2024-2025 Catalog

Core Competency Requirements

Core Competencies are a required, noncredit, general education component of each degree program. Students complete assignments that are certified by faculty as demonstrating core competencies that faculty have identified as central to learning. Students will be completing assignments in general education, elective courses, and courses in all programs of study that will give them practice with these competencies in the context of different subjects.

The student’s instructor will identify the competencies that can best be demonstrated by the work the student will do in the course. In addition, the student may wish to talk to the instructor about the possibility of fulfilling a different competency in an assignment. All items must be graded C or better.

The instructor will notify the Registrar’s Office of his/her acceptance of a student’s work as demonstrating a competency. This office will keep track of the competencies completed as part of the student’s academic record.

No sample of work submitted for a competency may be used to satisfy more than one competency, and no more than two competencies can be satisfied through work in one course. Competency requirements must be met and certified during the semester the student is enrolled in the course. Some courses have embedded core competencies. In these courses the opportunity to demonstrate a particular competency is built in to the curriculum. A student completing the course with a grade of C or better is certified as having demonstrated the competency. The course description section of the catalog identifies courses that have embedded core competencies. Students not needing an embedded competency may inquire of the instructor whether a different competency could be achieved in the course.

Core competencies have become a graduation requirement for A.A. and A.S. students beginning with the 2004 catalog year. Students who have earned a baccalaureate degree from an accredited higher education institution, who have completed 15 or more degree credits prior to 2004 or who have transferred in 15 or more credits are exempt from the requirement.

Certificate and non-degree students are not required to complete the core competency requirement. They are, however, encouraged to do so since they may later wish to apply their coursework toward a degree.

Students required to complete the core competencies for graduation may, in extraordinary circumstances, request a substitution or waiver for part of the requirement. Such requests should be addressed to the program advisor for Liberal Arts, who will make recommendations to the Vice President for Academic Affairs. Students should contact their academic advisor if they have questions concerning the core competency requirement.

Learning to use competencies across the curriculum will help students:

  1. Apply similar skills and abilities to learn different course contents; and

  2. Integrate their education rather than thinking of it as a collection of separate, unrelated courses. To satisfy this requirement, a student must demonstrate competency in the following areas:

Courses with Embedded Core Competencies

Listed below are all the courses that have an embedded core competency arranged by the competency.

Individual courses in the course description pages are also coded to indicate which, if any, core competencies are embedded in the course. A student completing the course with a grade of C or better is certified as having demonstrated the competency.

Critical Thinking CC-CT

  • To consider information to form purposeful judgments by using cognitive skills in conscious, organized processes; and
  • To demonstrate the ability to analyze information for accuracy, balance, bias and agenda; to identify inconsistencies in data and argument.
BIO-101General Biology I

4

BIO-175Brain, Mind & Behavior: An Introduction to Biopsychology

3

BIO-201Anatomy & Physiology I

4

BIO-202Anatomy & Physiology II

4

BUS-107Fundamentals of Business

3

BUS-220Managerial Accounting

3

CHM-201Organic Chemistry I

4

CHW-110Essential Health Topics for Community Health Workers

3

CHW-120Community Health Worker Core Competencies

4

CIS-125C++ Programming II

4

CIS-211Data Structures

4

CIS-231Computer Science I with Java

4

CIS-232Computer Science II With Java

4

CIS-241Connecting Networks

4

CRJ-121Criminal Law

3

CRJ-123Criminal Procedures

3

CRJ-201Criminal Justice Field Work Seminar

3

ECO-211Principles of Microeconomics

3

ECO-212Principles of Macroeconomics

3

ENG-102Composition II

3

ENG-103Honors Composition I

3

ENG-215Introduction to Literature

3

ENG-228US Poetry Since 1945

3

ENG-231American Literature to 1865

3

ENG-232American Literature Since 1865

3

ENG-241British Literature to 1700

3

ENG-242British Literature Since 1700

3

ENG-245Contemporary Fiction

3

ENG-247Literary Memoir

3

ENG-247HHonors Literary Memoir

3

ENG-255Multiethnic American Literature

3

ENG-263Creative Writing: Creative Nonfiction Workshop

3

ENG-297Special Topics in Literature

3

ENG-297TSpecial Topics in Literature: Science Fiction

3

ENM-126Technical Mathematics II

3

ENM-127Technical Mathematics III

3

ENT-162Engineering Physics II: Fluids, Heat And Sound

4

FAS-120Drawing II

3

FAS-123Two-Dimensional Design I

3

FAS-124Three-Dimensional Design I

3

FAS-163Two-Dimensional Design II

3

FAS-171Pre-Renaissance Art History

3

FAS-172Renaissance to Modern Art History

3

FAS-210Fundamentals of Painting

3

FAS-222Advanced Studio Art

4

FAS-233Mixed Medium I

3

HIS-225Comparative Religions

3

HIS-238History of the Holocaust

3

HIS-244African Slave Trade & Colonization

3

HON-298IHonors Colloquium: Graphic Novel & Comics As Cultural Barometer

3

HSV-111Human Service Methods

3

HSV-280Group & Professional Development

3

LPN-142Health Maintenance of the Adult & Aging

15

LPN-162Health Care of the Family

6

MUS-108Music Theory I

3

MUS-225Music History I

3

NUR-101Physical & Mental Health I

9

NUR-102Physical & Mental Health II

8

NUR-201Physical & Mental Health III

9

PED-170Personal Trainer

3

PHL-102Introduction to Philosophy

3

PHY-102College Physics II

4

PSY-206Adolescent Psychology

3

PSY-208Interviewing & Counseling

3

PTA-115Functional Anatomy

3

PTA-200Rehab Neurology

3

SOC-208Contemporary Social Problems

3

SOC-216Race & Ethnicity

3

SOC-234Urban Sociology: A Visual & Global Approach

3

THR-205Directing

3

Oral Communication CC-OC

  • To respond to complex questions in creative and thoughtful ways, considering multiple points of view; and
  • To critically evaluate and cogently present researched information in an organized, effective manner as verbal presentation; to develop physical control of delivery; to listen actively.
CHW-110Essential Health Topics for Community Health Workers

3

CHW-120Community Health Worker Core Competencies

4

COM-104Introduction to Interpersonal Communication

3

COM-105Introduction to Oral Communication

3

COM-107Introduction to Oral Communication in Business

3

CRJ-108Drugs & Society

3

CRJ-125Juvenile Justice Process

3

CRJ-126Criminal Investigation

3

ENT-234Microprocessors

3

LPN-145Acute Care Practicum

2

MBW-131Therapeutic Massage Seminar

2

MUS-225Music History I

3

PTA-250Clinical Education II

4

PTA-260Clinical Education III

4

Quantitative Reasoning and Logical Thinking CC-QR

  • To demonstrate the application of mathematical understanding either through elementary functions or algebraic equations or by appropriate graphing or modeling requiring analysis of a given problem; and

  • To show flexibility within the basis of analysis; and

  • To appraise problem-solving options using sequential or systemic logic.

BCC-139Personal Finance: Money Management for Life

3

BIO-102General Biology II

4

BUS-139Personal Finance: Money Management for Life

3

BUS-220Managerial Accounting

3

CHM-102Introductory Chemistry II

4

CHM-150Essentials of Chemistry

3

CIS-124C++ Programming I

4

CIS-125C++ Programming II

4

CIS-211Data Structures

4

CIS-231Computer Science I with Java

4

CIS-232Computer Science II With Java

4

ECO-211Principles of Microeconomics

3

ECO-212Principles of Macroeconomics

3

ENM-126Technical Mathematics II

3

ENM-127Technical Mathematics III

3

ENM-151Engineering Calculus I

4

ENM-152Engineering Calculus II

4

ENM-251Engineering Calculus III

4

ENT-122Introduction to Computer Aided Design

4

ENT-129Introduction to Electricity & Electronics

3

ENT-161Physics I: Mechanics

4

ENT-203Linear Circuit Analysis I

4

ENT-212Statics

3

ENT-214Strength of Materials

3

ENT-233Digital Circuits

4

ENT-244Hydraulics & Pneumatics

3

ENT-260Industrial Control Systems

4

ENT-261Physics II: Electricity, Magnetism & Light

4

MAT-101Applied Contemporary Mathematics

3

MAT-102College Algebra

3

MAT-113Introductory Topics in Math

3

MAT-121Precalculus

4

MAT-123Elementary Statistics

3

MAT-136Mathematics for the Health Sciences

3

MAT-151Calculus I

4

MAT-253Linear Algebra

3

MAT-254Differential Equations

3

NUR-202Physical & Mental Health IV

9

PED-170Personal Trainer

3

PHY-101College Physics I

4

PHY-111The Ideas of Physics

3

PHY-111AThe Ideas of Physics

4

RSP-241Cardiopulmonary Anatomy & Physiology

2

Written Communication CC-WC

  • To respond to complex questions in creative and thoughtful ways, considering multiple points of view; and

  • To write essays focusing on one main idea logically developed with detailed paragraphs; to responsibly and accurately incorporate information from secondary sources.

BUS-107Fundamentals of Business

3

BUS-247Business Communications

3

CHM-201Organic Chemistry I

4

COM-104Introduction to Interpersonal Communication

3

COM-107Introduction to Oral Communication in Business

3

CRJ-123Criminal Procedures

3

CUL-105Garde Manger: Cold Kitchen Operations

3

ENG-215Introduction to Literature

3

ENG-217Global Women's Literature

3

ENG-228US Poetry Since 1945

3

ENG-231American Literature to 1865

3

ENG-232American Literature Since 1865

3

ENG-241British Literature to 1700

3

ENG-242British Literature Since 1700

3

ENG-245Contemporary Fiction

3

ENG-247Literary Memoir

3

ENG-247HHonors Literary Memoir

3

ENG-255Multiethnic American Literature

3

ENG-297ASpecial Topics in Literature: the Making of a Region: Southern Literature & Culture

3

ENG-297HSpecial Topics in Literature: Lesbian, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Literature

3

ENG-297MSpecial Topics in Literature: Mythology

3

ENG-297RSpecial Topics in Literature: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer Literature

3

ENG-297TSpecial Topics in Literature: Science Fiction

3

ENG-297USpecial Topics in Literature: Ireland's Literature

3

ENT-115Introduction to Engineering

3

HIS-244African Slave Trade & Colonization

3

HON-298IHonors Colloquium: Graphic Novel & Comics As Cultural Barometer

3

HUM-121Introduction to the Humanities

3

HUM-155The Harlem Renaissance

3

LPN-142Health Maintenance of the Adult & Aging

15

MBW-131Therapeutic Massage Seminar

2

NUR-201Physical & Mental Health III

9

PHL-101Philosophy & Self-Identity

3

PHY-111AThe Ideas of Physics

4

SOC-216Race & Ethnicity

3

SOC-234Urban Sociology: A Visual & Global Approach

3

THR-111History of Theatre & Drama I

3