General Studies (A.A.)

Overview

The Associate of Arts in General Studies at THEARC program provides an interdisciplinary approach to academic learning. Pursuit of the A.A. in General Studies provides students with the opportunity to attain skills and knowledge at the intersection of different academic disciplines in an integrated, coherent program of study. General studies students develop well-trained minds while honing critical thinking and writing skills. General Studies students also enjoy the flexibility to choose focal areas according to their interests and experience. An associate’s degree in General Studies prepares students for many post-degree paths, including employment in the helping professions, human resources, public relations, public policy, and government related fields as well as post graduate degrees in these areas or in general studies, law or business.

All degree programs at THEARC are designed to meet the specific needs of working professionals who balance career, family, and other commitments.  Due to the work/life balance, students attending part-time (2 classes per semester), may complete any associate of arts degree in 3 ½ years.  With increased performance, students may take additional classes and complete requirements sooner.

Students who graduate with an associate’s degree from Trinity at THEARC may pursue a bachelor’s degree from one of the many degree programs offered in SPS at the University’s main campus.

Degree Requirements

Associate of Art’s degree programs at THEARC consist of a ‘core curriculum’ and ‘major degree’ classes.

Core Curriculum

The Associate of Arts degree programs at THEARC require students to fulfill a general studies core (11 general education courses).  All students must take courses in each of the following areas:[catalog-courses]

Skills for Life and Work

• Writing (3 credits):
  • ENGL 106 Writing for Academic & Profess. SuccessFocuses on planning, writing, and revising compositions for academic and professional purposes, including informational, analytical, evaluative, and persuasive compositions. Develops skills in accessing, evaluating, using, and documenting informational sources. Introduces students to professional writing applications, including memos, resumes, and reports. This course is only open to students in the Associate's Degree program. No other students are allowed to register.
• Communication (6 credits):
  • COM 101 Introduction to Comm. & Public SpeakingStudies principles of communication, with an emphasis on developing the skills needed to communicate effectively in personal and professional relationships, and in informative and persuasive public speaking contexts. This course is only open to students in the Associate's Degree program. No other students are allowed to register.
  • COM 224 Cross-Cultural CommunicationCross-cultural Communication examines basic principles of communication in multi-cultural contexts. Students will analyze the impact of cultural assumptions and values on understanding and communication between individuals and among communities.
    
    This course is only open to students in the Associate's Degreee Program. No other students are allowed to register for this class.
    3 credits
• Numeracy (3 credits):
  • MATH 111 Applied Mathematical SkillsCovers basic algebra with an emphasis on problem solving skills; elementary mathematical modeling, focusing on applications to real world phenomena; probability theory and applications; and introduction to the use of statistics to describe and analyze data.
    3 credits
• Information Literacy (3 credits)
  • INT 117 Introduction to Information LiteracyIn order to be successful in both the academic and professional realm, a student must be able to discover, retrieve, evaluate, manage and communicate all forms of information. The purpose of this course is to help students learn the importance of the internet as a research tool and to enable students to evaluate the quality of information and understand how information is to be used in a way that supports critical thinking and communication of thoughts, ideas, and/or opinions. This course will also give students a clear understanding of the ethical and legal issues surrounding the use of information.
    
    This course is only open to students in the Associate's Degree program. Formerly ISYS 102.

Understanding Self, Society, and Nature

• Arts & Humanities (6 credits chosen):
  • HIS 134 American CivilizationThis course will examine the major developments in American history to 1877 (discovery, colonization, American Revolution, establishment of the Constitution, westward expansion, the role of ethnic minorities and women, Civil War, and Reconstruction). Students will be able to describe key historical terms and theories in American History and demonstrate knowledge of these theories clearly in both written and oral communication; analyze the role of state and federal government and the rights of citizens in terms of the U.S. Constitution; critically evaluate how historians and others have interpreted the American past; analyze various perspectives and interpretations of historical issues and events; identify and explain chronological relationships and cause and effect relationships in history; and evaluate contemporary problems/issues in terms of historical perspectives.
    3 credits
    This course is only open to students in the Associate's Degree Program at THEARC. No other students are allowed to register.
    Prerequisites: None
• Social Sciences (9 credits chosen):
  • PSYC 100 Fundamentals of PsychologyIntroduces students to the primary concepts of psychology, and to the tools of psychologists use to study the wide variety of human behavior. Provides a general overview of the fields of psychology through lectures, readings, shsort thought papers, and interactive class activities. The course surveys several major topic areas: the biology of behavior, learning, memory, conciousness, personality, and abnormal behavior. Students will learn to critically evaluate the state of knowledge in the field, particularly as it applies to a higly diverse society as or own.
  • SOCY 101 Social IssuesExamines contemporary social issues in the United States using current sociological approaches and theories. Topics include poverty, racism and sexual discrimination, health care, aging, violence, family and community structures, and substance abuse. This course is open only to students in the Associate's Degree program. No other students are allowed to register.
    3 credits
• Scientific Understanding (3 credits):
  • ENVS 102 Science of the EnvironmentIntroduces non-science majors to evolution, earth science, and plate tectonics with an emphasis on the mid-Atlantic region. Labs include use of the scientific method, development of observational skills, computer-assisted learning, and several field trips. There is an additional laboratory fee for this course. Formerly ENV 101 Discovering Planet Earth.
    
    This course is only open to students in the Associate Degree Program.
• Ethics (6 credits):
  • PHIL 252 Practical EthicsDevelops students' abilities to handle problematic ethical situations in their lives and work, and to come up with constructive responses to ethical dilemmas. The course will build skills in respectful, open dialogue about values and ethics. It will also increase students' awareness of and responsiveness to diverse values, including an understanding of tensions between values as well as the importance of seeking common ethical ground. This course is open only to students in the Associate in Arts program.
    3 credits
  • PHIL 101 Logic and Problem SolvingDevelops skills in reasoning and use of logic to assess arguments. Provides tools for creative and critical thinking. Emphasizes the enhancement of decision-making and problem-solving capabilities. This course is only open to students in the Associate's Degree program. No other students are allowed to register.
    3 credits

General Studies Degree Core

Students in the General Studies Associate of Arts program take the following classes in their major:

• INT 113 Academic AchievementIntroduces students to the concepts and practices associated with a successful college experience.
  
  Students are taught skills that will lead to self-management and self-responsibility in terms of their academic success.
  
  The course will familarize students with Trinity's policies and procedures, academic services and student services. Students will be assisted in the transition to college with emphasis placed on the adult learner. Topics covered will include: returning to college, balancing work, family and school, and managing time.
  
  In addition, the course will help students to identify different learning and teaching styles, develop critical thinking skills, and acquire effective study habits and valuable classroom skills.
  
  This course is open only to students in the Associate's degree program. Formerly known as INT 106.
• FNAR 248 Music and CultureSurveys global music, examining the relationship between music and culture in both western and non-western music. Formal musical traditions, popular culture music, and folk music will all be included. Students will develop listening skills as well as an appreciation for the music of diverse cultures.
  3 credits
  
  This course is only open to students in the Associate's Degree Program at THEARC. No other students are allowed to register.
• POLS 102 Politics and CitizenshipDevelops student understanding of current political and policy issues. Through a study of academic, newspaper, and broadcast journalism sources on American and global politics, students will learn how to conduct research, asess sources, analyze policy debates, construct written and oral arguments, and become more informed and active citizens. This course is open only to students in the Associate's Degree progam. No other students are allowed to register.
  3 credits
• RST 289 Comparative ReligionsThis course surveys the relationship of several religious traditions of the world -- Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, Raoism, CHristianity, and Islam -- concentrating on their development, belief systems, and practices of today. Special emphasis will be placed on their differences as well as similarities. This course is restricted to those students enrolled in Trinity's Associate of Arts program.
  3 credits
• INT 290 Capstone ProjectThe capstone course allows students an opportunity to create a body of work which will show that they have met the goals of the Associate Degree Program.
  
  Specific student goals include: preparedness to metriculate to a Trinity Bachelor's Degree program; acquisition of core skills in quantitative reasoning, critical thinking, problem solving, technological literacy, and communication; an appreciation of the interrelatedness of knowledge from various academic disciplines, and an understanding of how the program goals will assist students in becoming ethical, engaged citizens as well as successful professionals.
  
  This course is open only to students in the Associate's degree program.

General Studies Electives

General Studies majors select four (4) courses to fulfill their electives requirement.  Students may combine courses from several different disciplines; or, students may choose courses within one discipline and develop a concentration in arts and humanities, business, social and behavioral sciences, or early childhood education.

Electives includes but are not limited to the following courses:

• BADM 100 Fundamentals of BusinessAn introductory course designed to provide students with an overview of business organizations. This course will explore the following aspects of business: forms of business ownership, research and development, marketing, finance, accounting, production, materials management, and human resources management.
  3 credits.
• BADM 230 Marketing Theory and PracticeAddresses the theory and practice of marketing consumer goods and services. This course will introduce marketing principles, concepts, and tactics; including consumer behavior theory. Emphasis will be placed on the use of research and analytical tools in the promotion of goods and services.
  
  This course is only open to students in the Associate's Degree program.
• BADM 250 Principles of Management & LeadershipDiscusses the theory and practice of management. Teaches the functions of management (planning, organizing, and leading) through participation in discussions, simulations, role-playing, and team activities. Students will develop effective management and leadership skills, with a focus on personal awareness and growth.
  
  This course is the equivalent of BADM 251. The name, number, and description have been changed for use in the AA program.
  
  This course is only open to students in the Associate's Degree Program THEARC. No other students are allowed to register.
• ENGL 217 Early African-American LiteratureStudies African-American Literature from colonial times to the 20th century. The course will survey folklore, poetry and prose.
  3 credits
• HUMR 213 Introduction to CounselingThis course provides an overview of professional counseling in helping professions. Topics will include the history, and philosophies and theories of counseling; in addition to the implications of current economic and social climates on the practice of counseling. Students will explore the roles, functions, and limitations of counselors and leave with an understanding of basic counseling skills.
  3 credits
• POLS 274 Politics, Literature, and FilmThe course explores various themes in politics as they are presented in both literature and film. Academic materials will be integrated with excerpts from novels, short stories, poetry, film, and television. Some topics examined will be: democracy, social inequality, justice, citizenship, and oppression.This course is only open to students in the Associate's Degree program.
  3 credits
• PSYC 210 Theories of Social PsychologyThis course will study the influence of others, real or imagined, on an individual's thoughts, emotions, and actions. Topics covered will include social perception and social influence in the context of leadership, conformity, persuasion, aggression, altruism. The course will expose students to theories of social interaction that will be useful in both their academic and career development.
  This course is only open to students in the Associate's Degree Program.
  3 credits
• SOCY 240 Work and SocietyThis course studies work from a sociological perspective in the context of the modern American workplace. Topics include career choices, occupational socialization and commitment, issues of gender, race and age discrimination in the workplace, larger social forces that shape the world of work, such as the relationship of work to the economy, and the future of work.
  3 credits
• EDCC 204 Child, Family, Culture and CommunityThis course examines the relationships among the school, child and family, introducing the complex social and cultural factors that influence children's development and learning, as well as the ethical guidelines that determine professional conduct. Within an orientation to the theoretical and developmental foundations of early learning education of young children, the course emphasizes current issues regarding families, community, and cultural diversity. This course is only open to students in the Associates Degree Program at THEARC.
  3 credits
  Prerequisites: None
• EDCC 206 Developing Learning Experiences in Early ChildhoodThis course examines the historical, theoretical, and developmental foundations for learning in young children, birth to age 8 (specifically, pre-K to 3rd grade.) Students learn how to create developmentally and individually appropriate lesson and activity plans. Learning experiences integrate the various content areas of literacy, math, science, social studies, and the arts, and incorporate the social-emotional, cognitive, and physical domains of child development. This course is only open to students in the Associates Degree Program at THEARC.
  3 credits
  Prerequisites: None
• EDCC 210 Developing Oral Language and Literacy in Early ChildhoodThis course introduces strategies for helping young children acquire communication skills. The contribution of appropriate children's literature to literacy development is demonstrated. Activities, materials, and lessons in these areas emphasize developmentally appropriate practices.
  This course requires a 10 hour on-site, field component.
  3 credits
  Prerequisites: None
• EDCC 212 Observing, Describing, and Measuring Growth in Early ChildhoodIn this introductory course, students use developmentally appropriate observation and record keeping strategies to reflect on, improve, maintain, and extend learning. Tools and techniques that promote growth across all domains of early childhood development-social-emotional, cognitive, and physical, and across language and other content areas-will be discussed and explored.
  This course is only open to students in the Associates Degree Program at THEARC.
  This course requires a 10 hour on-site field component.
  3 credits
  Prerequisites: EDCC 206