A.A. General Requirements

General education is the curricular component common to all degree programs. The purpose of the general education requirements is to develop and integrate the student's knowledge, skills, attitudes and experiences so that the student can engage effectively in a lifelong process of inquiry and decision-making. The knowledge and academic experience gained from general education courses are designed to prepare the student with the 21st century skills necessary to be productive, involved and contributing citizens. The following are the specific areas addressed by the general education core:

1. Communication Skills

 Courses develop effective communication skills: reading, writing, speaking and listening.

2. Mathematics Skills

Courses develop effective mathematics skills: problem-solving, data analysis and interpretation, analysis and use of quantitative information, and application of mathematical concepts, computation and reasoning methods.

3. Community and Cultural Skills

Courses prepare students to participate actively as informed and responsible citizens in addressing social, economic, environmental and political issues; recognize the interdependence of the peoples of the world and foster international cooperation and peace; and understand and appreciate cultural activities such as literature, art, music and drama as expressions of personal and social experiences; and participate in creative activities.

4. Critical Thinking and Problem Solving Skills

Courses give students the opportunity to develop effective critical thinking and problem-solving skills, use higher-order critical thinking skills, apply the scientific method to problem solving and to understand the fundamental concepts of the natural sciences and appreciate their implications on the environment.     

5. Information Literacy Skills

Courses develop the ability to locate, evaluate and use information from a variety of sources in pursuit of career and personal development in the lifelong pursuit of learning.

 6. Interpersonal Skills

Courses develop effective human relations skills: teamwork, conflict resolution and workplace skills.Courses develop the ability to locate, evaluate and use information from a variety of sources in pursuit of career and personal development in the lifelong pursuit of learning.

7. Personal skills

Courses develop the ability to understand and apply the principles of healthful living, attain satisfactory emotional and social adjustments, develop a code of behavior based on ethical principles consistent with democratic ideals, understand and manage oneself, adapt to change, assume personal responsibility and develop aesthetic responsiveness.

8. Technology Skills

Courses develop computer literacy, Internet skills and the ability to retrieve and manage information via technology.