Liberal Education
The College of Liberal Arts provides the majority of courses taken by undergraduates on the Twin Cities campus to fulfill the Liberal Education (LE) requirements. This page provides information regarding LE for department staff and faculty members.
The current LE requirements will end in summer 2010. The new LE requirements will become effective in fall 2010. All courses currently approved for a LE requirement(s) need to be recertified using the new LE criteria. When entering LE information for recertification in ECAS, make the effective term fall 2010. Information about the new LE guidelines can be found at: http://www1.umn.edu/usenate/committees/cle.html
Beginning in fall 2008, all new courses (never before approved for an LE requirement), must use the new LE criteria. The effective term in ECAS is the first term the course will be offered.
LE Proposals
All courses proposed to meet LE requirements must be approved by the Council on Liberal Education. The council reviews new proposals on an ongoing basis. To submit a proposal, please follow these instructions:
Step one:
If the course itself is new, follow the instructions on proposing a new course. If the course already exists, find it in the Electronic Course Authorization System (ECAS). Choose "Update Course."
Step two:
Complete the section on Liberal Education. When all relevant portions are completed, change "Send to approval process" to "Yes" in order to submit the proposal.
Step three:
Attach the syllabus in ECAS.
Useful LE Links
Writing Intensive Information
http://onestop.umn.edu/faculty/lib_eds/guidelines/writing_intensive.html
Descriptions of Diversified Core and Designated Theme categories
http://www1.umn.edu/usenate/committees/cle.html
Undergraduate LE requirements