GEOSCIENCE COURSES IN KEENE STATE COLLEGE'S NEW INTEGRATIVE STUDIES CURRICULUM

Keene State College recently switched from a 3-credit to a 4-credit curriculum. At the same time, a new outcomes-driven Integrative Studies Program (ISP) was approved to replace the General Education Program that had been in place for the preceding 30 plus years. The ISP outcomes include continued development of the skills that all students need to succeed in college and in the workforce as well as demonstrating an understanding of the differences in the ways that disciplines in the Arts, Humanities, Social sciences and Natural Sciences conduct research and understand the world around them.

The Geology Department has always been a major provider of seats for the old GenEd Program but was always frustrated by the lack of opportunity to offer a significant hands-on component to the non-science audience that chose its courses. The switch to 4-credits, combined with the clearly articulated outcomes expectations for courses in the ISP have provided the opportunity to redefine the content and pedagogy for courses offered to non-science majors. Our new ISP courses are capped at 24, rather than the traditional 44 or even ‘double section' 90 seats under the old GenEd program (GEOL100 – Perspectives of Earth, a traditional survey of topics on Earth's internal and external processes along with a bit of oceanography, meteorology and astronomy). This reduction was approved by administration in recognition of the importance that students have a strong integrated hands-on experience in their natural science coursework.

The new non-major courses (including INGEOL110 - Earth Systems Science) involve students in both qualitative and quantitative activities including rock and mineral identification, rates of geologic processes, use of topographic maps to much more clearly understand surface processes and products, and most importantly, the requirement that they demonstrate an understanding of the scientific method, its importance in today's society and its application to understanding the role of the earth sciences in understanding and solving global environmental issues. The learning experiences are integrated into regular classroom sessions rather than being a separate ‘lab experience'. Examples of these integrated exercises will be shared.