减负与加压之间：本科课程数量的变迁 ——学分制是如何失灵的？-清华大学教育研究

文章信息/Info

Title:: Between Load Reduction and Pressure Increase: Changes in the Number of Undergraduate Courses——How is the Credit System Failing?

Keywords:: number of undergraduate courses; credit system; undergraduate education

Abstract:: Taking Peking University as an example, this paper makes a longitudinal historical review on the evolution of course numbers based on the undergraduate curriculum plan from 1977-2018, and makes a horizontal comparison with the world-class universities. The study found that during the 40 years of undergraduate education reform, the total required number of credits for undergraduate has decreased, but the number of courses has increased instead. Big credits have become small, and more and more areas of knowledge are being incorporated into the undergraduate curriculum. Compared with world-class universities abroad, undergraduates in elite Chinese university need to complete more subjects and more courses under the same study period and similar total credits requirements. The detailed and complicated course arrangement not only fragments the daily study time of undergraduates, but also threatens the internal unity of the knowledge system, resulting in the double fragmentation and bringing severe challenges to deep learning and independent research.