Basic Studies records
Scope and Contents
The Basic Studies collection consists of 1 record center carton containing three series relating to the curriculum of basic studies for undergraduates, as well as the formation and activities of the Basic Studies Committee. The bulk of the material relates to major reforms in the curriculum, specifically from 1985-1988 and 2001-2002. The records include meeting minutes, department correspondence, clippings and news releases, committee proposals, evaluative studies, and published undergraduate catalogues.
The collection has been divided into three series : Basic Studies Reforms, Basic Studies Committee, and Publications and Communications. The Committee series has a subseries of materials from 1985-1987 that were previously bound in three-ring binders and which detail committee activities; these have been labeled by the creators as "volumes" 1-5. The collection does not include volume 2. All files are arranged chronologically.
Dates
- Creation: 1971 - 2002
Conditions Governing Access
Researchers are asked to request materials 24 hours prior to visiting the the University Archives.
Administrative History
The Basic Studies curriculum is required of all undergraduates at Eastern Michigan University. In its current form, it is divided into four areas : I. Symbolics and Communication -- II. Science and Technology -- III. Social Science -- IV. Arts and Humanities.
The basic studies curriculum has gone through several major reforms; in 1985-1987 a committee consisting of faculty and administrators across the University met to make changes to the curriculum. These changes took effect in 1989-1990, and changed the requirements from 13 courses in four general areas to 16 courses in three areas, including a new emphasis in cross-cultural or international studies. The reformed stated purpose of the basic studies program was to provide students with "a core of knowledge about people, things and processes."
The basic studies committee continued to meet after the implementation of the new curriculum in order to provide oversight of the program. In 2001, a program called Advising Advocates was launched in order to assist freshmen and sophomore students meet the undergraduate requirements of basic studies and was overseen by Basic Studies.
Extent
1 Linear Feet (1 record center carton)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Basic Studies curriculum is required of all undergraduates. In its current form, it is divided into four areas : I. Symbolics and Communication -- II. Science and Technology -- III. Social Science -- IV. Arts and Humanities. This curriculum has gone through several major reforms, particularly in 1985-1988 and 2001-2002. The Basic Studies collection consists of 1 record center carton containing three series relating to the curriculum of basic studies for undergraduates, as well as the formation and activities of the Basic Studies Committee. The bulk of the material relates to major reforms in the curriculum, specifically from 1985-1988 and 2001-2002. The records include meeting minutes, department correspondence, clippings and news releases, committee proposals, evaluative studies, and published undergraduate catalogues. All files are arranged chronologically.
- Title
- Basic Studies records
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Bailey Ahles, Natalie Morath
- Date
- 2012 January 12
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the Eastern Michigan University Archives Repository
Bruce T. Halle Library, Room 310
955 West Circle Drive
Ypsilanti Michigan 48197
734-487-2673
lib_archives@emich.edu