General Education Outcomes

Students jumping in celebration with Pouncer the Panther mascot

The associate degree programs at Piedmont Virginia Community College support a collegiate experience that meets the general education requirements of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) and the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV). 

Associate degree programs provide a coherent, shared experience for students to develop the general education core competencies expected of them as college-educated individuals. General education, as an integrated and cohesive whole, provides the educational foundation necessary to promote intellectual and personal development. Upon completion of the associate degree, graduates of Piedmont Virginia Community College will demonstrate competency in student learning outcomes (SLOs) determined and assessed in 1) critical thinking, 2) written communication, 3) professional readiness, 4) civic engagement, 5) quantitative literacy, and 6) scientific literacy. 

Collectively, these general education core competencies distinguish graduates of Piedmont Virginia Community College as individuals with a breadth of knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to pursue further education and their careers, continue to develop as learners, and contribute to the well-being of their communities. 

The six competencies are defined below:

  1. Critical Thinking: Students will locate, evaluate, interpret, and synthesize information to reach well-reasoned conclusions.
  2. Written Communication: Students will develop, convey, and exchange ideas in writing, as appropriate to a given context and audience.
  3. Civic Engagement: Students will demonstrate the knowledge and civic values necessary to become informed participants in a democratic society.
  4. Professional Readiness: Students will demonstrate skills important for successful transition into the workplace and pursuit of further education.
  5. Quantitative Literacy: Students will calculate, interpret, and use numerical and quantitative information in a variety of settings.
  6. Scientific Literacy: Students will recognize and know how to use the scientific method and will evaluate empirical information. 

For additional information about general education at PVCC, please refer to our Interim General Education Assessment Plan and the Interim General Education Assessment Report.