February 28, 2013
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