General Education - Knowledge of the Physical and Natural World

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Manchester Community College provides students with comprehensive skills and the knowledge to prepare them to deal with complexity, diversity, and change. Broad, foundational knowledge complements in depth achievement in program concentrations.

Twelve credits are devoted to knowledge of the physical and natural world; of the human experience and behavior; and of human thought and expression. Students understand and apply introductory methods of inquiry and analysis and demonstrate knowledge of the fundamental concepts, theories, works, or ideas within the specific knowledge area.

In these courses, students will formulate approaches to problem solving that are based on the scientific method and will apply scientific principles in demonstrating their understanding of natural phenomena.

Physical and Natural World Courses

BIO* 105:&nbsp;Introduction to Biology 4 Credits
BIO* 115:&nbsp;Human Biology 4 Credits
BIO* 121:&nbsp;General Biology I 4 Credits
BIO* 122:&nbsp;General Biology II 4 Credits
BIO* 173:&nbsp;Introduction to Ecology 4 Credits
CHE* 111:&nbsp;Concepts of Chemistry 4 Credits
EAS* 102:&nbsp;Earth Science 3 Credits
EAS* 106:&nbsp;Natural Disasters 3 Credits
EVS* 100:&nbsp;Introduction to Environmental Science 3 Credits
GLG* 121:&nbsp;Introduction to Physical Geology 4 Credits

General Education Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of each General Education course, the student will be assesed in the Knowledge Area, Critical and Creative Thinking, Information Literacy and Written Communication according to the following outcomes:

Knowledge Areas

Demonstrate knowledge of the fundamental concepts, theories, works or ideas within the specific knowledge area.
Comprehend a substantive, exemplary written work in the specific knowledge area.
Understand and apply introductory methods of inquiry and analysis in the specific knowledge area.

Critical and Creative Thinking

Explore and comprehend issues, ideas, artifacts and events.
Combine or synthesize existing ideas, images or expertise in original ways.
Assess or formulate an opinion or conclusion based upon the two previous outcomes in an innovative or imaginative way.

Information Literacy

Evaluate information and its sources critically.
Use information effectively to accomplish a specific purpose.
Access and use information ethically and legally.

Written Communication

Adhere to genre and disciplinary conventions.
Provide clear organization and effective transitions between paragraphs and sentences.
Use correct syntax and mechanics.