General Education Requirements

General Education Requirements

The Maryland Higher Education Commission stipulates that in order to receive associate degrees, students must fulfill not only the requirements of their specific program of study but also those of a general education.

CCBC Definition of General Education

CCBC’s General Education Program introduces students to a variety of disciplines that build a common foundation of knowledge that promotes critical thinking and lifelong, independent learning.  General Education courses prepare students to meet the academic and career challenges of today and tomorrow as empowered citizens of a global society.

CCBC General Education Program Goals

1. Written and Oral Communication - Develop effective skills in written, oral, and/or signed communication for a variety of audiences and situations, including active listening, the creation of well-organized messages, and critical analysis of others’ messages.
2. Critical Analysis and Reasoning - Evaluate information by identifying the main concept, point of view, implications, and assumptions in order to come to well-reasoned conclusions and solutions, testing them against relevant criteria and standards. 
3. Technological Competence - Use contemporary technology to solve problems, validate information, and to meet challenges as a member of an evolving technological society.
4. Information Literacy - Identify, find, and evaluate appropriate resources for research as well as incorporate the information effectively and ethically for lifelong educational, professional and personal use.
5. Scientific, Quantitative or Logical Reasoning - Apply basic mathematical, scientific, and/or logical concepts and theories to analyze data, solve problems and make decisions.
6. Local and Global Diversity - Use knowledge and skills to participate effectively in dynamic, evolving multicultural contexts and to address the challenges in building just, equitable, and productive societies.
7. Personal and Professional Ethics - Identify, examine, evaluate, and resolve personal and professional ethical issues and their ramifications using a variety of ethical perspectives and problem-solving approaches.

Degree Types and Required General Education

The AAS degree is primarily designed for students who plan to enter the workforce after attending CCBC. AAS degrees may transfer to some four-year institutions, but students may need to take additional general education classes. Also, some courses may not be transferable, depending on the field of study and the institution.

The AA in Humanities and Social Sciences, the AS in Science, and the AFA in Fine and Performing Arts degrees are primarily designed for students who plan to transfer to a four-year institution to continue their education.

Specialized AAT, AA, and AS degrees are designed to prepare students to transfer to a four-year college or university, for further study in a specific occupation, such as Teaching or Computer Science, that generally requires a Bachelor’s degree.

PLEASE NOTE: For AA and AS degrees in the Biological and Physical Sciences category, students must take 7-8 credits. The courses must come from two different disciplines or be two sequential courses (these courses are labeled I and II in their titles) from one discipline. One of the courses must be a lab.

A special exemption would be made for students who have taken BIOL 220  and BIOL 221  as program prerequisites and then change their major. In this case, these students would continue to substitute the combination of BIOL 220  and BIOL 221  as the general education equivalent to BIOL 109 , giving them one, 4-credit General Education Science course. The other General Education Science class should be BIOL 110 . Because anatomy and physiology builds upon concepts learned in General Biology, these courses can serve as a “sequence” for general education purposes.

General Education Courses

Pathways or programs of study may require particular General Education courses. In other cases, students can choose electives within a General Education category.

See the list of approved General Education Courses  for guidance in selecting a General Education elective. Also, if you plan to transfer, consult a transfer advisor, program director or coordinator, or staff person at your intended university to determine which classes are most likely to transfer.