The Bergen Community College

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The Bergen Community College
Updated 8/30/06

• General Education Program

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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.pd
f.)
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Also,

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

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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.

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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.

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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.)
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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,
  Womens 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)

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AA Degree Programs
Liberal Arts F 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




No more than 6 credits in any one field
From two fields
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AS DegreePrograms
Sci Math Engineering Prof.
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
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AAS Degree Certificate Programs

• 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

12-18 cr Certificates of Achievement have no Gen
Ed requirements.
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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)

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General Education Course Certification

• at Bergen Community College

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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/GEgoa
  ls_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
.
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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.
Key Characteristics of a GE Course, continued

• 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.

?
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The BCC

• Diversity Course Policy

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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

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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).

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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 ones own
  attitudes, perspectives, and beliefs are shaped
  by ones 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.
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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.
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The BCC Catalog should include text describing
the nature and purpose of the Diversity
Requirement. This text should be consistent with
the Colleges 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 Colleges 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.
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Thats All, Folks!
(for now)