General Education Program Guide

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General Education Philosophy:

General Education is a program of study that establishes a foundation for lifelong learning and prepares students to be thoughtful, informed, global citizens. This program fosters academic excellence, interdisciplinary dialog, respect for self and others, and social responsibility. The General Education Program complies with FAC 6A-14.0303 and Florida Statute 1007.25. The General Education program at Florida SouthWestern State College has five required categories for all degree-seeking students:

Communications
Humanities
Social Sciences
Mathematics
Natural Sciences

General Education Courses:

General Education Core courses differ from traditional survey courses by integrating a breadth of knowledge and skills essential to a complete education and are the foundation of knowledge upon which all degrees are built.

General Education Competencies:

General Education courses must meet at least four out of the five following outcomes. In many cases, courses will meet more than one of the following outcomes:

Communication (COM): To communicate effectively using Standard English (written or oral).
Critical Thinking (CT): To demonstrate skills necessary for analysis, synthesis, and evaluation.
Technology/Information Management (TIM): To demonstrate the skills and use the technology necessary to collect, verify, document, and organize information from a variety of sources.
Global Socio-cultural Responsibility (GSR): To identify, describe, and apply responsibilities, core civic beliefs, and values present in a diverse society.
Scientific and Quantitative Reasoning (QR): To identify and apply mathematical and scientific principles and methods.

Required General Education Courses for the Associate in Arts or Baccalaureate degree: minimum 36 credits

ENC 1101 Composition I, must complete with a “C” or better * - 3 credits

ENC 1102 Composition II, must complete with a “C” or better - 3 credits

Additional Communication General Education Course - 3 credits

Core Humanities General Education Course ** - 3 credits

Writing intensive Humanities Course, must pass with a “C” or better ** - 3 credits

Core Social Sciences General Education Course - 3 credits

Writing intensive Social Sciences Course, must pass with a “C” or better - 3 credits

Any Social Sciences General Education Course - 3 credits

Core Mathematics General Education Course, must pass with a “C” or better *** - 3 credits

Any Mathematics General Education Course , must pass with a “C” or better - 3 credits

Core Natural Sciences General Education Course with laboratory **** - 3 credits

Any Natural Sciences General Education Course with corresponding laboratory - 3 credits

According to Rule 6A-14.0303

* “Any student who successfully completes a course with an ENC prefix for which ENC X101 is an immediate prerequisite shall be considered to have completed the Communication Core.”

** “Any General Education Humanities course (must be writing intensive completed with a grade of ‘C’ or better if HUM 2020 or LIT 2000 was not taken to complete the Humanities Core requirement.”

*** “Any student who successfully completes a mathematics course for which one (1) of the general education core course options in mathematics is an immediate prerequisite shall be considered to have completed the Mathematics Core.”

**** “Any student who successfully completes a natural science course for which one ( 1) of the general education core course options in natural science is an immediate prerequisite shall be considered to have completed the Natural Science Core.”

Complete list of all FSW General Education Courses

COMMUNICATION CATEGORY

Required Core Communication General Education Courses

ENC 1101 - Composition I 3 credits , writing intensive - must complete with a “C” or better
ENC 1102 - Composition II 3 credits , writing intensive - must complete with a “C” or better
Note: Transfer students with quarter system credits may be required to take LIN 1670 or ENG 2061
LIN 1670 - Basic English Grammar 1 credit
ENG 2061 - English Grammar: Usage and Mechanics 2 credits