General Education

The Value of General Education

The Pima Community College general education philosophy is based on the belief that all students of higher learning will attain a common core of knowledge that transforms them from college applicants to college-educated citizens, who adapt personally, professionally, and socially to a fluid global culture and who value lifelong learning and civic responsibility. The general education program provides a foundation in the following, upon which further studies can be undertaken successfully:

Communication - Effectively communicate information, ideas and/or arguments appropriate to the audience and purpose.
Critical and Creative Thinking - Identify and investigate problems and develop creative, practical, and ethical solutions by evaluating information and using appropriate methods of reasoning.
Quantitative and Scientific Literacy and Analysis - Use mathematical and scientific processes, procedures, data, or evidence to solve problems.
Information Literacy - Locate, evaluate, and use information from diverse sources in an effective and ethical manner.
Diverse Cultural, Historical, and Global Perspectives - Demonstrate understanding of the values and influence of diverse cultural, historical, and global perspectives.

General Education Requirements by Degree

The following list shows the minimum General Education credits needed for each type of degree program offered at Pima Community College. When considering which type of program is best for you, please note that if you intend to transfer to a university to complete a Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), or Bachelor of Science (BS), then the Associate of Arts (AA), Associate of Business Administration (ABUS), Associate of Fine Arts (AFA), and the Associate of Science (AS) are the degrees designed for that purpose. The Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degrees require different General Education courses.
A student who provides transcripts documenting an earned bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution will have the general education requirements waived for an associate’s degree as long as the student has a minimum of 60 credits applicable toward the degree, and has met all other graduation requirements. Any degree requirements which would apply toward both the prerequisite, major or support course requirements as well as general education requirements would still need to be met. If the student is pursuing a transfer degree, the degree would be awarded and the general education requirements would be waived, but the Arizona General Education Requirement (AGEC) certification would not be awarded.

Transfer Degrees
Minimum General Education Credits Needed

Associate of Arts (AA) 35
Associate of Fine Arts (AFA) 35
Associate of Business Administration (ABUS) 35
Associate of Science (AS) 35

Career and Technical Education Degrees*
General Education Credits Needed

Associate of Applied Science (AAS) 15

* While AAS Degrees do not generally transfer, some may transfer to Bachelor of Applied Science Degrees. See an advisor.

General Education Requirements for Career and Technical Education Programs and the Associate of General Studies

This section covers the General Education requirements for the following degrees:

Associate of Applied Science Degree (AAS)
Associate of General Studies Degree (AGS)

Courses may not be used to complete more than one category.
Minimum Credit Hours

Communication Requirement 3
Arts & Humanities Requirement 3
Social & Behavioral Sciences Requirement 3
Mathematics or Science Requirement* 3
Other Requirement 3

Total General Education Credits Required 15

*The Mathematics Competency must be met

Note: Some programs require specific courses for general education. See program displays.

Special Requirement
One course from the above categories must meet either Cultural Diversity or Global Awareness criteria (C or G designation) from the Arizona General Education Curriculum (AGEC) lists .
Please see the General Education Courses page to view lists of courses that meet the categories below.

Communication Requirement (3 credits)

WRT 101†, WRT 102, WRT 154, or GTW 101
Arts and Humanities Requirement (3 credits)
Any course from the AGEC Art list
Any course from the AGEC Humanities List
Any course from the AGEC Other Requirements Options: (c) Second Language list

Social and Behavioral Sciences Requirement (3 credits)

Any course from the AGEC Social and Behavioral Sciences list
Any course from the AGEC Other Requirement Options: (d)
International and Multicultural Studies list

Science or Mathematics Requirement (3 credits)
Note: The Mathematics Competency must be met

Mathematics Category

Any course from the AGEC Mathematics List***
Any 3 credit or greater mathematics (MAT) course at the 100 level or higher
BUS 151 (if taken after Spring 2008)
GTM 105

Math Competency
The math competency can be met by any one of the following:

Completing one of the courses from the Mathematics Category listed above with a “C” or better
Any of the following cut scores on a Mathematics placement test
1. 85 or higher on the Accuplacer Elementary Math
2. 41 or higher on the Accuplacer College Level Math
3. 250 or higher on the Next Generation Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra, and Statistics
4. 225 or higher on the Next Generation Advanced Algebra and Functions
In some cases, test scores from previous placement tests may be used to meet the math competency.
Completing MAT 092 , MAT 095 or MAT 097 with a “C” or better **

Note:

** Credits earned in MAT 092 , MAT 095, MAT 097 WILL NOT apply to general education credits, but completing one of these courses does meet the Math Competency.

*** Suggested for students who may transfer.

Other Requirement (See Program Display to determine which course is required for your program of study) (3 credits)
Additional Communication: CMN 102†, CMN 120†, JRN 101, WRT 102 or Communication courses from the above category.
Additional Arts, Humanities, Social Behavioral Sciences, Science, or Mathematics from the above categories
Computer Literacy: CIS 104 or CIS 120

General Education Requirements for Transfer Programs
This section covers the General Education requirements for the following degrees:

Associate of Arts Degree (AA)
Associate of Fine Arts (AFA)
Associate of Business Administration Degree (ABUS)
Associate of Science Degree (AS)
Arizona General Education Curriculum (AGEC)****

****The AGEC is a block of 35 or more credits and 11 or more courses that, when completed, can be transferred to meet all lower-division General Education requirements for bachelor’s degrees at Arizona’s public universities (Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, and the University of Arizona). The AGEC may also meet other universities’ General Education program requirements. At least six credits of AGEC coursework must be completed at Pima Community College to earn an AGEC at Pima. See an advisor or counselor for more information.

There are three AGECs available: the AGEC-A, the AGEC-B, and the AGEC-S.

Arizona General Education Curriculum-A (AGEC-A)

The AGEC-A applies toward PCC’s Associate of Arts and Associate of Fine Arts, and toward universities’ Bachelor of Arts or Fine Arts degree programs. Follow the Semester Pathway for your Program of study. See an advisor or counselor to establish a degree plan using a university transfer guide. See the Liberal Arts Associate of Arts Degree for Transfer in this catalog for more information on the choice of major.

Arizona General Education Curriculum-B (AGEC-B)

The AGEC-B applies toward PCC’s Associate of Business and toward universities’ business administration degree programs. Follow the Semester Pathway for your Program of study. See an advisor or counselor to establish a degree plan using a university transfer guide. Also, an AGEC-B fulfills the requirements for an AGEC-A

Arizona General Education Curriculum-S (AGEC-S)

The AGEC-S applies toward PCC’s Associate of Science, and toward universities’ Bachelor of Science degree programs. Follow the Semester Pathway for your Program of study. See an advisor or counselor to establish a degree plan using a university transfer guide. Also, an AGEC-S fulfills the requirements for an AGEC-A.

Note: If the AGEC is not completed before a student transfers to another community college or university:

The student cannot complete an AA, AFA, ABUS, or AS degree.
The student may be required to take additional general education courses at the college or university.
The credits will be evaluated individually by the college or university using the Course Equivalency Guide and accepted depending on the degree requirements

AGEC Categorical Requirements
The same course may not be used to complete more than one category, but it may meet both a category requirement and a Special Requirement. Per Arizona statewide policies, no course substitutions are allowed in the AGEC.