Central to an Associate Degree, general education reflects the conviction of Cerro Coso Community College that those who receive their degrees share certain basic principles, concepts, and methodologies both unique to and shared by the various disciplines. College-educated persons must be able to use this knowledge when evaluating and appreciating the physical environment, the culture, and the society in which they live. General education should lead to better self-understanding and involve students in actively examining values inherent in proposed solutions to major social problems.
General Education Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the Cerro Coso local general education pattern, students will be able to:
Natural Sciences
- Effectively communicate scientific results, including graphically, verbally, and in writing.
- Demonstrate competency of the Scientific Method, including the experimental and empirical methodologies characteristic of science and the modern methods and tools used in scientific inquiry.
Social and Behavioral Sciences
- Describe the method of inquiry used by the social and behavioral sciences.
- Evaluate the operation of societies and social sub-groups.
Humanities
- Describe how people throughout the ages and in different cultures have responded to themselves and the world around them in artistic and cultural creation.
- Evaluate the significance of artistic and cultural constructions.
Language and Rationality
- Use clear and precise language to express logical thought.
- Use a complex symbol system to solve problems.
Information Competency
- Explain the fundamentals of the research process and documentation style.
- Clearly identify types of information needed to address a research problem and evaluate the credibility of sources.
Diversity
- Describe and analyze the effects of race, ethnicity, class, gender, sexuality, disability, and/or religion on human interactions.
Health and Wellness
- Analyze and apply the principles of health and wellness.
General Education Options for Transfer
Universities and colleges prescribe their standards of eligibility for transfer. Students expecting to transfer to a four-year institution should carefully check entrance requirements. Cerro Coso Community College students who maintain high scholarship and complete the required course pattern may expect to make a satisfactory transfer to the institution of their choice and achieve junior standing. Students planning to eventually transfer to a four-year institution should make an appointment with a college counselor or educational advisor at the earliest possible date to plan an appropriate course of study.
General Education for UC
Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC)—The Intersegmental Committee of the Academic Senates approved the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC). The IGETC is a series of courses that community college students can use to satisfy lower-division general education requirements at any CSU or UC campus. A course taken at another participating institution may be included on Cerro Coso Community College's certification list if the course would have been certified at the other institution.
Prior to transferring, the student must request that the Cerro Coso Community College's Office of Admissions and Records send an IGETC Certification to the appropriate campus. This Certification is subject to change if the student does not maintain continuous enrollment at Cerro Coso Community College. Students are also advised to consult with their counselors for additional information.
General Education for CSU
California State University Certification Requirement—Students desiring transfer to the California State University system may conform to either (1) the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) or (2) CSU General Education Certification. A course taken at another participating institution may be included on Cerro Coso Community College's certification list if the course would have been certified at the other institution.
Prior to transferring, the student must request that the Cerro Coso Community College's Office of Admissions and Records send a CSU Certification or IGETC Certification to the appropriate campus. This Certification is subject to change if the student does not maintain continuous enrollment at Cerro Coso Community College. Students are also advised to consult with their counselors for additional information.
General Education for Independent Colleges and Universities
Students who transfer to independent colleges or universities find that they are given academic credit for most, if not all, of their community college courses. Virtually all institutions give full credit for general education courses and usually for other courses designed for transfer by the community college. Students should consult the catalog of the state university of their choice for specific general education information. Students are also advised to consult with their counselors for additional information.
