Arts and Sciences Core Curriculum

In Addition

In addition, baccalaureate degree students are required to pass at least one course within each of the following nine general education competencies. Some courses may be found in more than one category; however, students may not use a single course to satisfy more than one general education requirement.

A - Scientific Reasoning
B - Technical Skills
C - Information Literacy
D - Critical Thinking
E - Quantitative Reasoning
F - Diverse Perspectives
G - Written Communication
H - Oral Communication
I - Values & Ethics

A list indicating the courses which fulfill individual general education competencies is found below.

As Part of Their Degree Requirements

As part of their degree requirements, all students in associate programs are required to complete a core curriculum in the arts and sciences. This core is derived from the mission of the College, and reflects what the institution believes is essential to students’ education and development. The core curriculum for Vaughn associate degree students consists of the following seven basic competencies:

A - Scientific Reasoning
B - Technical Skills
C - Information Literacy
D - Critical Thinking
E - Quantitative Reasoning
G - Written Communication
H - Oral Communication

Once the required competencies have been filled, students may take additional credits from the following areas:

I - Values and Ethics
F - Diverse Perspectives

A list indicating the courses which fulfill individual general education competencies is found below.

A - Scientific Reasoning

• Any Laboratory Science class
• CHE 230 - Chemistry

B - Technical Skills

• CSC 215 - MATLAB
• CSC 111 - Computer Science I - Visual Basic 3 credit(s)
• CSC 316 - C Programming 3 credit(s)

C - Information Literacy

• ENG 110 - English I 3 credit(s)
• ENG 120 - English II 3 credit(s)
• ENG 240 - Technical Writing 3 credit(s)
• ILT 101 - Information Literature and Technology

D - Critical Thinking

• ENG 120 - English II 3 credit(s)
• HUM 255 - Technology and Culture 3 credit(s)
• HUM 256 - Introduction to Critical Thinking 3 credit(s)

E - Quantitative Reasoning

• Any Math course numbered 115 or higher

F - Diverse Perspectives

• ENG 120 - English II 3 credit(s)
• ENG 210 - World Literature 3 credit(s)
• ENG 220 - American Literature 3 credit(s)
• HIS 141 - Global Civilization 3 credit(s)
• HIS 250 - History of Aviation 3 credit(s)
• HUM 251 - International Studies: A Global Perspective 3 credit(s)
• HUM 255 - Technology and Culture 3 credit(s)
• PSY 150 - General Psychology 3 credit(s)

G - Written Communication

• ENG 110 - English I 3 credit(s)
• ENG 120 - English II 3 credit(s)
• ENG 240 - Technical Writing 3 credit(s)

H - Oral Communication

• ENG 110 - English I 3 credit(s)
• ENG 290 - Public Speaking 3 credit(s)

I - Values and Ethics

• ENG 110 - English I 3 credit(s)
• ENG 120 - English II 3 credit(s)
• ENG 210 - World Literature 3 credit(s)
• ENG 220 - American Literature 3 credit(s)
• ENG 240 - Technical Writing 3 credit(s)
• ENG 290 - Public Speaking 3 credit(s)
• HIS 252 - Survey of American History 3 credit(s)
• HUM 472 - Practical Ethics 3 credit(s)
• POL 254 - American Government 3 credit(s)
• PSY 150 - General Psychology 3 credit(s)

Student Learning Outcomes Provided by The Arts and Sciences for Baccalaureate and Associate of Applied Science Students

A - Scientific Reasoning

Scientific Reasoning involves the understanding of scientific principles, techniques and the ability to critically compare, through inference and analogy, experimental information with expected theoretical outcomes. Students will be able to:

1. Apply scientific methods of data acquisition and evaluation to investigate measurable phenomena
2. Represent scientific data symbolically graphically and verbally
3. Interpret scientific information represented in formulas, equations, graphs and tables
4. Evaluate results obtained from scientific methods for accuracy

B - Technical Skills

Technical skills involves the use of computers to write and develop documents, prepare presentations, and represent real world data. A further application of this skill is demonstrated by the ability to write simple computer programs. Students will be able to:

1. Write, edit and save documents using a word processing program
2. Use spreadsheet programs to produce graphs and charts.
3. Create power point presentations.
4. Write computer programs in basic, c++, or matlab

C - Information Literacy

This competency involves the ability to effectively evaluate, and responsibly use and share information. Students will be able to:

1. Apply an established citation style to document the sources used

D - Critical Thinking

This competency is characterized by the exploration and analysis of issues and ideas before accepting or formulating an opinion. Students will be able to:

1. Analyze contexts to reach conclusions supported by evidence

E - Quantitative Reasoning

Quantitative Reasoning (QR) is competency in working with numerical data. Individuals with strong QR skills possess the ability to reason and solve quantitative problems in real-world situations. Individuals with QR skills can clearly communicate this competency in a variety of formats including words, tables, graphs and mathematical equations. Students will be able to:

1. Accurately interpret and represent problems verbally, symbolically, numerically and graphically.
2. Solve problems accurately and draw conclusions based on the quantitative analysis of data.
3. Evaluate solutions and assumptions and communicate the quantitative evidence in support of the argument or purpose of the work.

F - Diverse Perspectives

Students with diverse perspectives demonstrate the ability to engage and learn from points of view different from their own. Students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate ability to explain multiple perspectives through the exploration of personal and cultural contexts.

G - Written Communication

This competency involves the effective employment of thesis and purpose in writing. Students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate effective sentence structure
2. Demonstrate logical organization of their ideas
3. Employ the grammar and mechanics of Standard American English

H. - Oral Communication

This competency involves the effective delivery of public presentations. Students will be able to:

1. Effectively deliver oral presentations

I - Ethics and Values

This competency involves the ability to access major ethical and moral issues in a historical and contemporary context. Students will be able to:

1. Construct their own arguments using reason and apply these ideas to practical moral issues