General Education Core Curriculum (GE)

What is General Education at Northampton Community College?

An undergraduate degree is comprised of three parts: courses in the major, elective courses, and courses in the General Education Core Curriculum. Major courses define the program of study. Students choose electives that fit their individual interests. The General Education Core Curriculum is the part of the academic experience that all students have in common.

The GE Core defines an important set of knowledge and skills that will help our graduates to continue learning, adapt to change, and become citizens who can make wise choices and contribute to their community.

The General Education Core Curriculum is designed to go hand in hand with the major courses to develop skills that will serve students in their academic study, careers, and in their lives. Though in some designated GE Core courses the focus will be on particular outcomes, we expect that the knowledge and skills that are part of the GE Core Curriculum will be reinforced throughout the other major courses and electives

Courses satisfying various General Education Core requirements are listed below by category; such requirements must be satisfied by selecting courses from among the listings below. Unless otherwise specified, they are applicable to all degrees (A.A./A.S./A.A.S.).

General Education Core Goals and Learning Outcomes

I. Knowledge of Arts, Cultures and the Natural World

ARTS & HUMANITIES

Goal: Students should understand both the creative process and how works of human imagination and thought from diverse cultures, places, and times express varieties of human experience.

Learning Outcomes:

• Students will discuss, analyze and interpret works that confront, express, and examine human experience.
• Students will describe and explain the ways that language, literature, philosophy, or the visual and performing arts challenge or reinforce specific cultural or historic values and conditions.

SOCIAL SCIENCE

Goal: Students will demonstrate knowledge of Societies and Institutions Over Time (SIT) and the Scientific Study of Human Behavior (SSHB).

Learning Outcomes:

• Students will identify and apply social science theories and concepts to behavioral or societal issues. (SIT & SSHB)
• Students will explain how a social science discipline describes and analyzes social change or human behavior.
• Students will describe how people’s experiences and perspectives are shaped by sex, gender, ethnicity, class, age, race, culture and other factors.

Note: Social science courses must address the first outcome and one of the two remaining outcomes.

SCIENCE

Goal: Students will demonstrate a working knowledge of scientific principles and concepts and be able to apply them to daily situations.

Learning Outcomes:

• Students will explain the scientific method, recognizing the potential for uncertainty in the scientific inquiry.
• Students will apply basic field and laboratory skills used for collecting and analyzing data according to the particular discipline.

DIVERSITY AND GLOBAL AWARENESS

Goal: Students will demonstrate an understanding of human diversity and an awareness of global issues through analysis of arts, histories, cultures, geographies, economics, medicine, scientific data and/or institutions.

Learning Outcomes:

• Students will discuss and explain how the diverse range of human differences influences the historical and current formation of artistic, economic, social, scientific, cultural or political institutions.
• Students will examine how the range of human differences influences each individual’s experience of equality and inequality within a society, its institutions, or its cultures.
• Students will analyze how individuals and institutions have addressed persistent global challenges.

Note: to carry a diversity designation, the course needs to address at least one of the three outcomes.

II. Intellectual and Practical Skills

COMMUNICATION

Goal: Students will present and support ideas in an organized and coherent manner consistent with the intended audience and purpose in both speaking and writing.

Learning Outcomes:

• Students will identify, analyze, and choose supporting materials in written and spoken communication.
• Students will organize information with a central idea or thesis.
• Students will differentiate among various audience needs in word choice, level of explanation, and method of presentation.

COMPUTER LITERACY

Goal: Students will use computer technology as a tool for communication and productivity both professionally and personally.

Learning Outcomes:

• Students will demonstrate knowledge of computer concepts and terminology.
• Students will create, store, retrieve, and print formatted documents.
• Students will evaluate ethical uses of technology.

QUANTITATIVE LITERACY

Goal: Students will interpret and analyze quantitative data to solve problems.

Learning Outcomes

• Students will interpret, analyze, and draw conclusions about data presented as words, abstract symbols, tables or graphs.
• Students will use mathematics to model events and solve problems.
• Students will communicate using mathematical language, symbols, data, and graphs.

INFORMATION LITERACY

Goal: Students will demonstrate research skills in gathering, evaluating, and using information.

Learning Outcomes

• Students will locate and identify information
• Students will evaluate source information and incorporate it into their work.
• Students will use source information in an ethical and legal fashion.

CRITICAL THINKING AND PROBLEM SOLVING

Goal: Students will think critically and propose solutions to open-ended problems.

Learning Outcomes:

• Students will analyze and evaluate information, ideas and arguments in order to form conclusions.
• Students will design and evaluate a plan that addresses an open-ended problem.

Note: to carry a critical thinking designation, the course must address at least one of the two outcomes.