General Education Core

General education program competencies were approved by the College Executive Council
in February 1993 and revised in April 2006.

General Education at Oklahoma City Community College is an integral component of each
student’s experience. Every student receiving an associate degree (AA or AS) must
complete at least one course from each of the following areas, indicating a general
understanding of that area.

OCCC's General Education core adheres to the guidelines of the Oklahoma State Regents
for Higher Education regarding General Education (3.15.6 General Education Framework).

I. Human Heritage, Culture, Values and Beliefs

Students will demonstrate an understanding of the ideas, values, and beliefs that
have shaped global communities. Specifically, students should be able to demonstrate
understanding of basic world geography; demonstrate familiarity with major cultural
issues of selected global communities; demonstrate knowledge of significant historical
events and figures of selected global communities; and demonstrate an understanding
of ethical concerns of selected global communities.

II. Communication and Symbols

A. Students will demonstrate effective writing and public speaking skills.
For writing, students should be able to generate a clear, specific, and arguable
thesis or dominant idea; formulate evidence and examples to support the topic idea;
construct a logical pattern of paragraph development; and demonstrate consistent use
of correct and appropriate spelling, grammar, and word choice.

For public speaking skills, students should be able to demonstrate the effective use
of an introduction, body, and conclusion of a formal speech; demonstrate an audience-centered
purpose that adapts to the audience, occasion, and time limit of the speech; deliver
the speech with effective eye contact relative to the use of presentational aids (when
applicable) and the audience; vary the tone of voice appropriate to the content of
the speech and context of the audience; and demonstrate appropriate attire, gestures,
good posture, and meaningful body movement.

B. Students will demonstrate analytical reasoning and logic skills by using mathematical
methods and tools. Specifically, students should be able to identify mathematical
properties that apply to a situation; apply those mathematical properties appropriately
to the situation in order to reach a conclusion; and evaluate that conclusion for
correctness and/or effectiveness and develop alternative solutions if needed.

III. Social, Political, and Economic Institutions

Students will demonstrate an understanding of the function of major social institutions.
Specifically, students should be able to analyze how political systems impact society;
analyze how economic systems impact society; analyze how religion serves to shape
the norms of a society; analyze how education interacts with cultural values and norms;
and analyze how shifts in social institutions impact the family.

IV. Relationships in Nature and Science

Students will demonstrate critical thinking by using scientific methodology. Specifically,
students should be able to analyze a set of data or qualitative observations using
previously learned tools; draw reasoned conclusions based on the results of the analysis;
and support conclusions logically and communicate them effectively.