Experiences and Implications of the Scientific and Technical Curriculum Setting for General Education in American Universities:Based on the Cases of Two Top-Ranking Universities
As the world's top-ranking universities and the birthplace of general education reform,Harvard and Stanford have carried out several rounds of general education reform and established a well-structured general education system emphasizing science and technology,which can provide a reference for Chinese universities to keep up with the development and changes of the globalization and reshape their scientific and technical curriculum setting for general education.Based on the curriculum outline,student handbook and literature,this paper analyzed the history and reality of scientific and technical curriculum setting for general education in two universities,and summarized their advanced experience.The results showed that:in terms of goals and ideas,the scientific and technical curriculum setting for general education in American universities are committed to cultivating world citizens with scientific spirit and capable of making scientific decisions;in terms of the selection of course themes,their courses are based on historical and social backgrounds,oriented to the future,and focused on global scientific issues;in terms of the organization of contents,their courses advocate interdisciplinary and case learning,and integrate the courses with driving questions.Drawing on the above experience and based on the characteristics of Chinese universities,Chinese universities should clarify the orientation of scientific and technical curriculum settings for general education and update the curriculum objectives based on the current realities of the country and the university;highlight the integration of disciplines,grasp the dynamics of scientific and technological development and the focus of international competition;and follow the thinking progression and practical logic to build an integrated framework of scientific and technical contents.
American universitiesscientific and technical general education curriculumgeneral educationcurriculum setting