Appendix 6

General Education Task Force
Student Written Response Form
November 22, 2004

1. What has been the best thing about General Education at PLNU?

1. Having a broader sense of different areas of study, and being able to know more about things. I wouldn’t necessarily study on my own—like history. Communication/Lit
2. I think it’s been great to have my mind stretched and broadened in my courses, which I assume is part of the rationale for GE courses. I think something along the lines of a core curriculum would be good, just because I’m not interested at first in a subject doesn’t mean that I don’t need to be conscious of it. Music (performance)
3. Meeting other people with different interests, viewpoints, etc. The connections you glean from different classes, professions and students. In all it is very valuable you gain knowledge in many different areas so you can go out in to the world an intelligent, well-rounded individual. History and International Studies
4. interconnectedness, a well-rounded perspective no major marked
5. My answer is skewed because I transferred the maximum amount of units possible and therefore did not experience the full measure of general education classes at PLNU. However, I think gen. ed. Is a good thing. no major marked
6. Relates material through subject matter. I love the contextualizing of subject matter. English education
7. The well-roundedness of my overall education. Chemistry
8. Being exposed to all kinds of subjects. Art
9. The great way of going to create a well-rounded person. The amount of diversity and languages rock! Biochemistry
10.  Overall it’s been a great experience. I came to a liberal arts institution for a reason! no major marked
11.  The relationships/connections I made with other professors and other departments. Spanish
12.  Meeting people and professors from a wide variety of classes and majors. Ability to gain a wide perspective. Psychology
13.  G.E. at Point Loma is extremely broad. I believe this gives us a great background and base for our education as a whole. I like the fact that G.E. here covers well almost all disciplines offered at Point Loma. Mathematics
14.  It gives you a break from your major classes. Physics
15.  no comment
16.  no comment
17.  I have a variety of interests (history, philosophy, music) that were at least touched by many courses. Mathematics

2. What has been the worst thing about General Education at PLNU?

1. The amount of units. I came in with extra units and will still barely be able to graduate in 4 years—and there are so many classes that interest me! Communication/Lit
2. no comment
3. Well… I hate BIO 101 (but that’s just me). I came in with so many units, half of my G.E. courses were done when I got here (of course it’s part of the GE’s I actually want to take!) History and International Studies
4. no comment
5. Too many Art requirements—1 is enough. Some classes pretty useless. no major marked
6. Less room for areas of interest. Poor alternative under specific areas, e.g. Race Class and Gender vs. Economics. Generalize information = dangerous stuff. English education
7. Going over the syllabus for the first 50 minutes in every class. Also the rudeness of some students in GE classes. Chemistry
8. Freshmen don’t choose first semester—art major in Bio 101? Not a good thing. Art
9. Freshman psychology! I feel that there are courses that are just not worth taking (like communication). I wish there were more emphasis on reading and writing. Biochemistry
10.  Lack of teaching at a high level in a few classes… which has definitely bothered me! no major marked
11.  no comment
12.  no comment
13.  It is extremely time consuming. There were times I remember that I would have liked to spend more time on my math, but needed to study for G.E. to keep up my G.P.A. There was that added pressure that took time away from my real focus. Mathematics
14.  Some subjects seem overemphasized for people in certain majors. For instance, a science major taking 2 classes in history. Also, not having a lot of flexibility in the classes you can take. Physics
15.  Freshman psychology. Biochemistry
16.  No application for science. Try to reinvent Math and science classes to differentiate from high school. Many students need more writing skills. Some sort of writing assignment should be given. If a student is lacking in writing/grammar skills, he/she should have to take a more basic writing/grammar class! Romance Languages
17.  I have never not been excited about the content of a course. However, some professors have crushed that excitement by making the work too hard or too much. My focus has too often been on my grade rather than the information. Also, I nearly dropped out my first semester because I was taking all G.E. courses. Mathematics

3. Do you believe General Education at PLNU is too big, just right, or too small? Why?

1. Too big and too rigid. I think there needs to be more flexibility with the different areas. Communication/Lit
2. Bit too big; it would have been difficult (rather, very full semesters) to finish in 4 years as it was. If I hadn’t had 24 + credits, it would have been impossible to have electives. Music (performance)
3. Perhaps a bit too big. I came in with a lot of A.P. units, so a majority of my G.E. courses were done before I came to PLNU. In all, I have had a great experience with G.E. courses. I have heard from others (especially transfers) that it is very large, or at least difficult to transfer. History and International Studies
4. I cannot really imagine it any other way. I would be insane if I had tried to finish in 4 years though. Relaxing has made me appreciate my classes even more. no major marked
5. It is slightly too big. I think you could require OT or NT Bible classes or a Bible study methods class. Reduce Fine Art to 1 class or a World Religions class. Revise (revamp) some of the classes that could have better application to a wide variety of students. (Psych, Bio, and Chemistry classes). Have teachers get creative! no major marked
6. Too big. Let people become more proficient in their areas of study. Also leaves less room for minors and such. English education
7. Just right. Wish there was more flexibility. Chemistry
8. I believe it is too big. For majors, like art, where your input time is barely represented by your unit number, it is extremely overwhelming to get done. Art
9. I think that it is right in size. However, I wish that there was more flexibility. I wish it was more flexible to allow for minors. Biochemistry
10.  It’s a little big if you are in a heavy major or want to minor, double major, go abroad, or even be very involved in something extra-curricular like sports, debate, etc. no major marked
11.  Just right—I, however, switched my major after my first year and unwittingly fulfilled many GE requirements. Spanish
12.  Generally, just right. Some fine tuning would be helpful (minor reduction) so that it would leave room for a few more “elective” courses. Psychology
13.  I believe G.E. as it is covers everything extremely well but is too large. Mathematics
14.  A little on the big side of things. It would be nice to be able to take more electives. Physics  
15.  Yes, too big. I am not allowed to take “electives”. I would love to take more of the biology course or an extra art class, but can’t.  Biochemistry
16.  I think the size is good, but there should be more options. Only one class in each section should be required. Then students should be allowed to choose classes to fulfill units. Romance Languages
17.  Seems about right for my major. Mathematics

4. If you believe General Education is too big, what do you think should be reduced? Should anything be eliminated?

1. I think people have a general idea of what may interest them (even as freshmen), and could choose one science or one art, and maybe have more openness with what counts for general ed. Communication/Lit
2. Science should be reduced some (not necessarily eliminated) maybe also psychology. Music (performance)
3. no comment
4. Maybe history? Languages? But that is probably just me. I don’t see how it really could be healthily reduced. no major marked
5. no comment
6. I would like to see general education drop a mathematics and science requirement. Maybe Biology or chemistry option. Let people take what they want with a few core exceptions. English education
7. no comment
8. Core or independent? I think the more independent the better—if you get stricter then I believe there will be more grumbling. Art
9. No! Biochemistry
10.  Not necessarily eliminated all together as far as “generis” go, but perhaps a few fewer units. no major marked
11.  no comment
12.  MTH 303 should be eliminated if students are required to take statistics – or statistics should be available for GE math requirement. Psychology
13.  see below
14.  I don’t think anything should be eliminated, but I think having more variety in the classes you need to take would be helpful. Physics
15.  no comment
16.  Only one science should be required. It should be a practical class, similar to problem solving. Romance Languages
17.  no comment

5. What would you like to tell the committee that you have not been willing or able to share in our group session?

1. I do appreciate the general ed system, but I think knowledge of what professors are like is important for students to know. Communication/Lit
2. I don’t think that the PE courses are worth the time and money; I can run around the track any time! GE should b e broadening our horizons and teaching us how to learn. Music (performance)
3. Happy medium between core and free general ed choice. History and International Studies
4. no comment
5. DROP Christian Tradition and/or Life of Holiness. I think the core shold be flexible. I believe a more open approach would fit the breadth of student needs and choice of discipline. no major marked
6. Please consider how helpful vs. how harmful a general education is! Especially when considering religion courses. English education
7. People need to understand why science is important. Chemistry
8. I was in ISF and that’s where I got screwed in Bio! Art
9. no comment
10.  An addition on diversity/ Race Class and Gender!! I LOVE the core idea! no major marked
11.  Some of the GE courses I have taken have been my favorite courses. I was always able to integrate the various courses with each other and with my major. Core with room for electives. Spanish
12.  CORE! Psychology
13.  I think we should have one required course per discipline (rather than 2) and then have a total number of G.E. units required so that we can choose an area or areas of GE that we are particularly interested in to focus on. In this way we still have a good base, can have flexibility and have to take less total units. Mathematics
14.  N/A
15.  The professors need to show more respect for other disciplines as well as the students. All of my religion classes have slammed science and how believing in evolution is going to send you to Hell, but if they just talked to anyone over in the tall science building that we are not weird or ignorant. Professors should love their disciplines but not deny everyone’s beliefs. I have not had proper writing skills distributed to me. :( Biochemistry
16.  Bible classes should be presented more openly, not as though the Wesleyan perspective is the only Christian perspective. Students would benefit from hearing about different Christian views of topics. Romance Languages
17.  no comment

General Education Task Force
Student Response Form
November 22, 2004