General Education
The requirements for an associate’s degree (A.A., A.S., A.A.S., A.A.T., A.E.S., or A.F.A.) consist of a minimum of 61 credit hours taken from three components: (1) general education core, (2) courses taken in the major/minor field and (3) electives.
Course work in the general education core:
- Assumes there are some commonalities expected of an “educated person” in terms of what he or she knows and is able to do.
- Provides students with the ability to realize their potential as educated, responsible, and productive lifelong learners in diverse and rapidly changing world.
- Consists of a core of intellectual, aesthetic and cultural experiences which will introduce students to essential knowledge, skills and values, and encourages them to make connections across disciplines.
For transfer students (A.A., A.S., A.A.T., or A.F.A.), the general education core ranges from 38 to 41 credit hours; for transfer students pursuing an Engineering degree, the A.E.S. requires 28 credit hours of general education; and for career students (A.A.S.), it requires at least 15 credit hours, depending on the program of study. Transfer students who complete their degree will fulfill all of the general education core requirements defined by the Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI) for the first two years of a baccalaureate program.
The general education requirements are distributed among the five traditional divisions of knowledge.
- Communication
- Mathematics
- Life and Physical Sciences
- Humanities and Fine Arts
- Social and Behavioral Sciences
The specific courses in each division will vary with the student’s degree or program. Students can contact an advisor in Student Services to determine the exact requirements.
While accurate information and advising assistance is always available regarding the general education core requirements, the major responsibility of getting a purposeful general education rests on each individual student. Thus, you should also familiarize yourself with the General Education Goals and Objectives in the next section that identify the traits of a generally educated person. By understanding these goals and objectives, you can begin to make informed selections of course work.
General Education Goals and Objectives
The general education program at KCC is designed to enable students to write, read, and speak at a level reflecting college-level learning. The general education goals and objectives are designed to enable students to use reasoning and problem-solving skills, and to acquire skills in ethical reasoning. Students who complete the general education program will be able to examine complex topics and apply systematic processes to form conclusions.
The specific objectives of the general education program are to develop in each student the following traits and abilities:
Communication:
Students will communicate with precision, clarity, fluency, accuracy, and coherence through their reading, writing, and verbal communications.
Quantitative Reasoning:
Students will reason and solve quantitative problems from a wide array of contexts.
Ethical Reasoning:
Students will apply skills in ethical reasoning and come to understand the ways ethical issues affect individual behaviors, individual lifestyles, and public life.
Inquiry and Analysis:
Students will examine complex topics and apply systematic processes resulting in formed conclusions.