General Education Statement, Competencies, and Learning Outcomes
General Education Statement
Broward College values and supports a well-rounded learning experience that empowers students to thrive personally and professionally in diverse communities. Through our general education framework, students acquire and apply knowledge across a wide range of disciplines, thereby expanding their capacity to appreciate, think critically about, and respond to a variety of perspectives and situations.
Broward College has established six competencies that form the foundation of the learning outcomes in our courses. Upon successful completion of the General Education program, students will be able to demonstrate:
- Critical Thinking
- Effective Communication
- Ethical Reasoning
- Information Literacy
- Mathematical and Scientific Reasoning
- Global Awareness
General Education Competencies, Descriptions, & Learning Outcomes
Critical Thinking
Critical thinking is the ability to evaluate information by examining and questioning assumptions, accepting or rejecting claims, or applying logical reasoning.
Learning Outcomes
- Explain questions, problems and/or issues.
- Analyze and interpret relevant information.
- Evaluate information to determine potential conclusions.
- Generate a well-reasoned conclusion.
Effective Communication
Effective communication is the ability to process and exchange ideas and information through verbal, nonverbal, and written means in a clear and understandable manner.
Learning Outcomes
- Communicate with clear language, tone, and voice.
- Provide clear main ideas with organized support.
- Demonstrate audience awareness and engagement.
- Apply non-verbal communication techniques.
- Demonstrate usage of appropriate notation and contextual translation.
Ethical Reasoning
Ethical reasoning is the ability to analyze and evaluate moral issues involving how people should treat themselves, others, and their environment.
Learning Outcomes
- Explain an ethical issue and the extent of its human or environmental impact.
- Evaluate different moral perspectives or concepts.
Information Literacy
Information literacy is the ability to find, retrieve, analyze, and use information.
Learning Outcomes
- Locate and select appropriate resources.
- Use and integrate sources that match research need.
- Incorporate sources with proper formatting and attribution.
Mathematical and Scientific Reasoning
Mathematical and scientific reasoning is the ability to apply scientific or mathematical processes to explore natural phenomena, determine and evaluate relationships, solve problems, and make effective decisions.
Learning Outcomes
- Apply a deductive or inductive approach to inquiry.
- Develop solutions or reach conclusions by applying appropriate problem-solving methods.
- Generate or interpret graphs or charts to model data and understand relationships.
- Construct answers to applied problems using quantitative or qualitative reasoning skills.
Global Awareness
Global awareness is the ability to understand diverse cultures, traditions, and worldviews.
Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate appreciation for individual and cultural differences, and reasons for inclusion.
- Explain how people, as individuals and in society, may affect other persons, cultures, animals, or the environment.
- Explain two or more different ideologies or perspectives.
Each General Education course should align to at least one learning outcome of each competency to which that course maps on the General Education Assessment Map.
Pursuant to Florida Statute 1007.25(4), all students initially entering a public postsecondary institution in the 2022-23 academic year (fall 2022) and thereafter and enroll in general education core courses are eligible for the awarding of a digital badge. For information on the general education badges, visit Broward College Digital badges.
The College offers four different types of degrees. These are Associate in Arts (AA), Associate of Science (AS), Associate of Applied Science (AAS), and Baccalaureate degrees (BAS, BS, and BSN). Different degrees have different General Education requirements based upon:
- Florida Statutes, Chapters 1001.02, 1007.23, 1007.25
- State Board of Education Rules 6A-14.030 and 6A-10.024
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools – Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) Principles of Accreditation 8.2.b and 9.3
- Broward College’s Policy 6Hx2-4.22
For AA degrees, Broward College requires a total of 36 credits of General Education coursework in five areas – Communication, Humanities, Social/Behavioral Sciences, Biological/Physical Sciences, and Mathematics. Specific information follows in the next section.
For AS degrees, Broward College requires 18 credits of General Education coursework in the five areas - Communication, Humanities, Social/Behavioral Sciences, Biological/Physical Sciences, and Mathematics. Specific information follows in the next section and on the individual program of study pages.
For AAS degrees, Broward College requires 18 credits of General Education coursework in four areas – Communication, Humanities, Social/Behavioral Sciences, Mathematics, and Science. Specific information follows in the next section and on the individual program of study pages.
For Baccalaureate degrees, Broward College requires a total of 36 credits of General Education coursework in five areas – Communication, Humanities, Social/Behavioral Sciences, Biological/Physical Sciences, and Mathematics. Specific information follows in the next section and on individual program of study pages.
Assessment is central to the success of all students at Broward College. Our degree programs are assessed on a consistent basis. The data generated from our assessment process guides college-wide efforts to continually improve the learning experience of all of our students. For more information on Assessment at Broward College, please contact the District Director of Teaching, Learning, and Assessment. The requirements shown here are valid beginning Fall 2021 and may not reflect degree requirements for current students. Current students should visit My BC and, under Advising, refer to the Interactive Degree Audit to see specific degree requirements for their effective term.