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General Education Outcomes

General Education Learning Goals & Outcomes

Approved April 2015 (Access previous General Education Goals and Outcomes)

General education at Columbus State Community College provides students with a well-rounded educational experience that develops critical thinking skills and a broader knowledge of the larger world around them.

Through a variety of academic disciplines, students develop and refine intellectual virtues like curiosity, open-mindedness, and analytical judgment. Students also explore ideas, concepts, values, beliefs, social institutions, and cultural experiences that build a basis for civic virtues like public mindedness and an appreciation of the varieties of human existence.

Learning Goals Learning Outcomes
1) Critical Thinking a) Recognize, define and analyze a problem.
b) Examine issues by identifying and challenging assumptions and biases, including one’s own, and by distinguishing substantiated fact from opinion or misinformation.
c) Apply learned concepts and knowledge to make decisions relevant to problem solving.
d) Develop problem-solving strategies and evaluate their practical and/or ethical implications.
e) Draw logical, well-supported conclusions by testing them against relevant criteria and standards.
f) Adjust conclusions and viewpoints if new information becomes available.
2) Ethical Reasoning a) Evaluate moral and ethical judgments based on value systems.
b) Develop knowledge of past successes and failures recognizing the impact of individuals and societies at large
c) Demonstrate the ethical and legal use of technology and information obtained from sources
3) Quantitative Skills a) Perform mathematical computations using appropriate methods to arrive at accurate results.
b) Analyze, interpret, and/or formulate inferences from data such as graphs, charts, tables or other quantified data.
4) Scientific Literacy a) Demonstrate an understanding of the scientific methods of discovery, inquiry, analysis and problem solving.
b) Interpret the fit between scientific hypotheses and available data.
c) Differentiate between scientific and non-scientific methods of inquiry.
d) Demonstrate an understanding of science as a way of examining the natural world.
e) Recognize the implications of scientific discovery for society.
5) Technological Competence a) Apply appropriate technologies and devices as tools for creating, researching, organizing, analyzing, and/or communicating information and ideas.
b) Locate, understand, synthesize, and evaluate digital information and data.
c) Demonstrate a comprehension of essential issues related to digital information security.
6) Communication Competence a) Write clearly and effectively in language appropriate to the audience, technology, purpose, and context.
b) Speak clearly and effectively in language appropriate to the audience, technology, purpose, and context.
c) Develop and demonstrate effective processes for composing texts.
d) Listen actively and demonstrate understanding of received information.
e) Demonstrate college-level reading comprehension.
f) Access, evaluate, analyze, and synthesize information from a variety of perspectives, using a variety of sources.
7) Cultural & Social Awareness a) Identify historic, political, cultural, social, environmental, or economic factors that shape contemporary public issues.
b) Recognize the historic and contemporary contributions, perspectives, or identities of diverse groups.
c) Demonstrate knowledge of democratic and civic values.
d) Recognize the impact of an issue at the local, national, and/or global level.
e) Demonstrate an understanding of community and civic responsibility.
8) Professional and Life Skills a) Demonstrate skills needed to fulfill professional and academic standards of punctuality, professional image, self-discipline, teamwork, leadership, responsibility, and personal accountability.
b) Evaluate the impact that choices make in supporting a personal and professional life of meaning and value.
c) Recognize or participate in the artistic, cultural, recreational, educational, and professional activities necessary for success in one’s career or academic discipline.


Previous General Education Goals & Outcomes

Learning Goals General Education Outcomes

Critical Thinking

Critical Thinking Rubric (.doc)

  • Recognizing, analyzing, and defining problems,
  • Developing alternative solutions or strategies and evaluating practical and ethical implications

Effective communication

Effective Communication Rubric (.docx)

  • Receiving information/listening actively with understanding,

Civic & Community Responsibility

Community and Civic Responsibility Rubric (.doc)


Quantitative Literacy

Quantitative Literacy Rubric (.doc)


Scientific & Technological Effectiveness

Scientific and Technological Effectiveness Rubric (.doc)

  • Differentiating between scientific and nonscientific methods of inquiry
  • Integrating technology appropriate to one's vocation or discipline.

Information Literacy

Information Literacy Rubric (.doc)


  • Defining the information needed to accomplish a specific purpose
  • The ethical and legal use of information.