DCC has identified the following skills as essential to our students’ learning and
development. The College provides a range of curricular and co-curricular learning
opportunities for students to acquire, develop and practice these skills. DCC faculty,
staff and administration assess student achievement of these six Institutional Student
Learning Outcomes (ISLOs) on an ongoing basis to ensure that our graduates are well-prepared
for their academic and career endeavors:
1. Oral Communication: Students will demonstrate oral communication skills in a clear and organized manner
using appropriate verbal and nonverbal communication techniques with regard to subject,
purpose and audience.
2. Written Communication: Students will produce writing that is well organized, well developed, and clear.
3. Scientific Reasoning: Students will apply the scientific method, develop hypotheses, analyze results and
draw conclusions.
4. Quantitative Reasoning: Students will analyze quantitative material that may be presented in a variety of
formats (words, tables, graphs, mathematical equations, etc.) from a wide array of
contexts, interpret results, and communicate reasoned arguments supported by quantitative
evidence.
5. Information Literacy and Technological Competency: Students will be able to identify the need for information, locate electronic media
using appropriate technology including but not limited to the internet, evaluate the
credibility of information thus obtained, use information effectively to accomplish
a specific purpose, and properly use and cite sources of information.
6. Critical Analysis and Reasoning: Students will formulate or evaluate arguments, problems or opinions and arrive at
a solution, position or hypothesis based on carefully considered evidence.
GENERAL EDUCATION
The core of required courses within DCC Associate in Arts (AA) and Associate in Science
(AS) and Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree programs seeks to ensure that students
will develop essential foundational skills.
DCC degree candidates share this foundational experience by taking the following DCC
General Education Core courses:
A.A. and A.S. Degrees
- Composition I (ENG 101
- Composition II (ENG 102)
- Social Problems in Today’s World (BHS 103)
- American History
- Mathematics
- Laboratory Science
A.A.S. Degrees
- Composition I (ENG 101)
- Composition II (ENG 102)
- Social Problems in Today’s World (BHS 103)
- Mathematics or Laboratory Science
DCC, a member of the State University of New York, requires additional study in the
Liberal Arts and Sciences as appropriate to each degree program. The intellectual
rigor of the General Education courses is built on through the degree program, preparing
each DCC student for transfer to a baccalaureate degree-granting program or for entry
into the workplace.
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
Students must satisfy the course requirements indicated in the program requirements
that are in effect and listed in the academic year catalog at the time that they matriculate
into the program. If a program is modified and students wish to follow the modified
program requirements, they must re- matriculate into the modified program for that
academic year.