General Education

General education at Columbia College is an essential part of every student¡s program of study. General education explores and promotes understanding of the interrelationship among the liberal arts and sciences including the arts, history, humanities, mathematics, and the natural, social and behavioral, and computer sciences. General education provides a foundation for the student to pursue lifelong learning and involved citizenship in the human community.

These studies broaden and deepen understanding of the world through free and critical inquiry. A general education encourages creativity and the discovery, acquisition, and application of knowledge in the pursuit of excellence.

Arts

The study of the arts examines the ways in which individuals have expressed themselves creatively. Critical appreciation for content and form enriches how one perceives and articulates experience.

History

The study of history provides knowledge about the past and enriches cultural understanding. Understanding people, places and events through time informs a sense of continuity and change.

Humanities

Through the humanities, students develop rigorous thinking about, understanding of and appreciation for significant forms of human communication and expression. English, foreign language, communication, music, philosophy, and religious studies expands students¡ awareness of the world around them, past and present. The humanities offer students a basis for understanding the human condition and human experience of values, beliefs and intellectual endeavors.

Mathematics

The study of mathematics develops facility for critical thought, introduces a universal language that is the foundation for multiple disciplines and encourages clarity and succinctness of expression.

Natural Sciences

Natural sciences link experiment and observation with the practices of mathematics for the interpretation of natural phenomena. Through general introductions and laboratory experiences in astronomy, biology, chemistry, geology and physics, the achievements of these disciplines foster an awareness and understanding of the world and universe in which the individual lives.

Social and Behavioral Sciences

The study of the social and behavioral sciences includes the fields of economics, geography, political science, psychology, anthropology, and sociology. These disciplines present contemporary methodological and conceptual models for assessing, constructing, maintaining and altering individual and social processes.

Computer Science

The study of computer science exposes students to technology that is increasingly part of the human experience. The interconnectedness of the world necessitates informed consideration of computer use and an understanding of its capabilities and limitations.

At Columbia College teaching and learning come together to create diverse educational experiences, opportunities for responsible reflection, intellectual growth, intensive writing, critical thinking and cultural awareness. Taken together these attributes help define a Columbia College student.

Basic Studies

Basic studies courses serve the student by supplying critical-thinking skills, knowledge and techniques that enhance and enrich subsequent coursework. They provide necessary preparation for success in whatever area of study the student chooses. Students must:

1. complete all basic studies courses in the first 60 hours; and
2. be continuously enrolled in an English composition or math course until ENGL 112 and MATH 150 or higher level math course have been successfully completed.

Introductory Studies

Introductory studies provide the student a varied and rich learning experience that is the essence of a liberal arts and sciences education. These courses provide a foundation for advanced studies regardless of major. Students who begin their studies at Columbia College or who transfer to Columbia College with 36 or fewer hours from other institutions will complete the preferred program of study. Students who transfer to Columbia College with more than 36 hours at the time of initial transfer may elect to pursue either the preferred program of study or the optional program of study. Students who complete the preferred program will have that accomplishment noted on their transcripts, ÀIn partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree, this student completed a classical program of general education study.”

Classical Program of Study

Students must select two courses, with a minimum of six hours, from each of the following areas.

History
	HIST 101	Western Civilization I
	HIST 102	Western Civilization II
	HIST 121	American History to 1877
	HIST 122	American History since 1877
Arts and Humanities
	ARTS 105	Art Appreciation
	ARTS 111	Art and Ideas I
	ARTS 112	Art and Ideas II
	COMM 203	Understanding Human Communication
	COMM 213	Arts and Cultures of Our World
	ENGL 123	Introduction to Mythology and Folklore
	ENGL 210	Introduction to Fiction
	ENGL 211	Introduction to Poetry
	ENGL 212	Introduction to Drama
	ENGL 231	English Literature I
	ENGL 232	English Literature II
	ENGL 241	American Literature I
	ENGL 242	American Literature II
	ENGL 263	World Literature I
	ENGL 264	World Literature II
	MUSI 122	Music Appreciation
	PHIL 201	Introduction to Western Philosophy
	PHIL 202	Introduction to Eastern Philosophies and Religions
	PHIL 210	Logic
	RELI 101	Religion and Human Experience
	RELI 202	Introduction to Eastern Philosophies and Religions
	SPAN 101	Beginning Conver. Spanish I (5)
	SPAN 102	Beginning Conver. Spanish II (5) or other approved foreign language
Natural Sciences and Mathematics
	Students may elect to take two science courses or one science and one math course to satisfy the Natural Sciences and Mathematics portion of the requirement.
	ASTR 108	Introduction to Astronomy
	BIOL 110	Principles of Biology
	BIOL 110L	Biology Laboratory (2)
	BIOL 115	Intro. to Environmental Science
	BIOL 115L	Intro. to Environmental Science Laboratory (2)
	CHEM 108	Physical Science Survey
	CHEM 108L	Physical Science Survey Lab (2)
	CHEM 110	Chemistry I
	CHEM 110L	Chemistry I Laboratory (2)
	ENVS 115	Intro. to Environmental Science
	ENVS 115L	Intro. to Environmental Science Laboratory (2)
	GEOL 110	Introduction to Geology (5)
	MATH 201	Calculus & Analytical Geometry (5)
	MATH 250	Statistics I
	PHYS 108	Physical Science Survey
	PHYS 108L	Physical Science Survey Lab (2)
	PHYS 111	College Physics I
	PHYS 111L	Physics I Laboratory (2)
Social and Behavioral Sciences
	ECON 293	Macroeconomics
	ECON 294	Microeconomics
	GEOG 101	Introduction to Geography
	POSC 111	American National Government
	PSYC 101	General Psychology
	SOCI 111	General Sociology
	SOCI 112	General Anthropology
		23-32 hrs
Ethics
	Every student who graduates from Columbia College must complete an ethics course, either PHIL 330, Ethics, or an approved Departmental ethics course in the student's major.
	PHIL 330	Ethics or approved Departmental ethics course
		3 hrs
		38-47 hrs

Optional Program of Study for Qualifying Transfer Students

Qualifying students are those who transfer more than 36 hours when they first enroll at Columbia College.

Ethics Course Requirement

All students may take PHIL 330 Ethics to satisfy the ethics course general education requirement. The courses listed below are additional courses that satisfy requirement for specialized majors.

Business Administration Majors:

MGMT 368 Business Ethics

Criminal Justice Administration Majors:

CJAD 345 Ethics and Morality in Criminal Justice

Education Majors:

EDUC 200 Law, Ethics and Education

Forensic Science Majors:

CJAD 345 Ethics and Morality in Criminal Justice

General Education Courses By Discipline

Following is the list of courses that meet associate and baccalaureate degree general education requirements, by discipline. Some courses have prerequisites.

Art (ARTS)
	ARTS 105	Art Appreciation
	ARTS 111	Art and Ideas I
	ARTS 112	Art and Ideas II
Astronomy (ASTR)
	ASTR 108	Introduction to Astronomy
Biology (BIOL)
	BIOL 110	Principles of Biology
	BIOL 110L	Biology Laboratory (when taken prior to or with BIOL 110)
	BIOL 115	Introduction to Environmental Science
	BIOL 115L	Introduction to Environmental Science Laboratory
Chemistry (CHEM)
	CHEM 108	Physical Science Survey
	CHEM 108L	Physical Science Survey Laboratory
	CHEM 110	Chemistry I
	CHEM 110L	Chemistry I Laboratory
Communication (COMM)
	COMM 110	Introduction to Speech
	COMM 203	Understanding Human Communication
	COMM 213	Arts and Cultures of Our World
Computer Information Systems (CISS)
	CISS 170	Introduction to Computer Information Systems
Economics (ECON)
	ECON 293	Macroeconomics
	ECON 294	Microeconomics
English (ENGL)
	ENGL 112	English Composition II
	ENGL 123	Introduction to Mythology and Folklore
	ENGL 210	Introduction to Fiction
	ENGL 211	Introduction to Poetry
	ENGL 212	Introduction to Drama
	ENGL 231	English Literature I
	ENGL 232	English Literature II
	ENGL 241	American Literature I
	ENGL 242	American Literature II
	ENGL 263	World Literature I
	ENGL 264	World Literature II
	ENGL 331	Ethical Issues in Literature
Environmental Studies (ENVS)
	ENVS 115	Introduction to Environmental Science
	ENVS 115L	Introduction to Environmental Science Laboratory (when taken prior/with ENVS 115)
Geography (GEOG)
	GEOG 101	Introduction to Geography
Geology (GEOL)
	GEOL 110	Introduction to Geology: Physical and Historical Geology
History (HIST)
	HIST 101	Western Civilization I
	HIST 102	Western Civilization II
	HIST 121	American History to 1877
	HIST 122	American History since 1877
Mathematics (MATH)
	MATH 150	College Algebra
	MATH 170	Finite Mathematics
	MATH 180	Precalculus
	MATH 201	Calculus and Analytic Geometry I
	MATH 250	Statistics I
Music (MUSI)
	MUSI 122	Music Appreciation
Philosophy (PHIL)
	PHIL 201	Introduction to Western Philosophy
	PHIL 202	Intro. to Eastern Philosophies & Religions
	PHIL 210	Logic
	PHIL 330	Ethics
Physics (PHYS)
	PHYS 108	Physical Science Survey
	PHYS 108L	Physical Science Survey Laboratory
	PHYS 111	College Physics I
	PHYS 111L	Physics I Laboratory
Political Science (POSC)
	POSC 111	American National Government
Psychology (PSYC)
	PSYC 101	General Psychology
Religious Studies (RELI)
	RELI 101	Religion and Human Experience
	RELI 202	Intro. to Eastern Philosophies & Religions
Sociology (SOCI)
	SOCI 111	General Sociology
	SOCI 112	General Anthropology
Spanish (SPAN)
	SPAN 101	Beginning Conversational Spanish I
	SPAN 102	Beginning Conversational Spanish II

English Composition Requirement

Students must fulfill requirements for ENGL 111 and ENGL 112 by the time they have completed 60 semester hours of course work with Columbia College. Full-time day students must enroll in the appropriate English course (ENGL 107, 111, or 112) each semester until they have completed the requirement with grades of C or better. Withdrawal of full-time students from any English composition course may be initiated only by the instructor. (Note: Withdrawal policy does not apply to evening students.)

Entering full-time students with no transfer credit in English composition write a diagnostic essay that is scored by the English faculty to determine placement in ENGL 107 Developmental English Composition; ENGL 111 English Composition I; or ENGL 112 English Composition II. Students placed in ENGL 112 who successfully complete the course on their first attempt with a grade of C or higher receive six hours of English composition credit.

If students enroll at Columbia College with more than 30 semester hours of approved transfer credit but have not yet earned credit for ENGL 111 or ENGL 112, they must fulfill requirements and receive credit for these two courses during the next 24 semester hours of course work.

If full-time students fail to meet the English composition requirement, they will not be permitted to enroll in any other Columbia College course unless, at the same time, they are enrolled in or complete credit for ENGL 111 or ENGL 112, as appropriate.

The chair of the Humanities Department may recommend that the Vice President and Dean for Academic Affairs issue waivers or grant other relief from this policy when students are judged unable to meet the English composition requirements due to extenuating circumstances.

CISS 170 Test Out

The Computer and Mathematical Sciences Department offers an exam for those students who believe that prior experience or education has provided them with a body of knowledge equivalent to that obtained from CISS 170 Introduction to Computer Information Systems. The exam consists of three parts:

1. General Computer Knowledge
2. Demonstration of Basic Word Processing Skills
3. Demonstration of Basic Spreadsheet Skills

The exam requires students to be familiar with and use Windows 2000 and Microsoft Office 2000.

The two hour exam requires that time be scheduled on a computer and must be proctored. Students wishing to take the test should, after making appropriate application, contact the Chair of the Computer and Mathematical Sciences Department to schedule a time and date for testing. A $300 fee will be assessed. Students passing the exam receive 3 semester hours of credit for CISS 170.