A change to the Organization, Regulations and Courses manual narrowing the requirements for a course to fulfill a Technology and Applied Sciences distributive requirement passed approval by the Committee on Instruction and is awaiting a vote at a faculty meeting for the changes to be implemented. The changes are meant to emphasize the study of technology itself in TAS courses, not just its utilization.
Dean of Faculty Carol Folt declined to comment on the proposal.
The changes will alter the wording of the TAS description in the ORC. The introductory sentence, which currently reads "These courses must introduce students to the methodology, vocabulary, and theory of applied sciences," is proposed to be changed to, "These courses must include the methodology and theory of applied science," The revision also adds the sentence, "These courses address the principles underlining technology or applied science, rather than just making use of technology."
Robert Drysdale, chairman of the Committee on Instruction, said that the revisions are not meant to change the courses but simply to clarify the nature of a TAS course.
"Because technology is currently ubiquitous, all classes use various technology," he said. "Sometimes there are courses proposed [to fulfill a TAS requirement] where you basically use the technology as tool . . . To be a TAS, the spirit of it is you should be studying the technology, not just using it."
Drysdale offered the example of using a word processor in a writing class where students use the tool, but do not learn about the technology.
Catherine Cramer, professor of psychological and brain sciences and former chair of the committee on instruction, said that proposals for the changes have been in discussion for two years and are a "modest revision" to the current language.
"I think the main issue is to make it clear, almost more to faculty than students when they send in their syllabi," she said.
Ron Lasky, professor at the Thayer School of Engineering and instructor of the undergraduate course "Materials: Substance of Civilization," which fulfills the TAS requirement, said he tries to incorporate the proposed requirements into his course and supports the revision.
"I think [the new description] is the essence of what a TAS course should be," he said. "I think this is to avoid someone trying to sneak in a history of technology course into this category."
Computer Science Professor Devin Balkcom said that he does not believe any computer science courses currently fulfilling the TAS requirement will be denied the distributive if the change is applied.
"In some sense, this would only affect classes that are sort of borderline," he said. "None of [computer science] classes are on that borderline."
The committee's recommendation was on the agenda to be discussed at the winter faculty meeting last month, but was dismissed because there was not a quorum of faculty members in attendance. Drysdale said that he believes the recommendation will be on the agenda again at the spring faculty meeting.
At the spring meeting, the Committee on Instruction will also recommend that credit/no credit courses, like non-recording option courses, will not be counted for a distributive requirement. Drysdale said the registrar brought up this proposal Fall term, and the committee has agreed to support it.
