Liberal Arts & Sciences: General Studies

Associate in Science Degree

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This flexible program allows a greater choice of electives than many others. Under the guidance of an advisor, students begin initial course work in one or two career fields in which they are interested. At the same time, they complete general education courses required for transfer to upper-division colleges. They decide their future educational objectives: internal transfer to another MVCC program, or external transfer to a four-year college in their chosen field. This program is ideally suited to students who are unsure of their goals or those who wish to explore career options. Any student admitted to MVCC who is not admitted to a particular curriculum, or who does not elect to enroll in a specific curriculum, will be matriculated as a General Studies student. If students are not ready to enter courses because they lack the necessary background, they are asked to take developmental courses first.

Goal 1 To prepare graduates to successfully transfer to a four-year institution, complete the General Studies program, or do an internal transfer to other programs at the college

  • MVCC graduates of the program transfer to four-year institutions, complete the General Studies program, or transfer to other programs at the college.

Goal 2 To enable students to improve their writing, speaking, reading, and study skills to increase chances for academic, personal, and professional success

  • Students will communicate information and ideas clearly in oral and written form using standard English
  • Students will be able to identify the main ideas and subtleties of simple and complex academic texts and literatures
  • Students will create written discourse using self-expressive, informative, persuasive, and literary aims
  • Students will effectively integrate and communicate information from various sources (lecture, text, visual, etc.) for learning and research purposes

Goal 3 To encourage student exploration of courses in potential future majors and career fields

  • Students will complete a broad variety of courses in response to effective academic advisement

Goal 4 To encourage students to develop critical thinking skills and habits of creative inquiry

  • Students will Identify, analyze, and evaluate arguments as they occur in their own or other’s work
  • Students will develop well-reasoned arguments

Goal 5 To encourage the cultivation of quantitative problem solving ability

  • Students demonstrate logical thinking and solve quantitative problems using computational and other mathematical techniques

Goal 6 To prepare students to demonstrate information literacy

  • Students will use traditional and contemporary information technology
  • Students will identify, access, and appropriately use authoritative sources of information

Total Credit Hours: 62

First Semester

This course is an opportunity for students to develop the skills necessary to be successful in college. Students learn the importance of the faculty-student and advisor-advisee relationship, develop time management techniques, apply effective study skill techniques, recognize the implications of living in a diverse society, utilize college resources, and explore career and transfer requirements. Collaborative projects are included. Students matriculated in a degree program must take this course in their first term of study.

This course focuses on several kinds of writing-self-expressive, informative, and argumentative/persuasive, and others. A minimum of five essay compositions are required. The course emphasizes the composition of clear, correct, and effective prose required in a variety of professions and occupations. Prerequisites: Appropriate high school GPA or placement test score or EN090 Basic Writing Skills or SL116 ESL4: Advanced Composition or SL145 ESOL Advanced Composition

Choose any General Education Mathematics Course

(a) Students choose from any course EXCEPT PE. All electives must be approved officially by the student’s faculty advisor.

(a) Students choose from any course EXCEPT PE. All electives must be approved officially by the student’s faculty advisor.

Students can choose any General Education Social Science course.

Take any Physical Education Course

Second Semester

This course encourages a deeper understanding of human nature and the human condition through the study of ideas and values expressed in imaginative literature. Emphasis is placed on the use and development of critical thinking and language skills. Library-oriented research is required. Prerequisite: EN101 English 1: Composition or EN105 English Composition for Speakers of Other Languages or EN106 English 1: Composition & Reading.

Students can choose any General Education Mathematics course

Students can take any GE DEI/SJ Course

(a) Students choose from any course EXCEPT PE. All electives must be approved officially by the student’s faculty advisor.

(a) Students choose from any course EXCEPT PE. All electives must be approved officially by the student’s faculty advisor.

Take any Physical Education Course

Third Semester

Take any General Education Natural Science course

This course is an introduction to public speaking. It emphasizes the fundamentals of preparing, organizing, supporting, and delivering the speech based on factual material. It includes topic selection, audience analysis, fact vs. opinion, outlining, supporting material, and visual support. Informative, demonstrative, and persuasive speeches are presented. Elements of interpersonal communication, logic, and persuasion are discussed. Prerequisite: EN101 English 1: Composition or EN105 English Composition for Speakers of Other Languages or EN106 English 1: Composition & Reading.

This course introduces the nature and study of history, and covers the emergence and development of Eurasian civilization to about 1500 A.D. in the Near East, India, China, Europe, the Western Hemisphere, and Africa. Attention is given to religion in these civilizations and on the rise of the West to a position of world power during the Middle Ages.

(b) Students choose from any 200-level course as long as course prerequisites are met. All electives must be approved officially by the student’s faculty advisor.

Take any Physical Education Course

Fourth Semester

Take any General Education Natural Science Course

This course is concerned with civilizations and their influences on each other in the modern world. It traces the rise of the West to a position of world dominance and its impact on non-Western societies. Emphasis is placed on the major forces that have shaped the contemporary world - industrialization, urbanization, nationalism, militarism, imperialism, democracy, and communism.

Take any General Education Humanities course

(a) Students choose from any 200-level course as long as course prerequisites are met. All electives must be approved officially by the student’s faculty advisor.

(b) Students choose from any 200-level course as long as course prerequisites are met. All electives must be approved officially by the student’s faculty advisor.

Take any Physical Education Course

(a) Students choose from any course EXCEPT PE. All electives must be approved officially by the student’s faculty advisor.

(b) Students choose from any 200-level course as long as course prerequisites are met. All electives must be approved officially by the student’s faculty advisor.