General Education Philosophy and Goals

The faculty of Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College dedicate themselves to preparing Southern’s graduates for the challenges that lie ahead. The following statement and goals describe Southern’s commitment to providing each graduate the skills and knowledge necessary for professional and personal success.

Purpose
The purpose of general education at Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College is to produce generally educated students who contribute to their communities and country. A generally educated student is, by definition, a life long learner with a common academic canon of knowledge, concepts and attitudes.

Philosophy
Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College is committed to providing a general education program to help students develop the qualities and skills associated with college educatedadults. Southern’s general education program promotes the development of independent critical and conceptual thinking skills and those skills necessary for the effective communication of one’s thoughts. Southern’s general education programprovides students with an integrated view of knowledge and prepares them for their role as productive and responsible members of society.

Goals
Southern is committed to providing a general education program that is designed to help students develop qualities and skills associated with college educated adults. Students who have completed the general education requirements of an associate degree will have improved competencies in the following:

• Critical Thinking Skills
  Students will demonstrate their ability to think critically by analyzing and synthesizing material.
• Oral and Written Communications
  Students will demonstrate their oral and written communication skills by reading, writing, and speaking effectively.
• Mathematical Skills/Competencies
  Students will demonstrate their abilities to think mathematically by using problem-solving skills which include: estimation, computation, analysis, assimilation, application, and transference, as well as, implementation of appropriate technology.
• Information and Communication Technology Skills
  Students will demonstrate their information and communication technology skills by using technology, communications tools, and/or networks to access, retrieve, process, and communicate information.
• Scientific Inquiry and Research Skills
  Students will demonstrate their scientific inquiry/reasoning skills by using resources and methods appropriate to the program’s curriculum.
• A Cultural, Artistic, and Global Perspective
  Students will demonstrate their awareness of a cultural/artistic/global perspective by discussing the quality, value, and significance of cultural/artistic artifacts and/or by discussing political, historical, economic, and social issues from a global perspective.