Enhancing Foundational Learning at UHart
The University of Hartford is developing a 2021-2022 university-wide curriculum that leverages the diverse range of faculty expertise across our schools and colleges. This webpage provides updates to the academic community throughout the implementation process.
What's Happening Now
Working Definitions
The developed definitions below are subject to change based on feedback from faculty. To share your feedback or provide input on the categories of definitions, please complete this form.
Humanities
Definition: Courses in the humanities consider diverse human histories, cultures, and beliefs in order to understand the human experience. Students analyze human culture as expressed in texts, literature, music, visual and performing arts in an historical or contemporary context.
Social Sciences
Definition: Courses in the social sciences probe the social forces and structures that shape our experience as individuals, communities, and societies. Students explore patterns of social behavior and interaction to find out how they shape – and are shaped by – our built, technological, and natural environments and institutions.
Natural Science and Technology
Definition: Courses in the natural sciences and technology investigate how the world works. Students use the scientific method and collaboration to explore and apply scientific and technological solutions to real-world problems.
Participatory Arts
Definition: Courses in the participatory creative arts teach the processes of creative and imaginative expression. Students build facility with artistic methods and skills and are encouraged to take risks to more effectively express themselves in any of a variety of media (e.g. visual art, music, dance, acting, film, or creative writing).
Interdisciplinary
Definition: Interdisciplinary courses present complex problems from multiple disciplinary perspectives. Students engage with diverse sources and ideas and employ different methods for analyzing those sources. Interdisciplinary courses should give approximately equal focus to at least two or more distinct perspectives on how to approach an issue and/or two or more distinct methods for solving problems.
Curriculum Development Grant Application
The New General Education Curriculum Development grant program is intended to support full-time, part-time faculty, or teaching staff to modify an existing course so that it will serve within the new General Education curriculum adopted in May 2025.
Additional Information
The implementation committee will provide updates throughout the year and this webpage will be updated as progress is made. Faculty can view supplemental documents and resources about this change through the General Education SharePoint site.
The University is enhancing the academic experieno enhance the academic experience and provide interdisciplinary options for all students, the program will provide:
- Flexibility to choose courses that allow students to explore their academic interests across colleges
- Opportunities to tackle relevant, real-world issues from a variety of perspectives and disciplines
- Pathways to new or existing minors to complement students’ major fields of study
Now that the proposal has been approved, implementation of the new curriculum is underway, intending to launch in Fall 2026 for the new incoming class. The implementation committee is chaired by Bryan Sinche, A&S, and Zee Onuf, HAS. The committee members include:
- Karen Braccialarghe, ENHP
- Stephan Bullard, Hillyer
- Tatum Krause, UIS
- Lan (Vicky) Luo, Barney
- Paul Slaboch, CETA
- Julie Sochacki, Writing and A&S
- Margaret Tarampi, UIS and A&S
- Marcus Thomas, Hartt
- Judy Wyman, UIS
- Fei Xue, Math and A&S
Overall Credits (21-22 credits)*
- One Writing course (3 credits)
- One Math course (3 credits)
- One Humanities course (3 credits)
- One Social Science course (3 credits)
- One Natural Science / Tech course (3-4 credits)
- One Participatory Arts course (3 credits)
- One Interdisciplinary course (3 credits)
The remainder of the required 40 overall credits in general education courses are still determined by each individual college.
Additional Changes
- Courses will be housed and delivered within the seven schools and colleges across campus (including existing courses, modified versions of existing courses, or new courses).
- Current UIS courses, which offer unique interdisciplinary approaches and teaching opportunities, will move into the colleges.
- New course requirements: 1) participatory arts class and 2) interdisciplinary courses.
- New program requirements: 1) every student must take a course outside of their home college 2) every student must take a course designated to address cultural competency/diversity (D).
- General Education courses can contribute to existing minors in departments, existing interdisciplinary minors (e.g. Africana Studies, Gender Studies, Complexity), and new theme-based general education tracks (themes TBD).
Changes have been proposed for the NECHE General Education standards.