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.
General Education Core 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. All other courses will meet one or more of these 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.
Associate in Arts students must follow the General Education guide below in planning required courses. This guide complies with Southern Association of Colleges and Schools’ (SACS) Core Requirement 2.7.3 which requires a course distribution in humanities/fine arts, social/behavioral sciences, natural sciences/mathematics; Florida Statute 1007.25(3) which requires the core curriculum to include the subject areas of communication, mathematics, social sciences, humanities, and natural sciences; Rules of the Florida State Board of Education, which require six credits of mathematics and twelve credits (four courses) in which writing is heavily emphasized. Additionally, the mathematics and writing courses must be passed with a “C” or better.
An Associate in Arts degree shall require no more than 60 semester hours of college credit, including 36 semester hours of General Education coursework. Except for college-preparatory coursework, all required coursework shall count toward the Associate in Arts degree or the baccalaureate degree.
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