2.7.3 General Education

Judgment of Compliance

Narrative/Justification for Judgment of Compliance

All of the Hillsborough Community College’s degree programs include a core of required general education courses.  The Associate in Arts (AA) degree includes 36 semester hours of general education courses, including at least three courses from each of the following areas: social/ behavioral sciences and natural science/ mathematics; and at least two courses from humanities/ fine arts (HCC Catalog, p.88-90 ). The Associate in Science (AS) and Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degrees require a minimum of 15 semester hours of general education courses, including courses from each of the following areas: humanities/fine arts; social/behavioral sciences; and natural science/mathematics (HCC Catalog , p. 104). The general education courses are not narrowly focused on those skills, techniques, and procedures specific to a particular occupation or profession.

The table that follows provides a summary of HCC’s general education requirements.  For details on the requirements, the reader is referred to the links to the College Catalog.

Breadth of Knowledge

The College ensures a breadth of knowledge in general education by requiring that students who complete the College’s general education core curriculum are able to achieve the following :

• Demonstrate their ability to think critically;
• Demonstrate their ability to express themselves clearly in written and oral communication;
• Demonstrate their ability to express themselves effectively in quantitative terms;
• Demonstrate their understanding of and appreciation for the value and significance of cultures;
• Demonstrate their appreciation of the scientific method of inquiry and the historical and  contemporary impact of science on daily life;
• Demonstrate their understanding of global, political, social, economic, and historical perspectives; and
• Demonstrate their ability to use technology to access, retrieve, process, and communicate information (HCC Catalog, p.89).

Hillsborough Community Ccollege’s general education program is based on a coherent rationale that provides a foundation upon which a student’s learning experience is built (General Education Operation Manual).  The program offers students the opportunity to acquire the skills and knowledge necessary to have a broad understanding of a changing world.  In addition to the general education program, students seeking the AA degree are required to complete, with a grade of C or better, course work which provides instruction in the college level communication and computation skills required to achieve a passing score on the College Level Academic Skills Test (CLAST) (College Catalog, p.65-66 ).

To ensure course equivalency, the College adheres to the Florida Statewide Course Numbering System.  Authorization for acceptance of equivalent course work is provided by Florida Administrative Rule [6A – 10.024 (19)]. 

HCC also follows state guidelines in awarding credit for the following acceleration mechanisms:  Advanced Placement (AP), Certified Professional Secretary, Dual Enrollment, Early Admissions, International Baccalaureate (IB) Degree, Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) examination, College Level Examination Program (CLEP), Credit by Examination, and Experiential Credit for the Colleges nursing, optical management, radiography, paramedic, and industrial management programs.  Details on how HCC awards credit for these accelertion mechanisms are provided in the HCC Catalog (HCC Catalog, pages 39-41) and in the College’s Administrative Procedure 5.01, Student Acceleration Mechanisms.

Supporting Documentation

• HCC College Catalog 2005-2006, 39-41; 65-66; 88; 89-90; 104
• HCC General Education Operations Manual
• General  Education Transfer Work
• Florida Administrative Rule 6A-10.024
• HCC Administrative Rule 5.01