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1. Updated: 8/30/06 The Bergen Community College General Education Program To move through the presentation, press your "Page Down" or "Enter" key.

2. Pursuant to state regulations in the 1980s and then to the Statewide Articulation Agreement established in the 1990s between NJ 2-year and 4-year colleges and universities, students in associate degree programs must take a broad distribution of courses in • Communications (English composition & speech) • Humanities (fine arts, foreign languages, history, literature, philosophy, religion) • Mathematics (& Computer Science) & the Natural Sciences • Social Sciences • "Theoretically based" physical education courses may also be required (in the discretion of the local college) • AA degrees (at least 45 credits of GE) • AS degrees (at least 30 credits of GE) • AAS degrees (at least 20 credits of GE) (See the current list of BCC general education courses at www.bergen.edu/gened/GEpageGC_2006FA.pdf.)

3. Also, all 30-36 credit Certificate programs include at least 6, preferably 9, credits of general education, with at least one communications course.

4. There are also • 12-18 credit Certificates. • BCC has subsequently adopted a number of such Certificates, calling them "Certificates of Achievement." • These special certificate programs include no general education requirements.

5. Moreover, • AA, AS, and AAS degrees must include at least 60 and no more than 66 credits, • EXCEPT where program licensure by external accrediting agencies requires more than 66 credits. • At BCC, AA and AS degrees  and many, but not all, AAS degrees  are limited to 64-66 credits; • some AAS degrees require more than 66 credits.

6. Pursuant to and consistent with state regulations and statewide agreements, BCC offers • a 2-track AA degree program (in Liberal Arts & in Fine & Performing Arts) • a 3-track AS degree program (in Natural Sciences or Mathematics, in Engineering Science, & in "Professional Studies") • an AAS degree track (currently containing 36 distinct degree programs) • a number of 30-36 credit Certificate programs (currently 23 programs) • a number of 12-18 credit Certificates of Achievement (currently 9 programs) (The current general education core requirements for these programs are shown below.)

7. There are also optional areas of concentration ("options," "majors") under • the AA degree program in Liberal Arts (Cinema Studies, Communication Arts, Economics, History, Literature, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Religion, Social Sciences, Sociology, Women’s Studies, & World Languages & Cultures) • the AA degree program in Fine & Performing Arts (Art, Music [4 options], & Theatre Arts [4 options]) • the AS degree program in Natural Sciences or Mathematics (General Science, Biology, Biotechnology), Chemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics, & Physics) (Engineering Science is another AS degree option with a unique structure.) • the AS degree program in "Professional Studies" (General, Broadcasting, Business Administration [5 options], Education, Criminal Justice, Education, Exercise Science, Journalism, & Social Work)

8. Liberal ArtsF & P Arts Communications [9] [9] English Comp. 6 6 Speech Comm. 3 3 Humanities [24] [21] History 6 6 FA, LAN, LIT, PHR 18 15 Social Sciences 9 6 Mathematics & CS 6 3 Natural Sciences 8 4 Wellness & ES 3 3 Total GE 59 46 Electives/Restricted 6 18-20 Total Program 65 64-66 AA Degree Programs * * * ** *No more than 6 credits in any one field **From two fields

9. AS DegreePrograms Sci & MathEngineeringProf. Studies Communications [9] [6] [9] English Comp. 6 6 6 Speech Comm. 3 3 Humanities 12 6 15 Social Sciences 6 6 6 Mathematics & CS 8 8 6 Natural Sciences 8 8 8 Wellness & ES 3 3 3 Total GE 46 37 47 Restricted 18-20 29 17-19 Total Program 64-66 66 64-66 * ** *** *** *From at least three fields **No more than 6 credits in any one field ***From two fields

10. AAS Degrees Communications English Comp. 6 Humanities 6 Social Sciences 3 Math or Nat. Sci. 3-4 Wellness & ES 3 Total GE 21-22 Restricted 43- ? Total Program 64- ? 30-36 cr Certificates Communications Eng. Comp. I 3 Gen. Ed. Electives 3-6 (in Humanities, Soc. Sci., Math., or Nat. Sci.) Total GE 6-9 Restricted 21-30 Total Program 30-36 AAS Degree & Certificate Programs 12-18 cr Certificates of Achievement have no Gen Ed requirements.

11. Diversity and Technology & Information Literacy: • AA & AS degree Diversity Requirement: In completing the BCC Gen Ed Program, a student must take and pass at least one course in gender studies, non-western history or thought, and/or cultural diversity (by choosing at least one of the following: ANT100; ANT101; HIS105; HIS116; HIS121; HIS126; HIS130; HIS131; LIT203; LIT204; LIT215; LIT218; LIT224; LIT228; PHR106; PHR121; PHR122; PSY207; SOC120; SOC121; SOC222). [List to be reviewed annually] • Technological & Information Literacy embodied in most general education courses & specifically addressed in IST-101 and IST-102 (see current BCC Catalog)

12. General Education Course Certification at Bergen Community College

13. What makes a course a general education course (at BCC)? 1. A course proposed for general education certification must fit within one of the following six areas of study: Communications, Humanities, Mathematics and Computer Science, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, Wellness and Exercise Science. 2. A course proposed for general education certification must provide students with the opportunity to develop writing and critical thinking skills through a variety of appropriate critical thinking and writing assignments. 3. A course proposed for general education certification must have a sufficient number of the key characteristics of a general education course (see next slide). 4. A course proposed for general education certification must address, serve, and support the goals and objectives of the college's general education program. (See www.bergen.edu/gened/GEgoals_Foundation.pdf.) 5. There is a strong presumption that a course proposed for general education certification will be transferable – as a general education course – to a significant number of the four-year colleges/universities to which most BCC transfer-students currently transfer. The General Education Committee is free to consider the certification of a course that fails to meet this presumption in the event that, on the basis of clear and convincing evidence and cogent argument, the Committee finds that the course is worthy of such consideration regardless of its low "transfer value." However, the Committee shall exercise this freedom prudently and shall not overturn lightly the strong presumption stated above. Also, the syllabus for a course proposed for GE certification must comply with the GE syllabus guidelines adopted by the BCC Faculty Senate on 3/11/03. See "Required Syllabus Format for BCC General Education Courses" on www.bergen.edu/gened.

14. 1. A general education course is broad, introductory, and foundational in its field. 2. A general education course does not presuppose the student's command of highly technical/specialized language, concepts, knowledge, or skills. 3. A general education course is not "specialized education," which prepares students for particular occupations or specific professional responsibilities. It does not focus narrowly on those skills, techniques, and procedures specific to a particular occupation or profession. 4. A general education course covers one or more of the traditional subjects typically required of educated persons that form the shared intellectual heritage of our diverse culture. 5. A general education course is general, i.e., not focused upon "majors" or academic and vocational specializations. Its object is "common learning," based upon those realities, experiences, and concerns which all humans share by virtue of their common participation in "the human situation." It seeks the academic and cultural common ground. Its subject matter is part of what all truly educated people have (and ought to have) in common. 6. A general education course teaches principles and methods of analytic, critical, and systematic inquiry and reasoning that students then apply to the solution of problems relevant to the discipline being studied, thereby enhancing students' ability to make informed, discriminating, and responsible judgments on the basis of logical and critical analysis and evaluation of ideas, events, and issues. 7. A general education course includes instruction that presents forms of expression, fields of knowledge, and methods of inquiry fundamental to intellectual growth and to an understanding of the world and the human condition. 8. A general education course fosters literacy in writing, reading, speaking, and listening. 9. A general education course includes learning of technological capabilities appropriate to the discipline being studied. 10. A general education course fosters forms and levels of information literacy appropriate to the discipline being studied, including the skills and research techniques necessary for effective information access, interpretation, analysis, evaluation, and application. 11. A general education course increases a student's consciousness of the important social and ethical concerns of the day. 12. A general education course enhances a student's ability to integrate, synthesize, and apply in various contexts core knowledge and skills learned in their coursework, not only in the single course but within and across other courses and disciplines. 13. A general education course enhances students' abilities to function as responsible citizens. 14. A general education course takes students beyond the acquisition of course-specific knowledge and beyond the immediate application of learning and provides them with opportunities for analysis, synthesis, and evaluation of learning. Key Characteristics of a GE Course, continued 3. The following list of fourteen propositions describes key characteristics of a general education course. A course proposed for general education certification at Bergen Community College must meet the criteria set forth in propositions 1 through 6, plus the criteria stated in at least four of the remaining propositions 7 through 14. ?

15. The BCC Diversity Course Policy

16. 1998 Diversity Course Requirement AA & AS degree Diversity Requirement: In completing the BCC Gen Ed Program, a student must take and pass at least one course in gender studies, non-western history or thought, and/or cultural diversity (by choosing at least one of the following: ANT100; ANT101; HIS105; HIS116; HIS121; HIS126; HIS130; HIS131; LIT203; LIT204; LIT215; LIT218; LIT224; LIT228; PHR106; PHR121; PHR122; PSY207; SOC120; SOC121; SOC222). [List to be reviewed annually]

17. As of the 2000-2001 academic year, the following recommendation was added to the General Education Program for all AAS degrees: Diversity Course Recommendation: It is recommended that, in completing the BCC General Education Program, a student take and pass at least one course in gender studies, non-western history or thought, and/or cultural diversity (by choosing at least one of the following:ANT100; ANT101; HIS105; HIS116; HIS121; HIS126; HIS130; HIS131; LIT203; LIT204; LIT215; LIT218; LIT224; LIT228; PHR106; PHR121; PHR122; PSY207; SOC120; SOC121; SOC222).

18. As of the 2006-2007 academic year, BCC has a revised (more specific and explicit) policy for designating courses as diversity courses. (Previously, our designations were "intuitive.") * • A Diversity Course • provides students with the knowledge, understanding, and skills necessary to live more productively and effectively in a highly diverse society; • develops in students an understanding and appreciation of the impact of the histories and cultures of both western and non-western societies on our pluralistic society; • assists students in thinking critically about current events and issues related to diversity and conflict; and • helps students understand that one’s own attitudes, perspectives, and beliefs are shaped by one’s cultural, ethnic, and racial heritage, and by gender, age, sexual orientation, and ability. • To qualify as a Diversity Course, the departmental syllabus for a general education course must, in a significant manner, include student learning objectives, activities, readings, and assessment-techniques designed to motivate students to demonstrate the ability to deal constructively with information, ideas, and emotions associated with issues of diversity. Next slide.... * The revised policy was approved by the BCC Faculty Senate on 3/21/06.

19. Specifically, a diversity course • will promote a more reasoned understanding of differences and similarities in our pluralistic society, with regard to such factors as: • culture • ethnicity • race • class • gender • religion • age • sexual orientation • disability • will seek to promote respect for individual differences and the dignity of all people; and • will be approved for three or more credits. The BCC General Education Committee will assess departmental syllabi for courses submitted to fulfill the Diversity Requirement.

20. The BCC Catalog should include text describing the nature and purpose of the Diversity Requirement. This text should be consistent with the College’s Mission Statement, with its statement of Core Competencies, and with the statement of the goals and objectives of the General Education Program.Suggested text: The Bergen Community College Diversity Requirement is an essential part of the BCC General Education Program and is designed to support the College’s goal of improving student competencies in critical thinking, in civic responsibility, and in the personal and interpersonal interactions that are essential for living and working in a multicultural environment. The Diversity Requirement is met when a course designated as a Diversity Course has been successfully completed.

21. That’s All, Folks! (for now)