General Education Requirements

The General Education Requirements information for the current academic year and past years is available at the links below. The information is taken from each year's WCC College Catalog.

Philosophy Statement

General Education is highly valued at Washtenaw Community College because it develops and nurtures certain habits of mind that reach beyond a student's area of academic emphasis and enables the student to meet critically, objectively, and successfully the challenges of education, work, and life. By requiring a strong core of common learning, the College demonstrates its commitment to providing a broad-based education to all degree recipients, which includes useful skills, knowledge, and experiences to support a variety of lifelong endeavors. To this end, it shall be the policy of the College to maintain a substantial program of general education.

The College defines general education as a prescribed curriculum that assures a broad acquaintance with the basic areas of academic study. The general education requirements are designed to provide degree students certain skills and knowledge that include an understanding of and appreciation for the important modes of human thought, communication, and inquiry.

On September 19, 2017, the Washtenaw Community College Board of Trustees approved a revision to WCC’s General Education Requirements for its associate degree programs effective fall 2018. This change will allow students to transfer seamlessly to four-year programs across the state by better aligning our requirements with the Michigan Transfer Agreement.

Most of the changes impact the 30 hours of general education courses required to earn an Associate in Arts (AA) or Associate in Science (AS) degree. They include:

  • An increase in Natural Science credits from 4 to 7-8.
  • A reduction in Writing credits from 6-7 to 3-4.
  • The choice of a second Writing/Composition course (3-4 credits) or Communication (3-4 credits).
  • The elimination of Computer and information Literacy requirement.
  • The addition of a General Education elective to reach 30 credits.

Transition for Current Students

Students who enrolled in a program prior to Fall 2018 will have until the end of summer 2022 to complete their programs using the general education/core requirements of the programs in which they enrolled. Students who change to a different program will have to fulfill the new general education requirements. Beginning Fall 2022, all students earning an associate degree will be required to meet the new general education requirements to graduate. Academic advisors and counselors will assist students in selecting appropriate courses and making a smooth transition.

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