Associate Degree and General Education Philosophy
The philosophy and criteria for the associate degree and general education address the considerations referenced in Title 5, Sections 55061; Accreditation Standard II.A.12. These include, but are not limited to the following:
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The programs of the District are consistent with the institutional mission, purposes, demographic, and economics of its community.
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The philosophy and criteria regarding the associate degree reflects the policy of the Board of Governors that the associate degree symbolizes a successful attempt to lead students through patterns of learning experiences designed to develop certain capabilities and insight, including:
a. The ability to think and communicate clearly and effectively orally and in writing;
b. Using mathematics;
c. Understanding the modes of inquiry of the major disciplines;
d. Being aware of other cultures and times;
e. Achieving insights gained through experience in thinking about ethical problems;
f. Developing the capacity for self-understanding.
3. The philosophy and criteria regarding general education reflects the policy of the Board of Governors that general education should lead to better self-understanding, including:
a. General education is designed to introduce students to the variety of means through which people comprehend the modern world
b. General education introduces the content and methodology of the major areas of knowledge and provides an opportunity for students to develop intellectual skills, information technology facility, affective and creative capabilities, social attitudes, and an appreciation for cultural diversity.
The Curriculum and General Education Committee recommends to the Superintendent/President and the Board of Trustee courses which exemplify the District’s philosophy on the associate degree and general education.
General Education Student Learning Outcomes (GE SLOs)
GE SLOs are the knowledge, skills, and abilities a student is expected to demonstrate by the time of graduation from Taft College. The outcomes are obtained through a series of courses in general education designed with a common core of knowledge consistent with a liberal arts education for a literate citizen. Here are the general education learning outcomes by area for Taft College.
GE–English Composition
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1. Writes clearly and effectively at an associate degree (Freshman English) level upon graduation. |
GE-Oral Communications & Analytical Thinking
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1. Demonstrates the ability to communicate knowledge, information, ideas, and feelings, and enhance the ability to evaluate, problem solve, and make decisions; information management and computer literacy.
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GE-Mathematical Concepts & Quantitative Reasoning
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1. Apply quantitative information to draw reasonable conclusions to real world situations and possess numerical literacy.
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GE-Arts & Humanities
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1. Develop an awareness of ways in which people through the ages and in different cultures respond to the world around them through artistic and cultural creations.
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2. Demonstrate an understanding of human diversity and tolerance for different perspectives, ideas, and values.
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3. Describe how through the arts, literature, philosophy, foreign languages, or religion reflect the historical, intellectual context and aesthetic tastes of various cultures using value judgments.
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GE-Social & Behavioral Science
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1. Analyze the influence of major social, cultural, economic, and political forces on human behavior and institutions using the major concepts, models, and concerns developed through the social sciences in contemporary as well as historical settings and in a variety of cultural contexts.
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2. Apply research methodologies employed in social scientific inquiry.
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3. Demonstrate the principles, concepts, models of value systems, and ethics framework employed in social scientific inquiry.
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GE-Natural Science
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1. Develop an understanding of the relationship between science and other human behaviors.
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2. Demonstrate the scientific method. |
GE-Ethnic Studies
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1. Effectively address significant issues from diverse perspectives.
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2. Applies knowledge to implement sophisticated, appropriate, and workable solutions to address complex issues from a multidisciplinary perspective.
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GE-Lifelong Learning (Local)
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1. Engage in citizenship skills; engage in college and community activities; knowledge of self; responsibility in groups settings, and work independently.
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GE-American History & Ideals (Local)
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1. Applies a historical and political understanding of the U.S. Constitution using research methodologies to compose an argument that explains the rights and obligations of individual citizens, their historical significance, and how that may affect different groups.
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General Education Requirements for the Associate’s Degree
Students have three options in meeting the General Education requirements towards earning an Associate in Arts or Associate in Science at Taft College. Option One, complete the local general education pattern including the local competencies, or Option Two, complete the California State Universities (CSU) GE Breadth Pattern requirements (full certification), Option Three, complete the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) (full certification unless IGETC for STEM in restricted majors). Options depend on the student’s degree.
Option One
The local Taft College General Education pattern can be found below.
(For students who DO NOT intend to transfer to a CSU or UC)
Option Two
The California State University General Education Breadth (CSU GE Breadth) certification pattern can be found in the Transfer Planning section of the catalog.
(For students who intend to transfer to a California State University)
Option Three
The Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) pattern required for all UC bound students can be found Transfer Planning section of the catalog. This pattern can also be used at CSU schools and many independent schools. This is a UC requirement only. For CSU schools, student still need to complete the U.S. History, Constitution and American Ideals requirements. See Transfer Planning section of the catalog for details.
(For students who intend to transfer to a University of California)
Check with the major or your counselor as to which option for general education to follow.
Local General Education Pattern
General Education Requirements (27 units – one course from each category)
English Composition (3 units)
Complete a minimum of 3 semester units from the courses below
ENGL 1500 | Composition and Reading | 3.00 Credits(s) |
ENGL 1501 | Enhanced Composition and Reading | 4.00 Credits(s) |
Oral Communications and Analytical Thinking (3 units)
Complete a minimum of 3 semester units from the courses below
Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning (3 units)
Complete a minimum of 3 semester units from the courses below
MATH 1500 | Math for a Modern Society - A Liberal Arts Course | 4.00 Credits(s) |
MATH 1505 | Mathematical Concepts for Elementary Teachers - Number Systems | 4.00 Credits(s) |
MATH 1510 | College Algebra for Liberal Arts | 4.00 Credits(s) |
MATH 1520 | Finite Mathematics | 3.00 Credits(s) |
MATH 1530 | Plane Trigonometry | 4.00 Credits(s) |
MATH 1540 | Precalculus Mathematics | 4.00 Credits(s) |
MATH 2100 | Analytic Geometry and Calculus I | 5.00 Credits(s) |
MATH 2120 | Analytic Geometry and Calculus II | 4.00 Credits(s) |
PSYC 2200 | Elementary Statistics for the Behavioral and Social Sciences | 4.00 Credits(s) |
STAT 1510 | Elementary Statistics | 5.00 Credits(s) |
Arts and Humanities (3 units)
Complete a minimum of 3 semester units from the courses below
ART 1500 | Art Appreciation | 3.00 Credits(s) |
ART 1600 | Two-Dimensional Design | 3.00 Credits(s) |
ART 1610 | Three-Dimensional Design | 3.00 Credits(s) |
ART 1620 | Drawing and Composition | 3.00 Credits(s) |
ART 1640 | Painting | 3.00 Credits(s) |
ART 1800 | Introduction to Digital Art | 3.00 Credits(s) |
ART 1811 | Graphic Design | 3.00 Credits(s) |
ART 2010 | Introduction to Printmaking | 3.00 Credits(s) |
ARTH 1510 | Prehistoric to Renaissance Art History | 3.00 Credits(s) |
ARTH 1520 | Renaissance to Contemporary Art History | 3.00 Credits(s) |
ARTH 2030 | Survey of Asian Art | 3.00 Credits(s) |
ARTH 2040 | Survey of African, Oceanic, and Indigenous North American Art | 3.00 Credits(s) |
COMM 1510 | Introduction to Mass Communication | 3.00 Credits(s) |
DRAM 1510 | Introduction to Theatre | 3.00 Credits(s) |
DRAM 1535 | Elementary Acting | 3.00 Credits(s) |
ENGL 1600 | Critical Thinking, Literature, and Composition | 4.00 Credits(s) |
ENGL 1650 | Introduction to Literature | 3.00 Credits(s) |
ENGL 1700 | Introduction to Creative Writing | 3.00 Credits(s) |
ENGL 1725 | Creative Writing: Poetry | 3.00 Credits(s) |
ENGL 1750 | Creative Writing: Fiction | 3.00 Credits(s) |
ENGL 1775 | Creative Writing: Nonfiction | 3.00 Credits(s) |
ENGL 2100 | American Literature I | 3.00 Credits(s) |
ENGL 2150 | American Literature II | 3.00 Credits(s) |
ENGL 2600 | World Literature I | 3.00 Credits(s) |
ENGL 2650 | World Literature 2 | 3.00 Credits(s) |
ENGL 2700 | British Literature 1 | 3.00 Credits(s) |
ENGL 2750 | British Literature 2 | 3.00 Credits(s) |
HUM 1500 | Introduction to the Humanities | 3.00 Credits(s) |
HUM 2010 | Introduction to Film Studies | 3.00 Credits(s) |
MUSC 1510 | Music Appreciation | 3.00 Credits(s) |
PHIL 1501 | Introduction to Philosophy | 3.00 Credits(s) |
PHIL 1531 | The World's Living Religions | 3.00 Credits(s) |
SPAN 1601 | Elementary Spanish I | 4.00 Credits(s) |
SPAN 1602 | Elementary Spanish II | 4.00 Credits(s) |
SPAN 2001 | Intermediate Spanish III | 5.00 Credits(s) |
SPAN 2002 | Intermediate Spanish IV | 5.00 Credits(s) |
SPAN 2500 | Latin American Culture | 4.00 Credits(s) |
Social and Behavioral Science (3 units)
Complete a minimum of 3 semester units from the courses below
BUSN 1500 | Introduction to Business | 3.00 Credits(s) |
COMM 1510 | Introduction to Mass Communication | 3.00 Credits(s) |
DS 1504 | Cultural Competency Towards Disabilities | 3.00 Credits(s) |
ECON 2120 | Principles of Economics - Micro | 3.00 Credits(s) |
ECON 2210 | Principles of Economics - Macro | 3.00 Credits(s) |
HIST 2202 | Western Civilization to 1600 | 3.00 Credits(s) |
HIST 2204 | Western Civilization from 1600 | 3.00 Credits(s) |
HIST 2210 | World Civilization to 1500 | 3.00 Credits(s) |
HIST 2212 | World Civilization since 1500 | 3.00 Credits(s) |
HIST 2216 | History of Latin America | 3.00 Credits(s) |
HIST 2230 | Women in American History from Indigenous America to the Present | 3.00 Credits(s) |
HIST 2231 | History of the United States to 1877 | 3.00 Credits(s) |
HIST 2232 | History of the United States Since 1877 | 3.00 Credits(s) |
HIST 2270 | California History | 3.00 Credits(s) |
POSC 1501 | Government | 3.00 Credits(s) |
PSYC 1500 | Introduction to Psychology | 3.00 Credits(s) |
PSYC 2003 | Child Growth and Development | 3.00 Credits(s) |
PSYC 2030 | Human Sexuality | 3.00 Credits(s) |
PSYC 2033 | Personal and Social Adjustment | 3.00 Credits(s) |
PSYC 2080 | Introduction to Lifespan Psychology | 3.00 Credits(s) |
RECR 1510 | Introduction to Recreation and Leisure Service | 3.00 Credits(s) |
SOC 1510 | Introduction to Sociology | 3.00 Credits(s) |
SOC 2038 | Gender Studies | 3.00 Credits(s) |
SOC 2110 | Introduction to Race and Ethnicity | 3.00 Credits(s) |
SOC 2120 | American Social Problems | 3.00 Credits(s) |
SOC 2141 | Sociology of Marriage | 3.00 Credits(s) |
COMM 1510: May be used to meet either Humanities or Social Science requirements.
HIST 2231, HIST 2232; POSC 1501: May be used to meet either Social Science or American History and Institutions requirements.
Natural Science (3 units)
Complete a minimum of 3 semester units from the courses below
ASTR 1511 | Introduction to Astronomy with Lab | 4.00 Credits(s) |
BIOL 1500 | Fundamentals of Biology | 3.00 Credits(s) |
BIOL 1510 | Fundamentals of Biology with Lab | 4.00 Credits(s) |
BIOL 1513 | Introduction to Environmental Studies with Lab | 4.00 Credits(s) |
BIOL 2201 | Introductory Biology - Cells | 4.00 Credits(s) |
BIOL 2202 | General Zoology | 5.00 Credits(s) |
BIOL 2203 | General Botany | 4.00 Credits(s) |
BIOL 2250 | Human Anatomy | 5.00 Credits(s) |
BIOL 2257 | Human Physiology with Lab | 5.00 Credits(s) |
BIOL 2258 | Human Anatomy & Physiology I | 5.00 Credits(s) |
BIOL 2259 | Human Anatomy & Physiology II | 5.00 Credits(s) |
BIOL 2260 | General Microbiology | 5.00 Credits(s) |
BIOL 2370 | Nutrition Science | 3.00 Credits(s) |
CHEM 1510 | Introductory College Chemistry | 4.00 Credits(s) |
CHEM 1520 | Introduction to Organic and Biochemistry | 4.00 Credits(s) |
CHEM 2211 | General Chemistry | 5.00 Credits(s) |
ESCI 1520 | Introduction to Earth Science Lecture and Laboratory | 4.00 Credits(s) |
GEOG 1510 | Physical Geography | 3.00 Credits(s) |
GEOL 1500 | Introduction to Geology | 4.00 Credits(s) |
GEOL 1501 | Historical Geology | 4.00 Credits(s) |
PHYS 2221 | General Physics (Calculus) | 4.00 Credits(s) |
PSCI 1520 | Introduction to Physical Science Lecture and Laboratory | 4.00 Credits(s) |
PSYC 2050 | Introduction to Biological Psychology | 3.00 Credits(s) |
Lifelong Learning (3 Units)
ECEF 1531 | The Child in Family/Community Relationships | 3.00 Credits(s) |
HLED 1510 | Principles of Healthful Living | 3.00 Credits(s) |
LIBR 1548 | Introduction to Library Research | 1.00 Credits(s) |
PSYC 1500 | Introduction to Psychology | 3.00 Credits(s) |
PSYC 2030 | Human Sexuality | 3.00 Credits(s) |
PSYC 2033 | Personal and Social Adjustment | 3.00 Credits(s) |
PSYC 2080 | Introduction to Lifespan Psychology | 3.00 Credits(s) |
RECR 1510 | Introduction to Recreation and Leisure Service | 3.00 Credits(s) |
SOC 2141 | Sociology of Marriage, Family and Relationships | 3.00 Credits(s) |
STSU 1500 | Strategies for College and Life Management | 3.00 Credits(s) |
American History and Ideals (3 units)
Complete a minimum of 3 semester units from the courses below
HIST 2231 | History of the United States to 1877 | 3.00 Credits(s) |
HIST 2232 | History of the United States Since 1877 | 3.00 Credits(s) |
POSC 1501 | Government | 3.00 Credits(s) |
Ethnic Studies (3 units)
Complete a minimum of 3 semester units from the courses below
ETHN 1510 | Introduction to Ethnic Studies | 3.00 Credits(s) |