Page 58 - 2019-20 GCC Catalog

Graduation Requirements 55

DEFINITIONS OF GENERAL EDUCATION

AREA A: NATURAL SCIENCE (3 UNITS) 2. Arts, Foreign Language, Literature, and Philosophy
Courses included in this area examine the physical (3 units)
universe, its life forms, and its natural phenomena. Courses included in this category require students to
Courses must include content, assignments, and methods analyze and appreciate works of philosophical, historical,
of instruction and evaluation in which students apply literary, aesthetic, and cultural importance within a
experimental methodology, the testing of hypotheses, and diverse context focusing on both Western and non-Western
systematic questioning to theoretical, laboratory, and fi eld cultures. In doing so, students evaluate artistic and cultural
scenarios. In doing so, students develop an understanding creation. Performance and studio arts courses are included
of the basic concepts in the physical and biological sciences in this area if they focus on the integration of history, theory,
while developing an appreciation of the scientifi c method. and criticism relevant to the fi eld. For foreign language
courses, the coursework should focus on the written and
AREA B: SOCIAL SCIENCES (3 UNITS)
oral language as well as the history, culture, and other
Courses approved for this area must analyze human attributes of the country associated with the language. For
behavior in relation to human social, political and economic conversational courses, there must be a prerequisite course
institutions. Courses appropriate to this area include those equivalent to the third year of high school study or one year
in social science disciplines which develop in their students of college level language.
an understanding of cultural and social organizations in
multiple paradigms including those of diff erent ethnic AREA D: LANGUAGE AND RATIONALITY
or cultural groups. Coursework provides students the (6 UNITS)
opportunity to apply methodologies used by social scientists, 1. English Composition (3 units)
historians, and philosophers to theoretical examples and real- This general education area is fulfi lled by a student’s
world issues and problems. Courses also include discussion completion of English 101. The course includes substantial
of topics and methodologies within the context of their instruction and practice in expository, analytical, and research
historical, contemporary, and geographical settings. essay writing at the college level with a minimum of 6,000
words being written. The course also requires a substantial
AREA C: HUMANITIES (6 UNITS)
amount of reading of signifi cant literature. Through their
1. Interdisciplinary Humanities (3 units) reading and discussion of selected prose works, students learn
Courses included in this category require students to to identify problems, examine possible solutions, recognize
analyze and appreciate works of philosophical, historical, unstated assumptions and values, appraise evidence, evaluate
literary, aesthetic, and cultural importance within a diverse arguments, draw inferences, and test conclusions. Through
context focusing on both Western and non-Western cultures at their writing, students learn to analyze, synthesize, organize
various points in history. Courses approved for this area should information logically, and propose original ideas.
address the cultural and artistic expression of human beings. 2. Communication and Analytical Thinking (3 units)
Courses emphasize both multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary Courses approved for this category must ensure
approaches drawing on theories, interpretations, and issues opportunities for students to develop logical thought, clear and
from a variety of academic fi elds including but not limited precise expression and critical evaluation of communication.
to those in the humanities, visual arts, and social sciences. Courses foster students’ abilities to distinguish fact from
Coursework emphasizes students’ responses to humanistic judgement, and belief from knowledge. Students learn to
works through expository, analytical and research essays and critique ideas and theories and to apply course concepts to
other assignments designed to evidence students’ growing critically analyze and engage with real world and theoretical
understanding of harmonies between and discords among problems and issues. Course assignments emphasizing oral
disciplines methodologies, ideologies, and topics of interest. In and written forms, emphasize writing as appropriate and,
doing so, students make informed judgements regarding artistic in particular, analytical and evaluative writing including
and cultural creation. research. For courses in computer science, these may include
Courses approved for this area must deal with the cultural courses focused on programming languages but not general
and artistic expression of human beings. The courses will ensure computer classes. For courses in Mathematics, these may
opportunities for students to develop an awareness of the ways include courses focused on quantitative reasoning.
in which people throughout the ages and in diff erent cultures
have responded to themselves and the world around them in
artistic and cultural creation and help students develop aesthetic
understanding and an ability to make judgments.

2019–2020 C A T ALOG • G LEND ALE C OMMUNITY C OLLEGE