THE FACULTY of Arts and Letters (Artlets) will trim its subjects by 12 units starting next academic year in a bid to streamline an “over-crowded” curriculum, Artlets Dean Michael Anthony Vasco said.
Vasco said the faculty’s 195-unit curriculum was way above the requirement set by the Commission on Higher Education (Ched), which mandates only 152 units for a Bachelor of Arts degree.
“In this way, the curriculum becomes more flexible,” he said. “The students will have more time to concentrate on their area rather than taking many subjects [that are] sporadic.”
The revision in the curriculum led to the abolition of Mathematics of Finance offered in the second year; the replacement of Experimental Psychology with the Ched-mandated General Psychology; the merger of Introduction to Economics and Taxation and Agrarian Reform into a single subject called “Integrated Economics and Agrarian Reform”; and the upgrade of Basic Computer to Computer Science and Information Technology. Meanwhile, Dynamics of Philippine Politics, usually taken in third year, will only be offered to Political Science and Journalism students.
Incoming freshmen will be the “pilot batch” for the revised curriculum, while sophomores, juniors, and seniors will continue with the old curriculum.
Vasco recalled that when he was still student in Artlets, he and his classmates took up only 174 units.
“We benchmark with the prestigious universities like Ateneo and La Salle. Their courses are ranging from 160 to 170 units,” Vasco said. “We cannot benchmark with University of the Philippines because they have a different system.”
Vasco said plans to change the curriculum started during the term of Dean Armando de Jesus, but they were shelved due to the change in the UST administration.
“My point is [the way] how I look at the curricula. [It is] not on the number of units but on the quality of units [taken by] students. It is unfair for students to be asked to take courses that are not essential. You are penalizing them,” he said.
Experimental psychology professor Arlo Luis Salvador, who is also president of the Artlets Faculty Club, said the whole faculty agreed to the revised curriculum.
“The system will be more efficient for the students. It will also mean less payment in their tuition, so it is better,” he said.
Two new academic programs—AB English and AB History—will compensate for the reduction of the teaching load of some professors, Salvador said.
Communication Arts junior Cris Edward Jose said the curriculum change would be advantageous to students.
“I think it is better because the subjects to be abolished might come out as not really needed,” Jose said. Ana May R. Dela Cruz with reports from Kalaine Nikka Kay C. Grafil
I am so not in favor of this. math of finance is essential to everyone and hello why pol dy? Liberal arts nga. AB students should very well know the basics of Philippine politics. and i don’t think students are being penalized with taking up these subjects. they are beneficial to the intellectual growth of th students so why use the term penalized?
I failed Finance and am required to take it this summer. I’m a sophomore, and I’m already on a probationary status. What should I do? 🙁 🙁 🙁
If you are under prob and failed a subject, that means you are debarred but you can still take summer classes (in finance).
please consider striking out art appreciation and rational psychology. we do not need them in our curriculum. thanks!
I wish there is an AB-BSE until now at the Faculty of Arts and Letters. I can imagine it would have been so wonderful for any would be teacher to take up an AB Economics for instance twinned to a BSE in History. I believe this is being offered in De La Salle and so, it would have been nice if UST can also do the same as many who want to take up double degrees would be pleased to hear that they can enroll here at UST. Another thing is vertical articulation of courses. It would also be nice if your school can offer a straight MA course leading to a specific discipline like Bachelors degree/MA in Economics in five years time. For those who are into Behavioural Science for instance, an AB Behavioural Science/MA Behavioural Science in five years. Ateneo and University of Asia & the Pacific offers this type of programs and so, UST can also be more progressive in this aspect and offer an even more attractive, and high quality programs like these universities do. Good luck to the whole faculty. They have made UST proud and I hope they can continue doing so and even get better with the passing of time. Congrats!
I am a double degree graduate and we were informed (by Dean de Jesus and Dean Arcangel, no less) that the reason for abolition of the program is because of the new CHED requirement for the number of units taken by a student.
I know that we are overloaded per semester with 33 to 35 units. We were also required to take 9 units of summer class for three years. It was not easy.
May I know how long should it take in your program to finish the degree? I agree with you when you say that 33-35 units per semester is way to high a load. Another thing, let me congratulate you for finishing the course despite the challenges you faced. It shows how disciplined you are and resilient. God bless.
It took me four years, three summers included, to finish my program. Thank you for the good words.
Too bad it is only for the freshmen.
The two new programs, AB- English and AB- History,sounds good to me. =D
I am sad because it was not implemented in our time. 🙁 We spent almost 40 thousand+ in our tuition per sem studying subjects that are not really needed. There are also minor subjects feeling as if they were a major subject. How i wish the new curriculum will be implemented in our time. 🙁