General Education

General Education Philosophy

General Education develops essential intellectual skills and introduces the student to the broad understanding of the human experience. The CCC General Education Curriculum helps students acquire the basic skills different disciplines use to identify, research and solve problems; creates an awareness of the diverse nature of the world; develops foundational skills necessary for meaningful and respectful communication; and encourages students to become curious about and active in their world​.

General Education Learning Outcomes

Coconino Community College offers General Education courses that provide students with the highest quality experience. To that end, we measure the effectiveness of our program using the following student learning outcomes as our guide. Students who complete our General Education program, whether as part of a degree program or the AGEC, can expect to acquire or improve their skills in the following areas:

• Thinking Skills: Using a variety of inquiry methods, resources, and reasoning skills that support and promote lifelong learning.

  • Formulate vital questions and problems in a clear and precise manner

  • Systematically and comprehensively explore artifacts, data, events, issues or arguments

  • Identify own and others’ assumptions and biases to determine validity of sources 

  • Apply valid principles and models to develop a logical, consistent plan

  • Draw well-reasoned conclusions from analysis and evaluation of material

•  Communication Skills: Conveying of ideas using one or more methods of expression (written, oral, signed)

  • Demonstrate awareness of context, audience, purpose, and the assigned task(s)

  • Demonstrate consistent use of conventions particular to a specific discipline and/or writing task(s), including organization, presentation, and stylistic choices

  • Demonstrate effective listening skills

  • Use appropriate, relevant, and compelling content to explore ideas within the context of the discipline

  • Access information using appropriate search strategies, relevant technology, and information sources

• Diversity and Global Awareness: An understanding and appreciation of diverse cultures, values, beliefs, and historical perspectives.

  • Recognize the complexity of elements important to members of other cultures in relation to their history, values, politics, communication styles, economy, or beliefs and practices

  • Describe the relationships between the collective past and present lived experiences of marginalized groups and human systems

  • Analyze the interactions between individuals, human systems (global, social, cultural, socio-economic, ethical), and the natural world

•  Ethical and Civil Values: A better understanding of oneself and others in order to clarify individual and societal responsibilities, needs, and values

  • Recognize ethical issues and grasp the complexities or interrelationships among the issues

  • Explore the ethical perspectives of others and themselves

  • Engage in the contribution of self and others in creating and maintaining a community (personal responsibility, respect, service, teamwork, and entrepreneurship)

Arizona General Education Curriculum (AGEC)

General Education coursework must meet all of the following criteria:

1. Meet the particular AGEC category criteria
2. Promote intellectual exchange as an essential part of the learning process
3. With the exception of composition and math courses, all courses must provide tools for a broad understanding of the world, humanity, and the role of individuals within both.
4. Be graded as A/F only, S/U grading not allowable
5. Be accepted for transfer credit as elective or better at all three Arizona state universities according to the Course Equivalency Guide for the academic year in which the course was taken

Composition

Composition courses at Coconino Community College are designed to develop reading and writing skills at the college-level.

Composition courses:

1. Use writing and reading for inquiry, learning, thinking, and communicating.
2. Develop critical thinking skills through examination, analysis, and evaluation of texts.
3. Enhance students’ ability to respond appropriately to different kinds of rhetorical situations. Emphasize writing as a process that requires flexible strategies for generating, revising, editing, and proofreading.
4. Develop knowledge, control, and confidence in using writing conventions, including structure, paragraphing, tone, mechanics, and documentation.
5. Promote reading and writing as life-long learning processes.

Mathematics

Mathematics courses at Coconino Community College are designed to develop essential skills in mathematics and an appreciation of the uses of mathematics in a variety of discipline areas. In these courses, students develop mathematical literacy enabling them to quantitatively compare, analyze, and model situations encountered in their world.

Mathematics Courses:

1. Analyze polynomial, exponential and logarithmic functions.
2. Employ the concepts of mathematical modeling in a variety of application problems.
3. Develop critical thinking skills through situational analysis and problem solving.
4. Include the above criteria or require College Mathematics as a prerequisite.

Arts and Humanities

Arts and Humanities courses at Coconino Community College encourage students to explore, question, compare, and analyze moral, aesthetic, spiritual, and cultural ideas and works.

Art and Humanities courses:

1. Examine, analyze, and evaluate aesthetic and philosophical contributions of humanity.
2. Cultivate intellectual curiosity and a desire for the pursuit of knowledge.
3. Examine, analyze and evaluate significant trends from various cultures and epochs.
4. Develop critical thinking and communication skills.

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Social and behavioral science courses at Coconino Community College are concerned with human interactions in historical, political, social, or psychological contexts.

Social and Behavioral Science courses:

1. Examine methods of inquiry, theories, and interpretations of the human condition.
2. Explore issues relating to the human condition.
3. Develop critical thinking skills through application, analysis, or synthesis or ideas and evidence.

Physical and Biological Sciences

Physical and biological science courses at Coconino Community College are designed to develop intellectual curiosity, scientific knowledge and literacy through the study of natural sciences and scientific methods of inquiry.

Physical and Biological science courses:

1. Examine scientific methods of inquiry and principles.
2. Analyze and evaluate significant issues of science in relation to society with sensitivity to the benefits, risks, and costs of scientific inquiry.
3. Develop critical thinking skills through experiential learning.

Explore how science relates to other disciplines.

Options

Any of the above criteria.

General Education List of Approved Courses at CCC  

Intensive Writing/Critical Inquiry “W”

1. Require ENG 101  as a prerequisite and ENG 102  as a prerequisite or co-requisite;
2. Emphasize the gathering, interpretation, and evaluation of evidence;
3. Develop skills in analyzing and synthesizing information to support a thesis;
4. Provide an environment which values factual and rational interchange;
5. Develop critical thinking skills;
6. Foster flexible and creative thinking;
7. Enroll no more than 25 students per section;
8. Require successful completion of the major writing project in order to pass the class (see 9b and 9c below);
9. Pursue the above objectives by engaging students in the following:
   1. Frequent discussions to develop skills in critical listening, thinking, and interacting;
   2. Require the writing of a major project of at least 1500 words submitted for instructor approval incorporating the steps in the writing process (prewriting, drafting, organizing, reviewing, and revising) prior to receiving the final grade for the assignment;
   3. Require the writing of at least 2 other papers totaling an additional 1500 words.

Ethnic, Race, and Gender Awareness “E”

All courses designated in this area must:

1. Foster an atmosphere in which relations between disparate groups may be improved.
2. Develop an understanding of the significant contributions of minorities.
3. Present aspects of the social, economic, political, or psychological relations between and among ethnic, race or gender groups.
4. Analyze traditional views concerning gender and/or minorities.
5. Explore changing perspectives about gender and/or minorities.
6. Encourage curiosity about and empathy for cultural and gender differences.
7. Promote critical thinking.

Contemporary Global and International Awareness “C”

All courses designated in this area must:

1. Develop curiosity about the empathy for cultural diversity and global issues.
2. Incorporate subject matter within the twentieth century.
3. Promote critical thinking skills.
4. Emphasize one or more of the following:
   1. Awareness of the interdependence of societies in the world;
   2. Understanding of a variety of cultures;
   3. Study of a region or country outside the United States.

Historical Awareness “C”

All courses designated in this area must:

1. Focus on historical sequence to show the interconnectedness of ideas/events/themes/theories.
2. Explore a period of human history through the study of values, cultures, politics, or other aspects of culture.
3. Cultivate curiosity concerning human and social behavior.
4. Promote curiosity critical thinking.

Arizona General Education Curriculum (AGEC): Special Requirements