Minicourse Program at SUCO: A Liberal Arts Earth Science Supplement

Abstract

A large scale Earth Science minicourse program initiated in 1971 provides non-science majors with a broader selection of introductory course options. We generally offer 9 to 15 minicourses each semester in three consecutive sessions. Scheduling procedures allow students to maintain uniform class schedules while taking successive minis. Enrollment data indicate that since this program was initiated total Fall semester enrollment in introductory level Earth Science courses has increased 418% (397 to 2057), and total student semester hours have increased by 136% (1191 to 2809), whereas the total college enrollment rose by only 20%. Although these increases resulted in somewhat reduced personal contact and slightly larger teaching loads, we feel that benefits far outweigh the drawbacks. The broader variety of options that minis allow, combined with the single topic nature of each, has resulted in more highly motivated students and widespread enthusiasm for the program. This, in turn, has led to additional fol...