A Study On The New Round Of General Education Curriculum Reform In Harvard University

American research universities have a long history of general education,especially Harvard University.Since the beginning of Eliot's first general education reform in the late 19 th century,Harvard University has never stopped its active exploration of general education.Harvard University launched a new round of General Education Curriculum Reform in 2014,and the final report published in 2017 as the programmatic document of this reform.The new round of general education curriculum reform adopts the parallel type general education concept,forming the "4+3+1" general education curriculum module,which once again guides the development of higher education in flood of the times.This paper studies the new round of curriculum reform of general education in Harvard University by the methods of bibliographic research,historical research and comparative research.Based on a historical review of the first five general education reforms in Harvard University,this paper analyzes the background,idea,aim and content of the new general education curriculum reform in Harvard University.Through in-depth research,it shows that the new round of general education curriculum reform has the following characteristics: first,the concept of general education is clarified,and the curriculum structure is rebuilt;Second,through a series of carefully designed activities and projects,to strengthen the academic guidance for new students;Third,through the construction of interdisciplinary curriculum,to strengthen students' multi-perspective analysis and understanding of cultural and social issues;Fourth,through carefully designed curriculum to enhance students' critical thinking ability;Fifth,the establishment of general education physical institutions to ensure the implementation of general education.Although Harvard University's General Education model is not the only model for the late-start development of General Education in China,but at least through in-depth analysis we can get useful enlightenment and we should make efforts in the following aspects: First,we should deepen the understanding of the concept of general education and put the emphasis on the practice of general education in colleges and universities;Secondly,the reform of general education in China should set up flexible and diversified curriculum system to expand the practice of general education from classroom to extracurricular and off-campus.In addition,the curriculum reform of general education should always take "people-oriented" and "people" as the starting point and foothold of general education.Furthermore,supporting the general education organization structure to ensure its good implementation;Finally,the reform of general education should be based on the local culture and burst out vitality from different cultural.