General Education at CCM

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General Education at CCM

The courses that the state of New Jersey requires you to take to earn a degree at CCM are divided into two categories.

  • General Education Courses:These are the courses that ensure you obtain a well-rounded college education by providing foundational skills, exposure to other disciplines, and the ability to be a lifelong learner.
  • Core Courses:These are the courses that pertain directly to your major. They may or may not also be classified as General Education Courses.

General Education at CCM FAQ

Why do I need to take a course outside of my major?

  • General Education courses provide you with a solid academic foundation that will help you succeed in your major area of study. Communication skills, the competence to analyze problems from multiple perspectives, and the ability to critically think will all help you excel in your core courses.
  • General Education courses broaden your general knowledge of academic subjects and expose you to different perspectives and ways of thinking. This breadth of knowledge will allow you to grow and contribute to society.
  • General Education courses provide you with skills that many employers seek and value in their employees.
  • General Education courses enliven your appreciation of cultures, people, and principles of life, providing balance in an age of global awareness and interconnected technology.

How do I know what General Education Courses to take?

  • The courses you are required to take to graduate are specified on your program curriculum check sheet. This check sheet specifies the categories and number of General Education courses that are needed.
  • To get advice on which courses to take, talk to your academic advisor.

General Education Careers

General Education courses prepare you to succeed in your chosen profession. Regardless of your career choice, when you enter the workforce you will need effective communication and critical thinking skills to analyze situations, make informed decisions, and think broadly and creatively. By providing you with these skills and exposing you to other branches of learning, General Education courses will prepare you for a successful and rewarding career.

General Education Careers FAQ

Will General Education courses help me land a job?

General Education courses provide you with skills that employers value. Research has shown that when employers are making hiring decisions, they look for candidates with the following skills:

  • The ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing
  • The ability to work effectively with others in teams
  • Ethical judgment and decision-making
  • Critical thinking and analytical reasoning skills
  • The ability to apply knowledge and skills to real work settings

 

These are all skills that are emphasized in your General Education courses.

How can General Education courses help me throughout my career?

General Education courses prepare you for change, whether that change comes from advancing within your chosen career or changing careers.

Many people change careers multiple times throughout their lives. A broad education will help prepare you to make those career transitions and be aware of other career options that you may be interested in pursuing.

Whatever your academic or career goals, General Education can set you on an enriching path for success today and in the future – a path that has meaning and worth in all aspects of life.

General Education Transfer

General Education courses provide you with knowledge and skills important to your success in your core courses at a four-year university.

Whatever your academic goals, General Education can set you on an enriching path for success today and in the future – a path that has meaning in all aspects of life. Talk with the Office of Transfer Services at CCM about how your General Education courses can transfer.

General Education Transfer FAQ

What academic skills from my General Education courses will benefit me at my transfer institution?

  • The foundational skills of critical thinking, written and verbal communication, quantitative reasoning, and technology that you acquire in your General Education classes will contribute significantly to your success in your junior and senior years at four-year colleges.
  • Exposure to ideas and knowledge from your studies in Science, the Humanities, Social Science, History, and Diversity will help provide context and insight to the core courses you take at your transfer university.

General Education Learning Outcomes

At CCM, and throughout the State of New Jersey, we expect graduates to take General Education courses in many, if not all, of the disciplines in the list below.

We also have two integrated goals. These are “Ethical Reasoning and Action” and “Information Literacy.” You won’t find specific classes or disciplines with these goals; instead, they are “integrated” into your curriculum. So you might receive some Ethical Reasoning lessons in a Biochemistry class and also a Speech Fundamentals class.

  • Communication
  • Mathematics
  • Science
  • Technology
  • Social Science
  • Humanities
  • History
  • Diversity
  • Ethical Reasoning and Action
  • Information Literacy

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