In support of its mission, Johnson College provides all students with industry-focused educational experiences grounded in a general education curriculum that supports critical thinking, makes connections across disciplines, and fosters engagement in the world around them.
The mission of the General Education program and its curriculum at Johnson College is to provide students with skills needed in the real world to develop professional competency through critical thinking and problem solving, written and oral communication, scientific and quantitative reasoning, technological competency and information literacy, and equity and inclusion.
Johnson College is required to provide general education coursework as part of its associate degree program curricular content. General education requirements are completed as part of core career coursework, which may include courses in the student’s major program of study.
Johnson College has identified ten areas for general education curricular content that must be completed as part of all associate degree programs.
- Arts (ART)
- Critical analysis and reasoning (CAR)
- Humanities (HUM)
- Information literacy (IL)
- Mathematics (MAT)
- Oral and written communication (COM)
- Science & scientific and quantitative reasoning (SCI, SQR)
- Social sciences (SOC)
- Technology & technological competency (TECH, TC)
- Values, ethics, and diverse perspectives (VED)
General Education Curriculum Overview
The General Education program aims to develop students’ abilities to lead ethical lives and contribute meaningfully to society. As a key component of the overall college experience, it equips students with essential skills, knowledge, and cultural awareness that support their success in both their academic courses and future careers..
General Education Curriculum Learning Goals
Learning Goal #1: Critical Thinking and Problem Solving – Graduates will think logically and critically by employing reasoning and analysis.
- Graduates will demonstrate the ability to examine opposing sides of arguments and respectfully present one side of the argument as stronger through the use of facts.
- Graduates will evaluate information and ideas in an organized fashion.
- Graduates will develop new ideas, perspectives, and approaches.
- Graduates will utilize information to react to unintended results professionally in order to achieve the desired outcomes.
Learning Goal #2: Written and Oral Communication – Graduates will develop effective written and oral communication skills.
- Graduates will be able to create items that have introductions, bodies, and conclusions.
- Graduates will be able to create thesis statements and topic sentences.
- Graduates will demonstrate the ability to use the appropriate citation formats when necessary.
- Graduates will be able to utilize speaking skills effectively when presenting information to others.
Learning Goal #3: Scientific and Quantitative Reasoning – Graduates will be able to understand and apply fundamental scientific and mathematical principles.
- Graduates will be able apply the scientific method to examine behavior, cognition, or social influences.
- Graduates will be able to utilize scientific inquiry in their fields.
- Graduates will be able to calculate and interpret different types of data.
- Graduates will solve problems using appropriate formulas.
Learning Goal #4: Technological Competency and Information Literacy – Graduates will be able to utilize information technologies to gather information.
- Graduates will be able to operate various functions of course-related software.
- Graduates will be able to utilize various electronic sources to enhance knowledge.
- Graduates will be able to demonstrate ethical use of sources.
Learning Goal #5: Equity and Inclusion – Graduates will demonstrate an understanding of inclusion, ethical standards, and the impact of culture on society.
- Graduates will be able to discuss the basic characteristics of the humanities (including literature, art, music, theater, and cinema) in industry.
- Graduates will be able to explain the nature and impact of social inequality, diversity, and inclusion.
- Graduates will be able to examine how biological, cultural, and environmental interactions influence human behavior and cognition.