Office of Institutional Research. Spring 2009 Grades in Courses Related to General Education Degree Requirements and Core Competencies

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1 Office of Institutional Research Spring 2009 Grades in Courses Related to General Education Degree Requirements and Core Competencies IR Report # 195 November

2 . General Education A description of the College s program of General Education states all students who graduate with an Associate s Degree from Community College of Philadelphia shall be required to a) complete courses in humanities, the social sciences, mathematics, and the natural sciences, b) complete courses in designated essential reasoning and writing skills, c) be introduced to a variety of cultural perspectives central to both a democratic society and to the world, and d) attain technological competency and information literacy. 1 The following General Education Degree Requirements information appears in the CCP Catalog for General Education Degree Requirements The College is committed to providing all graduates of its associate degree programs with exposure to a breadth of traditional arts and science disciplines as well as competence in information literacy and technological competency. In order to provide students with a foundation for lifelong learning, the College expects that students will complete courses in the following four areas: 1. Courses in Major Areas of Learning English 101 and English 102 or English 112 Three credit hours in Social Sciences Three credit hours in Mathematics (at Math 118 or above) Three credit hours in Natural Sciences Three credit hours in Humanities (English 101, English 102, and English 112 may not be used to fulfill this requirement) 2. Courses in Major Academic Approaches Three credit hours in a Writing Intensive Course Three credit hours in an Interpretive Studies Course Three credit hours in an American Diversity/Global Diversity Studies Course. 1 The General Education Plan ( ) 2

3 3. Information Literacy The current information literacy requirement is met by English Technological competency The current technological competency requirement is met by CIS 103 or by coursework as indicated on the program page. The Catalog for identifies courses that fulfill specific requirements for these general education requirements. This IR report contains distributions of grades awarded at the end of the spring 2009 semester in the courses that represent these general education dimensions. Final grades were grouped into three categories: 1) successful (A, B, C); 2) unsuccessful (D, F); and withdrawals (W). Table 1 contains a summary of the grades that were awarded in courses that meet requirements for the five Major Areas of Learning. Students enrolled during the Spring 2009 semester were most successful in courses that fulfilled the Social Science requirement. Greater levels of successful course outcomes were also associated with the Natural Sciences and Humanities learning areas. Students were much less successful in courses that fulfilled requirements in the Mathematics learning area. Table 2 contains a summary of the grades that were awarded in courses that meet requirements for the three Major Academic Approaches. Data on the Information Literacy and Technological Competency requirements also appear in Table 2. Students enrolled during the Spring 2009 semester were most successful in courses that fulfilled the Writing Intensive requirement. Greater levels of successful course outcomes were also associated with the American/Global Diversity and Interpretive Studies academic approaches areas; and courses related to Technological Competency. Students were much less successful in fulfilling requirements for Information Literacy. In general, students were more successful in courses related to Major Academic Approaches than those associated with the Major Areas of Learning. 3

4 Table 1 Spring 2009 Grade Distribution in Courses that Fulfill General Education Requirements Related to Major Areas of Learning % of Grades Awarded English Mathematics Natural Science Social Science Humanities General Education Requirement-Major Area of Learning A,B,C D,F W Table 2 Spring 2009 Grade Distribution in Courses that Fulfill General Education Requirements Related to Academic Approaches % of Grades Awarde Technological Competency Information Literacy American/ Global Diversity Interpretive Studies General Education Requirement - Academic Approaches A,B,C D,F W Writing Intensive 4

5 Core Competencies Five core competencies that frame the learning environment encompassing the overall goals of general education and program/discipline curricula, at CCP have been established. 2 These core competencies include: Information and Technological Literacy: Students will be able to retrieve, organize, analyze, and evaluate information using both technological and traditional means. Effective Communication: Students will read, write, speak, and listen effectively. Critical Thinking: Students will actively reflect on, reason about, and form independent judgments on a variety of ideas and information, and use these skills to guide their beliefs and actions. Quantitative and Scientific Reasoning: Students will demonstrate an understanding of mathematical and scientific principles and apply them to theoretical and practical issues. Responsible Citizenship: Students will demonstrate an awareness of the responsibilities of informed citizenship in a diverse and pluralistic society through service to others, and will demonstrate cultural and global awareness. Table 3 contains a summary of the grades that were awarded in courses that support these five Core Competencies. Students enrolled during the Spring 2009 semester were consistently successful in courses that supported the development of four core competencies related to Responsible Citizenship; Effective Communication; Critical Thinking; and Information and Technological Literacy. Students were much less successful in courses associated with the Quantitative and Scientific Reasoning competency. 2 CCP Learning Outcomes Assessment Model ( 5

6 100.0 Table 3 Spring 2009 Grade Distribution in Courses that Fulfill Core Competenceis % of Grades Awarde Effective Communication Information and Technological Literacy Critical Thinking Quantitative and Scientific Reasoning Responsible Citizenship Core Competency A,B,C D,F W 6