General Studies

Click here for Plan of Study Form in PDF format 

Associate in Science
Program Leader: Peter Patsouris- 860-892-5703

The General Studies Associate in Science degree program is designed primarily for those individuals whose special interests cannot be accommodated within a Liberal Arts degree program or for those who wish to develop a broader base of knowledge for intellectual stimulation and personal growth. With more open electives and fewer required courses than the Liberal Arts and Sciences degree, the General Studies degree offers greater flexibility for individual interest and needs. This program can also be suitable for transfer to a four-year institution, but more care and guidance in choosing electives will be necessary. Students interested in using the General Studies degree for transfer are advised to check carefully the specific requirements of the institution to which they intend to transfer. With the assistance of an academic advisor, the student may create a program of study suitable either as a foundation to transfer to a four-year college or as preparation for particular self-defined goals.

GENERAL STUDIES CURRICULUM

° Course has a prerequisite. Students should check course description. 
+ It is important to note that no fewer than 61 credits are needed to complete the degree. If the one credit speech option is selected, students must be careful to take two four-credit courses somewhere in the program or take an extra course.
Students who are planning on transferring to a four-year institution should check with their advisors, their future schools, or refer to the Selecting Electives list regarding General Education Requirements.
$ $ First Year Experience course equivalents are Perspectives in Criminal Justice (CJS* K100) and Perspectives in Nursing (NUR* K108).

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:
In selecting courses, each student must fulfill the following requirements:

International/Intercultural Requirement
All degree-seeking students must complete one course which emphasizes a global, cross-cultural or multi-cultural perspective and encourages students to think beyond the boundaries of traditional Western European cultural perspectives.

Courses which satisfy this requirement are:

Oral Communication Requirement
All degree-seeking students must complete one course to develop competency in oral communication; the courses which meet this requirement are:
COM* K109 Speech Practice  1 credit
COM* K173 Public Speaking   3 credits

These requirements do not increase the total number of credits needed to complete the degree; they can be met within the 60-61 credits of the degree program by choosing appropriate electives.

General Studies, Associate Degree Program
Outcomes and Statement of Core Values

Three Rivers Community College is committed to the belief that the best preparation for life, and especially for careers that require specialized training, is a broad acquaintance with human knowledge. The General Studies degree program is designed to give students the opportunity to explore knowledge from multiple perspectives. Students are challenged to become intellectually curious, aesthetically aware and critically perceptive, and to develop their communicative and quantitative skills. Through the study of the natural sciences, the social sciences, and the humanities, the General Studies degree program gives students the flexibility to adapt to the changing needs of the workplace and the foundation necessary for lifelong learning and personal growth.

Students completing the general Studies program will develop the ability to:

                            • think critically and creatively
                            • work collaboratively as well as independently
                            • communicate effectively both in speaking and in writing
                            • reason quantitatively as well as verbally
                            • value artistic expression
                            • move beyond a narrow focus and recognize broader historical,
                             cultural, global and scientific perspectives.
                            • understand and reflect searchingly upon one's values and the
                             values of others.

General education and career education are interactive components. They enrich each other by helping students to make career choices in keeping with their understanding of themselves and their world. Together, they provide the skills and perspectives that make possible the dignity of work and social contribution. They cultivate a framework of meaning, value, ethical purpose and commitment that enrich every aspect of life. They foster an attitude of critical inquiry, curiosity, openness and wonder that enables a spirit of lifelong learning.