Rationale:
The purpose of thematic tracks is to encourage students to connect knowledge from different disciplinary areas while focusing on a unifying theme or topic. It is well suited to students who have an interest in a particular topic and who would benefit by exploring that topic from multiple disciplinary perspectives. In contrast to minors, which are generally centered on a single discipline, thematic tracks involve multiple disciplinary perspectives.  Students will be credited with no more than one thematic track.

Objective:
Thematic tracks will provide educational experiences that help students to use critical thinking skills to connect multiple disciplinary perspectives around a common topic or theme.

Guidelines and instructions for proposing, revising, or discontinuing a thematic track:

  • All proposals for a new thematic track or revision to an existing thematic track may be proposed by faculty and students for consideration by CUE and must be submitted to the Office of Undergraduate Courses and Curricula, Box 7105, NCSU Campus.
  • Courses listed in a thematic track should be offered every year and must be on one of the approved GEP course lists. Courses with restrictions or seating limits should not be required to complete a thematic track.
  • A proposal to create/revise/discontinue a thematic track should be made in memo format and addressed to the Chair of the Council on Undergraduate Education.
    • For a new thematic track, the memo should include:
      • proposed title and description of the thematic track
      • list of the GEP courses selected as follows: (see an approved thematic track for example of layout)
        • minimum 12 credit hours
        • at least one course from GEP MA/NS/ENGIN lists and one course from GEP HUM/SS/VPA lists
        • indicate if courses have a pre-requisite and which GEP category the course satisfies
      • statement on how the courses relate to the central theme.
    • A proposal to revise a thematic track should be made in memo format and addressed to the Chair of the Council on Undergraduate Education

      • The memo should provide the title of the thematic track, the proposed revision and reason.
      • Attach to the memo a copy of the posted requirements for the existing thematic track and mark with changes being requested.
    • A proposal to discontinue a thematic track should be made in memo format and addressed to the Chair of the Council on Undergraduate Education

      • The memo should provide the title of the thematic track, the reason for the discontinuation and effective date for discontinuation.