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I. Title of Regulation

General Education

II. Objective of Regulation

To identify course requirements for General Education at Brookdale Community College.

III. Authority

Board of Trustees Policy No. 5.0004

IV. Regulation Statement

General education is “instruction that presents forms of expression, fields of knowledge, and methods of inquiry fundamental to intellectual growth and to a mature understanding of the world and of the human condition, as distinguished from ‘specialized education,’ which prepares individuals for particular occupations or specific professional responsibilities” (N.J.A.C. 9A: 1-1.2).

All programs leading to an associate degree at Brookdale will include a distribution of courses in the general education portion of the curricula from the major knowledge areas of Communications, Humanities, Mathematics, Sciences, Technological and/or
Information Literacy Competency, Social Sciences, History, and Cultural and Global awareness (Diversity). An ethical dimension competency may be infused with any course in the above categories. Certificate programs also will be required to include general education credits as specified in the state regulation. Career courses provide specialized education as described in N.J.A.C. 9A:1-1.2.

As noted below, students will choose their general education courses based upon the degree sought and their transfer plans. Student Development Specialists work with students to design a plan of study and approve the plan in the name of the College.
Brookdale Community College shall require for students, a general education portion of a program that conforms to parameters summarized below. Additionally, general education courses must meet the student learning objectives set forth by the NJ
Community College Academic Officers Association (NJCC AOA) under the authority of the President’s Council.

A.  –  A.A. Degrees

A.A. Degrees will include no fewer than 45 General Education credits distributed among the following knowledge areas:

1. Communications (C) – 9 credits to include two Composition (writing) courses and one Speech course.

2. Humanities (HU) – 9 credits in any broad-based courses in the history of or appreciation of Art, Music, and Theater; Literature; Foreign Language; Philosophy; Religious Studies; or additional broad-based history course in Western, non-Western, American, or World (Civilization) History.

3. Social Sciences (SS) – 6 credits selected from introductory courses in Anthropology, Economics, Geography, Political Science, Psychology or Sociology.

4. Mathematics (M), Sciences (SC), and Technological and/or Information Literacy Competency (IT) – 12 credits including:

– 3-8 credits in Mathematics at a level that minimally requires a prerequisite of basic algebra;
– 4-8 credits in science in general biology, chemistry, physics, or environmental sciences, at least one of which must have a laboratory component;
– 0-4 credits in a rigorous introduction to computer science or a computer applications course or by taking comparable coursework that emphasizes common computer skills and/or helps students access, analyze, and communicate information using appropriate technologies.

A student may be waived from the Technological/Information Literacy competency requirement by passing a proficiency exam or by taking comparable coursework within other portions of General Education courses or outside of the General Education portion of his or her studies.

Such courses will be designated in the catalog by a (t).

5. History (HI) – 6 credits selected from broad-based courses in Western, non-Western, American or World (Civilization) History.

6. Cultural and Global Awareness (CG) (Diversity) – One course is recommended from those courses designated with a (d). This designation is for any course that significantly helps students analyze the implications of the commonalities and differences among culturally diverse people.

Students may meet this requirement while simultaneously fulfilling the General Education requirement for another knowledge area or other program requirements.

7. Ethical Dimension (E): At least one course in the student’s program of study must contain an ethical dimension, a course which contains a component that helps the student to recognize, analyze and assess ethical issues and situations. Students may meet this requirement while simultaneously fulfilling the General Education requirement for another knowledge area or other program requirements.

B.  –  A.S. Degree

A.S. Degrees will include no fewer than 30 General Education credits distributed among:

1. Communications (C) – 6 credits to include two Composition (writing) courses, may include an additional course in Speech.

2. Humanities (HU) – 3 credits in any broad-based courses in Art, Music, Theater, Literature, Foreign Language, Philosophy, Religious Studies or additional broad-based history course in Western, non-Western, American, or World (Civilization) History.

3. Social Sciences (SS) – 3 credits selected from introductory courses in Anthropology, Economics, Geography, Political Science, Psychology or Sociology.

4. Mathematics (M), Sciences (SC), and Technological and/or Information Literacy Competency (IT) – 12 credits including:

– 3-8 credits in Mathematics at a level that minimally requires a prerequisite of basic algebra;
– 4-8 credits in science in general biology, chemistry, physics, or environmental sciences, at least one of which must have a laboratory component;
– 0-4 credits in rigorous introduction to computer science or a computer applications course or by taking comparable coursework that emphasizes common computer skills and/or helps students access, analyze, and communicate information using appropriate technologies.

A student may be waived from the Technological/Information Literacy competency requirement by passing a proficiency exam or by taking comparable coursework within other portions of General Education courses or outside of the General Education portion of his or her studies.

Such courses will be designated in the catalog by a (t).

5. Three additional credits in Social Science or Humanities knowledge areas as described above.

6. Additional 6 credits can be chosen from any of the above categories but cannot exceed the number of credits listed in the A.A. program credit distribution requirements.

7. Cultural and Global Awareness (CG) (Diversity) – One course is recommended from those courses designated with a (d). This designation is for any course that significantly helps students analyze the implications of the commonalities and differences among culturally diverse people.

Students may meet this requirement while simultaneously fulfilling the General Education requirement for another knowledge area or other program requirements.

8. Ethical Dimension (E): At least one course in the student’s program of study must contain an ethical dimension, a course which contains a component that helps the student to recognize, analyze and assess ethical issues and situations. Students may meet this requirement while simultaneously fulfilling the General Education requirement for another knowledge area or other program requirements.

C.  –  A.A.S. or A.F.A. Degrees

A.A.S. or A.F.A. Degrees will include no fewer than 20 General Education credits distributed among:

1. Communications (C) – 6 credits to include two Composition (writing)courses, may include an additional course in Speech.

2. Humanities (HU) or Social Science (SS) – 3 credits from either of the knowledge areas as defined in the A.A. section.

3. Mathematics (M), Sciences (SC), and Technological and/or Information Literacy Competency (IT) – 3 credits as defined in the A.A. and A.S. requirements.

4. Cultural and Global Awareness (CG) (Diversity) – One course is recommended from those courses designated with a (d). This designation is for any course that significantly helps students analyze the implications of the commonalities and differences among culturally diverse people.

Students may meet this requirement while simultaneously fulfilling the General Education requirement for another knowledge area or other program requirements.

5. Ethical Dimension (E): At least one course in the student’s program of study must contain an ethical dimension, a course which contains a component that helps the student to recognize, analyze and assess ethical issues and situations. Students may meet this requirement while simultaneously fulfilling the General Education requirement for another knowledge area or other program requirements.

6. General education courses for these degrees should support career preparation.

7. The additional 8 credits can be chosen from any of the above categories but cannot exceed the number of credits listed in the A.S. program credit distribution requirements.

D. Certificate Programs

Certificate programs shall consist of 30 to 36 credits, including 6 credits for general education. Any offering of clustered courses consisting of less than 30 credits will be entitled Certificate of Achievement. (Source: NJ President’s Council, Academic Issues Committee Manual 2006-07, Section III.D. p. 10.)

Certificate programs will include no fewer than 6 general education credits distributed among:

1. Communication (C) – 3 credits in Composition (writing).

2. Three credits in either Humanities (HU), Social Science (SS), or Mathematics (M), Science (SC) or Technological and/or Information Literacy Competency (IT).

3. General Education coursework in excess of the required 6 semester credit hours should follow the specialized associate degree (A.F.A. or A.A.S.) program distribution requirements.

4. Certificate of Achievement programs require no general education courses beyond those which support career education.

E. The General Education Committee will:

1. Determine which new courses will be suitable for use as General Education credits.

2. Review program plans and catalog listings to ensure compliance with external and internal General Education policies.

3. Conduct hearings to arbitrate disputes over the General Education status of courses and proper format of programs. This task will provide the means for updating and maintaining the list of general education courses.

Programs may recommend general education courses provided that they conform to State and College policies on general education and are uniformly stated with the phrase, “the following courses, while not required, are recommended for students choosing this program.

Student Development Specialists, in consultation with appropriate Division Chairs, may recommend course substitutions to help a student achieve his or her transfer, career, and/or personal goals.

All proposed general education requirements in specific programs will be reviewed by the General Education committee before being submitted to the Executive Vice President for Educational Services for final approval.

F. Core Competencies

The general education distribution requirements support acquisition of the following core competencies by all graduates:

1. Communication
2. Mathematical/Scientific Reasoning
3. Critical Thinking
4. Creative Expression
5. Information Literacy
6. Technological Literacy
7. Historical/Societal Analysis
8. Community and Workplace
9. Personal Development

V. Responsibility for Implementation

Executive Vice President for Educational Services


Revised: 2/25/00
4/26/00
7/1/05`
May 2007
Effective: September 2007