(a) This section shall be known and may be cited as the “Arkansas Requisite Core Curriculum”.
(b) As used in this section:(1) “Minimum general education core curriculum” means the minimum general education core curriculum requirements for associate and baccalaureate degree programs at state-supported institutions of higher education;(2) “Requisite core curriculum” means the fifteen (15) semester credit hours of introductory survey courses as determined by the Division of Higher Education; and(3) “State-supported institution of higher education” means a public postsecondary institution or a department in a public postsecondary institution that:(A) Provides:(i) An eligible program of training to prepare a student for gainful employment in a recognized occupation; or(ii) A program leading to an associate degree or a baccalaureate degree; and(B) Is accredited by a recognized accrediting agency or association and has continuously held the accreditation for the number of years required by the division.
(1) “Minimum general education core curriculum” means the minimum general education core curriculum requirements for associate and baccalaureate degree programs at state-supported institutions of higher education;
(2) “Requisite core curriculum” means the fifteen (15) semester credit hours of introductory survey courses as determined by the Division of Higher Education; and
(3) “State-supported institution of higher education” means a public postsecondary institution or a department in a public postsecondary institution that:(A) Provides:(i) An eligible program of training to prepare a student for gainful employment in a recognized occupation; or(ii) A program leading to an associate degree or a baccalaureate degree; and(B) Is accredited by a recognized accrediting agency or association and has continuously held the accreditation for the number of years required by the division.
(A) Provides:(i) An eligible program of training to prepare a student for gainful employment in a recognized occupation; or(ii) A program leading to an associate degree or a baccalaureate degree; and
(i) An eligible program of training to prepare a student for gainful employment in a recognized occupation; or
(ii) A program leading to an associate degree or a baccalaureate degree; and
(B) Is accredited by a recognized accrediting agency or association and has continuously held the accreditation for the number of years required by the division.
(c) (1) Beginning with the entering class of fall 2027, the division, in consultation with the state-supported institutions of higher education, shall establish a minimum general education core curriculum that shall:(A) Include the requisite core curriculum; and(B) Apply toward the minimum requirements for associate and baccalaureate degrees at the state-supported institutions of higher education.(2) The general education core curriculum shall be fully transferable among all state-supported institutions of higher education.
(1) Beginning with the entering class of fall 2027, the division, in consultation with the state-supported institutions of higher education, shall establish a minimum general education core curriculum that shall:(A) Include the requisite core curriculum; and(B) Apply toward the minimum requirements for associate and baccalaureate degrees at the state-supported institutions of higher education.
(A) Include the requisite core curriculum; and
(B) Apply toward the minimum requirements for associate and baccalaureate degrees at the state-supported institutions of higher education.
(2) The general education core curriculum shall be fully transferable among all state-supported institutions of higher education.
(d) The requisite core curriculum shall include the following fifteen (15) semester credit hours of introductory survey courses:(1) Two (2) three-semester credit hours of oral or written communication designed to develop the ability to organize ideas and to communicate with clarity, precision, and syntactical maturity;(2) A three-semester credit hour course that cultivates critical thinking, problem-solving, and logical reasoning skills; and(3) A three-semester credit hour course in American History and a three-semester credit hour course in American Government, including:(A) Instruction in the essentials of the United States Constitution; and(B) The study of American institutions and ideals.
(1) Two (2) three-semester credit hours of oral or written communication designed to develop the ability to organize ideas and to communicate with clarity, precision, and syntactical maturity;
(2) A three-semester credit hour course that cultivates critical thinking, problem-solving, and logical reasoning skills; and
(3) A three-semester credit hour course in American History and a three-semester credit hour course in American Government, including:(A) Instruction in the essentials of the United States Constitution; and(B) The study of American institutions and ideals.
(A) Instruction in the essentials of the United States Constitution; and
(B) The study of American institutions and ideals.
(e) To ensure compliance with this section, the division may establish reporting requirements for state-supported institutions of higher education detailing implementation of the requisite core curriculum.
(f) In determining whether a course meets the general education core curriculum requirements, the division may:(1) Exempt Applied Science degrees;(2) Grant credit hour equivalency for competency-based and proficiency-based baccalaureate degree programs; and(3) Allow for substitution of advanced coursework with specified majors, with the exception that American Government and American History are required for every student.
(1) Exempt Applied Science degrees;
(2) Grant credit hour equivalency for competency-based and proficiency-based baccalaureate degree programs; and
(3) Allow for substitution of advanced coursework with specified majors, with the exception that American Government and American History are required for every student.
(g) The division may promulgate rules to implement this section.