Skip to main site navigation Skip to main content

Thrive On: The Campaign for Utica University →

Utica University Logo
  • Academics
    • Programs
      • Utica at Florida
    • General Education
      • Current Offerings
      • Program Details
      • Themed Pathways
      • Planning Sheet
    • Honors Program
    • Utica at Florida
    • Online Study
    • Graduate Study
    • International Ed & Study Abroad
      • Study Abroad
    • Exceptional Faculty
    • Research & Experiential Learning
      • Experiential Learning Courses
    • Student Support and Success
    • Schedules, Catalogs, and Resources
    • Institutes and Centers
  • Tuition and Financial Aid
    • Understanding Financial Aid
      • Value
      • Excelsior, Explained
      • University Scholarships
      • Endowed Scholarships
      • Annual Awards
      • Utica Enhanced Tuition Award
    • Applying For Financial Aid
    • Tuition and Fees
      • Tuition and Fees - Undergraduate Campus
      • Undergraduate Online Tuition and Fees
      • Florida Programs Tuition and Fees
      • ABSN Program Tuition
      • Graduate Tuition and Fees
    • Net Price Calculator
  • Admissions
    • First-Year Admissions
    • Transfer Admissions
      • Articulation Agreements
    • Florida Admissions
    • Graduate Admissions
    • International Applicants
      • International Inquiry Form
      • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Visit
      • Utica University Campus
      • Virtual Tour
      • Why Not Fly?
    • Apply Now
    • Contact Us
    • Accepted Student Info
    • High School Counselors
    • High School Bridge Program
  • Community
    • Living on Campus
      • Student Living
      • Campus Engagement and Student Activities
      • Dining
      • Greek Life
      • Campus Safety
      • Utica University Campus
    • Satellite Locations
    • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
      • Bias Incident Reporting
      • Community Connections
      • DEI Collaborative
      • DEI Events
      • Dialogue on Race and Equity
      • LACRELA
      • Our Staff
      • Pronouns
      • DEI Reading Guides
      • Utica University Stance Statement
      • Wilcox Center
    • The Utica Area
      • Hotels and Restaurants in the Utica Area
    • Utica Stories
    • About Utica
  • Athletics
    • Intercollegiate Athletics
    • Esports
  • News & Events
  • Alumni
  • Giving
  • Apply Now
  • Directory
  • About
  • Library
  • Logins
  • COVID-19
Utica University

Learning for Life: Utica's General Education model gets re-imagined

  1. Utica Community
  2. Utica Stories
  3. Learning for Life: Utica's General Education model gets re-imagined
Dr. Gary Leising

Faculty
Story Topics
  • Value
  • Faculty
  • On Campus
  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

"...one difference is that students will have more choices of courses, such as upper level courses with more focused topics of study."

Generations of Utica alumni recall the University’s Core curriculum – the 34-55 credits worth of required courses designed to broaden a student’s educational horizons and create well-rounded learners and members of society. But last fall, the Core model was re-imagined to better serve students by allowing them to explore new areas, discover unexpected interests, and develop skills that will serve them for life. 

We talked to the Director of the General Education Program and Professor of English Gary Leising to learn more. 

 

Utica magazine: Describe Utica's new General Education model. How does this differ from the Core curriculum alumni remember?

Professor Gary Leising: The new model has two components: foundations and pathways. In foundations, students gain some of the important knowledge that will serve them well in their college education and beyond: communication skills, quantitative thinking, scientific literacy, critical thinking, and information literacy. In pathways students will explore disciplinary perspectives on art, culture, literature, society, history, and engaged citizenship. Even though these disciplines and skills may sound similar to Core's, one difference is that students will have more choices of courses, such as upper level courses with more focused topics of study. So, a student need not be confined to an introductory course, but could dig deeper into a subject of interest with a course on Women in Literature, or a Theatre course on August Wilson's plays, or a history course on the Balkans. 

 

UM: What are the goals of the new model? 

GL: One goal in mind during the model's design was for it to be fewer credits than Core. Students will be able to take courses in their major from the start rather than taking a full load of Core in their first semester, so they'll see the interaction between Gen Ed and their major right away. They'll also have more credits available to take electives or to add a minor or second major. 

Another goal was to make the Gen Ed program more coherent. This happens in the pathways. A student could choose a general pathway, where, with an advisor's help, they design their own curriculum from a long list of approved courses, thus drawing their own connections across their curriculum. Or the student can take one of our themed pathway minors, courses connected by a general theme. 

 

UM: What are the top benefits to students?

GL: Student choice is a benefit, and faculty are designing new classes, pathways, and minors to excite students about the program. But another important benefit is the requirement that students take two courses that address diversity, equity, and inclusion. DEI issues are at the forefront of so many areas of life today--education, yes, but also in politics, in workplaces, when we socialize, in economics. We've developed the meaning of DEI education further than the former diversity designation in Core, so we'll really give students the chance to learn about what it means to live in a diverse community, to think about ways to make those communities function more equitably, and to create and support more inclusive policies and practices. Those courses will be an important step in our students' lifelong learning, as well as beneficial for our campus community, I hope.

 

UM: What aspect of the new Gen Ed model are you most excited about?

GL: I'm most excited about the inclusion of upper level courses in the pathways. I'm excited that my 300-level course on writing poetry is one of those. I'm looking forward to getting to show students who might not have thought about this class as an option what a great experience trying something new and maybe outside of their expectations can be, and I'm not the only faculty member thinking this way. We want to share the subjects, practices, and disciplines that we're most passionate about, those that called us into this profession, to all the Utica students we can. It'll open up so many new worlds of knowledge and more possibilities for everyone.

More Stories

UticaOD 2019 HS Science Fair
On Campus

44th Annual Utica University Regional Science Fair Welcomes Middle and High School Scientists from Across the Area

Scientific knowledge drives the world forward, and at the steering wheel is an ever-growing and changing roster of bright minds...
Utica University
In the News

Record applications to Utica University put institution at the top of prospective students’ lists

Despite the setbacks brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic across higher institutions across the country, including an unprecedented 13% decline...
Students in control room producing a TV broadcast program.
On Campus

Utica University offering High School Students an Up-Close Look at Communications Careers

Ever wondered what it would be like to work in the exciting fields of journalism, public relations, or communications? Utica...
All Stories

I would like to see logins and resources for:

For a general list of frequently used logins, you can also visit our logins page.

Utica University Logo
FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTube
  • Academics
  • Tuition and Financial Aid
  • Admissions
  • Community
  • Athletics
1600 Burrstone Road, Utica, NY 13502
Map & Directions
(315) 792-3006
Contact Us
  • Institutional Effectiveness
  • Bookstore
  • Disability Learning Support
  • Student Right to Know
2022-2023 College of Distinction2022-2023 New York College of Distinction2022-2023 Business College of Distinction2022-2023 Education College of Distinction2022-2023 Nursing College of Distinction2022-2023 Career Development College of Distinction2022-2023 Equity & Inclusion College of Distinction2023-2024 Military Friendly (Silver)

US News Award for Social Mobility