General Studies

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Important Information

Short Description

The General Studies degree curriculum is designed for students who plan to pursue an Associate of Arts degree before transferring to a four-year college or university. It provides maximum flexibility for transfer – both for students who enter CCBC with significant transfer credits, as well as students who plan to enroll in a four-year degree program that is not aligned with other CCBC degrees or transfer patterns.

Type of Credential

Associate of Arts (A.A.)

Program Code

160

Contacts and Additional Information

Coordinator:
Danielle James
443-840-4835 or djames@ccbcmd.edu

Campus Contacts:

Academic Advisement at any CCBC campus or extension center.

NOTE: advising hours are limited at the extension centers, particularly during non-peak registration times. Click on Academic Advisement to see locations and hours.

Additional Information:

Opportunities for Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) - Several General Education classes offer PLA. See Portfolio, Departmental Exam, CLEP, DSST, Advanced Placement, and International Baccalaureate. General education classes are required for associate degrees but not for certificates.
Articulation and Transfer Agreements - While there are no program-specific agreements, see other types of agreements such as guaranteed admission, block transfer, and discounts.

Semester Sequence

The General Studies program is very flexible, so it is not possible to identify a single semester sequence that all students should take. However, students are required to complete the English and Mathematics requirements within the first 24 credit hours of courses. Any required developmental (non-credit) English and Math courses must be taken before, or concurrent with, these classes.

Students with no developmental coursework who want to finish an associate degree in two years should plan to take 15 credits/semester. Taking fewer credits/semester will increase the time needed to complete a degree.

Students should refer to the College catalog in selecting General Education Courses , as well as the Pathway course tracks. General Studies is considered part of the Behavioral and Social Sciences pathway. Some students declare a General Studies major to explore different options, with the intention of changing majors once they decide on a more specific option. Such students should consult the course tracks for any additional Pathways they are considering, to see what courses would be most beneficial.

Courses Needed for This Program*

General Education Requirements and Electives - 34-36 Credits

General Education Requirements:

CMNS 101 - Fundamentals of Communication 3 Credit(s).
ENGL 101 - College Composition I 3 Credit(s).
ENGL 102 - College Composition II 3 Credit(s).

General Education Electives:

Choose courses in each category from the list of approved General Education Courses . One General Education course must be a Diversity course.

Students must have at least 60 credits for an associate degree. Students who choose to take 3 credits of Mathematics and 7 credits of Biological and Physical Sciences, rather than 4 and 8, may need to take an additional class in order to reach at least 60 credits.

Arts and Humanities 3 Credit(s).
Biological and Physical Sciences (from 2 different disciplines or 2-course sequence, 1 with a lab) 7-8 Credit(s).
Information Technology 3 Credit(s).
Mathematics 3-4 Credit(s).
Social and Behavioral Sciences 6 Credit(s).
Wellness and Health 3 Credit(s).

Program Requirements and Electives - 24-26 Credits

Program Electives:

Depending on the General Education electives completed, more than 24 credits of electives may be needed to reach a minimum of 60 credits for the degree.

Total Number of Credits Required for Degree: 60 min*

Note

*Credit students who are new to college (no successfully completed transferable college credits from other institutions) are required to take ACDV 101 - Academic Development: Transitioning to College . This 1-credit course is designed to be taken in the first semester at CCBC. Students must provide an official transcript(s) from an accredited institution to document successful completion of college coursework for the ACDV 101 requirement to be waived.

Program Description

The General Studies degree curriculum is designed for students who plan to pursue an Associate of Arts degree before transferring to a four-year college or university. Students who choose this option are encouraged to work with an academic advisor or counselor on their home campus to develop a plan for completing the degree. The advisor or counselor will also help the student identify electives to best meet the specific requirements of transfer institutions.

Program Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this degree, students will be able to:

develop an appreciation of life-long learning; embracing opportunities for learning and working in a diverse multicultural and global society for personal and professional development;
apply written and oral communication skills for clear expression and problem solving, employing both quantitative and qualitative reasoning in the scientific process with a focus on technological and information literacy; and
demonstrate the ability to analyze issues and problems from a multidisciplinary perspective with an appreciation in the arts, humanities, sciences, and math promoting critical thinking and problem-solving skills.