General Education Program
Purpose Statement
Chesapeake College's vision is to prepare students as independent learners who are intellectually competent, technologically proficient, skilled in the application of learning, and who share the values and common goals of our civic culture. In an effort to enrich students' growth and preparation for life, the Chesapeake College faculty formulated General Education Program requirements, which represent a core curriculum for all associate degree-seeking students.
Program Goals
The goals of the Program are to provide students with:
- the awareness of the challenges of a modern, technological society;
- the skills to express themselves clearly and creatively;
- the ability to interpret and analyze information, to solve problems, and to compute mathematically;
- an appreciation of the nature, value, and diversity of cultures.
Program Objectives
These courses are designed to present recognized academic content and provide the student with the skills and knowledge to:
- communicate in oral and written English.
- read with comprehension.
- think critically.
- reason abstractly.
- understand and interpret numerical data.
- understand the scientific method.
- recognize and appreciate cultural diversity.
- appreciate the nature and value of the fine and performing arts.
- use bibliographical resources.
- enhance lifelong learning.
Limited Distribution Core Requirements
| Categories & Eligible Courses | AA/AS Degree | AAS Degree |
| Arts & Humanities | 9 Credits | 6 Credits |
| ART 101 Introduction to Art | ENG 102 COM 101 or COM 150 plus three credits | COM 101 or COM 150 plus three credits |
| DRM 172 Introduction to Theatre | ||
| ENG 102 Introduction to Literature | ||
| FLM 240 The Art of Film | ||
| HUM 101 Introduction to Humanities | ||
| HUM 110 Integrated Arts | ||
| MUS 101 Introduction to Music | ||
| COM 101 Fund. of Oral Communication | ||
| COM 150 Fund. of Organizational Communication | ||
| English Composition | 3 Credits | 3 Credits |
| ENG 101 Composition | ENG 101 | ENG 101 |
| Social/Behavioral Sciences | 6 Credits | 6 Credits |
| ANT 142 Cultural Anthropology | Must be taken from two disciplines | Must be taken from two disciplines |
| ECN 171 Principles of Macroeconomics | ||
| ECN 172 Principles of Microeconomics | ||
| GEO 142 Cultural Geography | ||
| HIS 101 U.S. History I | ||
| HIS 102 U.S. History II | ||
| HIS 121 Western Civilization I | ||
| HIS 122 Western Civilization II | ||
| HIS 131 World Civilization I | ||
| HIS 132 World Civilization II | ||
| POL 180 U.S. Federal Government | ||
| POL 181 State & Local Government | ||
| SOC 161 Sociology | ||
| SOC 162 Social Problems | ||
| Mathematics | 3 Credits | 3 Credits |
| MAT 110 Finite Mathematics | ||
| MAT 113 College Algebra | ||
| MAT 115 Precalculus | ||
| MAT 140 Calculus & Analytic Geometry I | ||
| MAT 200 Fundamentals of Mathematics | ||
| MAT 204 Introduction to Statistics | ||
| BIO/Natural Sciences | 8 Credits | 4 Credits |
| BIO 101 Fundamentals of Biology | At least one lab science | One lab science |
| BIO 111 Principles of Biology I | ||
| CHM 121 General Chemistry I | ||
| PHY 205 College Physics I | ||
| PHY 215 General Physics I | ||
| SCI 110 Introduction to Astronomy | ||
| SCI 111 Physical Geology | ||
| SCI 141 Physical Science | ||
| SCI 142 Earth Science | ||
| Interdisciplinary/Emerging Issues | 6 Credits | 3 Credits |
| IDC 201 The Nature of Knowledge | IDC 201 | PED 103 |
| PED 103 Fitness and Wellness | PED 103 | |
| Institutional Requirements | 1 Credits | 1 Credits |
| FSC 101 Freshman Seminar Course | FSC 101 | FSC 101 |
| Total Required Credits: | 36 Credits | 26 Credits |
State General Education
Student Transfer Policy
[See Student Transfer Policies - Appendix 1.]
While each college has the autonomy to design a General Education Program to meet the unique needs and mission of the institution, the State of Maryland has adopted regulations establishing common standards for general education courses. The regulations also guarantee transfer of these courses and their application to the General Education Program of the receiving institution. Under the policy, community colleges may require no more than 36 hours of general education credit for Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degree programs. Receiving institutions may require no more than 46 credits of upper- and lower-level general education courses, including any institutional requirements. The regulations also mandate that general education requirements successfully completed at the sending institution would be accepted as meeting the general education requirements of the receiving institution within the State without further review or course-by-course match.
A student who has successfully completed any part of the 36 lower-division general education credits at a public college or university shall receive lower-division general education credits for those courses at any public institution to which the student transfers.
Chesapeake College requires a minimum of 36 general education credits for its Associate of Arts and Associate of Science transfer degree programs. The College requires a minimum of 26 general education credits for its Associate of Applied Science career programs. The courses which are eligible for meeting these standards in both the career and transfer degree programs are listed in the Limited Distribution Core Requirements.