Home Catalog Graduation and Transfer Associate Degree Graduation Requirements General Education and ISLOs

General Education and Institutional Student Learning Outcomes

Philosophy

The primary function of education is to transmit from each generation to the next the knowledge and skills requisite to enlarge the comprehension of our place in the universe. General Education gives breadth to the college experience, enhances the ability to learn, and develops critical thinking skills.

American River College is committed to the principle of providing general education which includes: English Composition, Oral Communication and Critical Thinking, Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning, Arts and Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Natural Sciences, Ethnic Studies, and Living Skills. All of these are basic and necessary to participate in and contribute to a balanced life in a democratic society that is diverse in its social, cultural, and educational backgrounds.

Description of General Education Areas and Alignment with Institutional Student Learning Outcomes

English Composition and Oral Communication and Critical Thinking (6 units: 3 units each from (a) and (b))

Courses in English composition, oral communication, and critical thinking are those that use and examine principles and guidelines of clear and logical thinking and communication.

1A. English Composition: Courses fulfilling this requirement must be baccalaureate-level and include expository and argumentative writing.
1B. Oral Communication and Critical Thinking: Courses fulfilling this requirement must be baccalaureate-level and include oral communication and critical thinking courses. Critical thinking courses develop an awareness of the relationship of language to logic, resulting in the ability to analyze, criticize, and advocate ideas, to reason inductively and deductively, and to identify the assumptions upon which particular conclusions depend.

Institutional Student Learning Outcomes Aligned with English Composition and Oral Communication and Critical Thinking

English Composition Component

Utilize a variety of methods to communicate effectively.
Use various technologies to collect information and solve problems.
Critically evaluate information to develop informed perspectives on a variety of issues, problems, and challenges.

Oral Communication and Critical Thinking Component

Critically evaluate information to develop informed perspectives on a variety of issues, problems, and challenges.
For students earning degrees, demonstrate an understanding of basic content and methodology for the major areas of knowledge: arts and humanities, mathematics, natural sciences, and social sciences.

Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning (3 units minimum)

Courses in mathematical concepts and quantitative reasoning develop students’ abilities to draw conclusions from numerical information, use formal reasoning processes, practice computational skills, and apply mathematical concepts or formal reasoning to solve real-world problems. Courses fulfilling this requirement must be at least college-level and include mathematics and quantitative reasoning courses, including logic, statistics, computer programming languages, and related disciplines.

Institutional Student Learning Outcomes Aligned with Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning

Use various technologies to collect information and solve problems.
For students earning degrees, demonstrate an understanding of basic content and methodology for the major areas of knowledge: arts and humanities, mathematics, natural sciences, and social sciences.

Arts and Humanities (3 units minimum)

Courses in the humanities study the cultural activities and artistic expressions of human beings. Such courses develop students’ awareness of how people throughout the ages and in different cultures respond to themselves and the world around them in artistic and cultural creation and develop students’ aesthetic understandings and abilities to make value judgments. This category includes introductory or integrative baccalaureate-level courses in the visual and performing arts, art history, foreign languages, literature, philosophy, religion, and related disciplines.

Institutional Student Learning Outcomes Aligned with Humanities

Demonstrate skills and behaviors that contribute to inclusive and respectful communication of diverse ideas and beliefs.
Critically evaluate information to develop informed perspectives on a variety of issues, problems, and challenges.
Contribute to society using personal knowledge, resources, and skills.
For students earning degrees, demonstrate an understanding of basic content and methodology for the major areas of knowledge: arts and humanities, mathematics, natural sciences, and social sciences.

Social and Behavioral Sciences (3 units minimum)

Courses in the social and behavioral sciences focus on people as members of society and develop awareness of the methods of inquiry used by the social and behavioral sciences. They stimulate critical thinking about the ways people act and have acted in response to their societies and promote appreciation of how societies and social subgroups operate. This category includes introductory or integrative baccalaureate-level courses in cultural anthropology, cultural geography, economics, history, political science, psychology, sociology, and related disciplines.

Institutional Student Learning Outcomes Aligned with Social and Behavioral Sciences

Demonstrate skills and behaviors that contribute to inclusive and respectful communication of diverse ideas and beliefs.
Utilize a variety of methods to communicate effectively.
Work cooperatively and effectively with others.
Use various technologies to collect information and solve problems.
Critically evaluate information to develop informed perspectives on a variety of issues, problems, and challenges.
For students earning degrees, demonstrate an understanding of basic content and methodology for the major areas of knowledge: arts and humanities, mathematics, natural sciences, and social sciences.

Natural Sciences (3 units minimum)

Courses in the natural sciences examine the physical universe, its life forms, and its natural phenomena, helping students appreciate and understand the scientific method and the relationships between science and other human activities. This category includes introductory or integrative baccalaureate-level courses in astronomy, biology, chemistry, general physical science, geology, meteorology, oceanography, physical geography, physical anthropology, physics, and other scientific disciplines.

Institutional Student Learning Outcomes Aligned with Natural Sciences

Use various technologies to collect information and solve problems.
Critically evaluate information to develop informed perspectives on a variety of issues, problems, and challenges.
For students earning degrees, demonstrate an understanding of basic content and methodology for the major areas of knowledge: arts and humanities, mathematics, natural sciences, and social sciences.

Ethnic Studies (3 units minimum)

Courses in ethnic studies must be baccalaureate level and include courses in the four autonomous disciplines within Ethnic Studies or introductory courses that survey the four areas: (1) Black Studies, African American Studies, Africana Studies, (2) Native American Studies; (3) Chicano/a/x, Latino/a/x Studies/La Raza Studies; and (4) Asian American Studies.

Institutional Student Learning Outcomes Aligned with Ethnic/Multicultural Studies

Demonstrate skills and behaviors that contribute to inclusive and respectful communication of diverse ideas and beliefs.
For students earning degrees, demonstrate an understanding of basic content and methodology for the major areas of knowledge: arts and humanities, mathematics, natural sciences, and social sciences.

Living Skills (3 units minimum)

One physical education activity course (with ADAPT, DANCE, FITNS, PACT, SPORT, or TMACT designators) must be taken in this area, and a minimum of two (2) units from the other courses included in this category. Adapted physical education courses are available for students with documented physical disabilities. These Adapted courses will fulfill the graduation requirement.

Courses in this area may be selected from several different disciplines that help students acquire skills and knowledge to understand themselves as whole persons (integral to their environment). This category includes the study of courses that develop and maintain personal, social, physical, and emotional well-being. It is the intent that this area include such courses as health education, human sexuality, marriage and family, nutrition, and personal adjustment.

Institutional Student Learning Outcomes Aligned with Living Skills

Demonstrate personal and professional readiness for career and/or academic advancement.
Demonstrate skills and behaviors that contribute to inclusive and respectful communication of diverse ideas and beliefs.
Utilize a variety of methods to communicate effectively.
Work cooperatively and effectively with others.
Use various technologies to collect information and solve problems.
Critically evaluate information to develop informed perspectives on a variety of issues, problems, and challenges.