Mt. SAC General Education: A Gateway to Academic Success and Personal Growth

Mt. San Antonio College (Mt. SAC) has established a comprehensive General Education (GE) program that serves as the foundation for all associate degrees and transfer pathways. Designed to cultivate critical thinking, communication, quantitative reasoning, and problem-solving skills, the GE program empowers students to become well-rounded individuals prepared for success in higher education and beyond.

Why General Education Matters

According to the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U), a solid GE foundation provides graduates with the following advantages:

• Enhanced critical thinking and problem-solving abilities
• Improved communication and interpersonal skills
• Increased cultural awareness and global perspective
• Stronger foundation for academic and professional pursuits
• Greater adaptability and resilience in a rapidly changing world

Benefits of Mt. SAC’s General Education Program

Mt. SAC’s GE program offers a range of benefits that contribute to student success:

• Flexibility: Students can choose from a wide selection of courses within each GE category, tailored to their specific interests and career goals.
• Transferability: GE courses taken at Mt. SAC are widely transferable to other colleges and universities, ensuring seamless academic progression.
• Interdisciplinary Connections: GE courses foster interdisciplinary connections, encouraging students to apply knowledge and skills across multiple disciplines.
• Personal Growth: GE courses promote intellectual curiosity, cultural appreciation, and ethical reasoning, shaping students into well-rounded individuals.

Core GE Requirements

The Mt. SAC GE program comprises six core areas:

1. Natural Sciences: Explores the natural world through courses in biology, chemistry, geology, and physics.
2. Social and Behavioral Sciences: Examines human behavior and society through courses in anthropology, economics, geography, history, political science, psychology, and sociology.
3. Humanities: Enriches understanding of human culture and expression through courses in art history, English, foreign language, music, philosophy, and theater.
4. Communication and Critical Thinking: Develops effective communication and critical thinking skills through courses in English, speech, and logic.
5. Physical Education: Promotes physical well-being and healthy lifestyle habits.
6. Electives: Allows students to pursue their specific interests and fulfill additional GE requirements.

Table 1: Mt. SAC General Education Requirements

GE Course Recommendations

To assist students in selecting GE courses that align with their academic goals, Mt. SAC provides the following recommendations:

For Students Transferring to the CSU System: Refer to the CSU General Education Breadth Requirements for specific course recommendations.
For Students Transferring to the UC System: Consult the UC Transferable Course Agreement to identify courses that satisfy UC GE requirements.
For Students Pursuing an AA Degree at Mt. SAC: explore the GE Model Curriculum for recommended course sequences.

Table 2: Transferable GE Courses for the CSU and UC Systems

Innovative GE Applications

In addition to the traditional GE curriculum, Mt. SAC offers innovative GE applications that enhance student learning and promote interdisciplinary connections. These include:

• Interdisciplinary Thematic Courses: Engage students in exploring complex topics that span multiple GE areas.
• Service Learning Courses: Combine academic coursework with community service, fostering civic engagement and active citizenship.
• Experiential Learning Opportunities: Provide students with hands-on experiences that apply GE concepts to real-world settings.

Table 3: Innovative GE Applications at Mt. SAC

Table 4: Frequently Asked Questions about Mt. SAC’s GE Program