May 19, 2025  
2025-2026 Catalog 
    
2025-2026 Catalog

A.A. General Education Requirements


Communications: 6

Communications courses provide students with the opportunity to enhance their ability to communicate effectively and to analyze communication critically. Communication courses afford students the ability to communicate effectively, including the ability to write clearly and engage in public speaking.  

    NWFSC General Education Outcomes:  

         Create an effective response using communication skills that are appropriate for the situation.

         Successfully apply critical thinking skills to a topic or problem.

         Critically assess credible and relevant information sources. Responsibly use information.

    A minimum grade of “C” in each Communications course is required for general education credit. 

Humanities: 6

 

Humanities courses afford students the ability to think critically through the mastering of subjects concerned with human culture, especially literature, history, art, music, and philosophy, and must include selections from the Western canon.

NWFSC General Education Outcomes: 

     Create an effective response using communication skills that are appropriate for the situation.

     Successfully apply critical thinking skills to a topic or problem.

     Discuss various events, theories, and/or viewpoints.

A minimum grade of “C” in each Humanities course is required for general education credit.

  • Choose one Core Humanities course and one General Humanities course, or
  • Choose two Core Humanities courses. 

Mathematics: 6


Mathematics courses must afford students a mastery of foundational mathematical and computation models and methods by applying such models and methods in problem solving.

NWFSC General Education Outcome:

     Interpret data using quantitative analysis, logical reasoning, and/or theoretical reasoning.

 

A minimum grade of “C” in each Mathematics course is required for general education credit.

  • Choose one Core Mathematics course and one General Mathematics course, or
  • Choose two Core Mathematics courses.
  • All Mathematics courses listed below meet Mathematics requirements outlined in FAC Rule 6A-10.030.

(Any student who successfully completes a Mathematics course for which one of the general education core course options in Mathematics is an immediate prerequisite shall be considered to have completed the Mathematics core.)

Natural Sciences: 6


Natural science courses afford students the ability to critically examine and evaluate the principles of the scientific method, model construction, and use the scientific method to explain natural experiences and phenomena.

NWFSC General Education Outcomes:

     Successfully apply critical thinking skills to a topic or problem.

     Interpret data using quantitative analysis, logical reasoning, and/or theoretical reasoning.

     Discuss various events, theories, and/or viewpoints.

  • Choose one Biological Science course and one Physical Science course.
    At least one course selection must be a Core Natural Science course indicated by the ♦ symbol.

    (Any student who successfully completes a Science course for which one of the general education core course options in Science is an immediate prerequisite shall be considered to have completed the Science core.)

Social Sciences: 6


Social science courses afford students an understanding of the basic social and behavioral science concepts and principles used in the analysis of behavior and past and present social, political, and economic issues.

NWFSC General Education Outcomes:

     Create an effective response using communication skills that are appropriate for the situation.

     Critically assess credible and relevant information sources. Responsibly use information.

     Discuss various events, theories, and/or viewpoints.

 

Choose one Behavioral Social Science course and one History/Government Social Science or choose two History/Government Social Science courses.


At least one course must meet the Civic Literacy Requirement indicated by the Ω symbol

At least one course must be a Core Social Science course indicated by the ♦ symbol.

 

Additional General Education Credits: 6


Additional General Education Credits should be selected in alignment with a student’s choice.  Any general education hours over a total of 36 will apply as electives in the A.A. degree. Consult with an academic advisor for assistance.

 

 

Total A.A. General Education Credits Required: 36


College Level Communication and Computation Skills (previously Gordon Rule)

The NWFSC General Education Program is designed to conform to all applicable regional accreditation criteria, Florida State Board of Education Rules, and the Florida Statewide Articulation Agreement. 

As per FAC Rule 6A-10.030, prior to receipt of an Associate in Arts degree from a Florida College System institution or university or prior to entry into the upper division of a public university or college, a student shall complete successfully (grade of “C” or higher) all of the following. (Note: Completing the General Education requirements for the Associate in Arts degree satisfies this requirement.):  

 

All Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.S.), Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Associate in Arts (A.A.), Associate of Science (A.S.), and Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree-seekers must earn a grade of “C” or higher in each College-Level Communication and Computation Skills course used to satisfy general education requirements, whether the credits are earned at NWFSC or elsewhere.

 


Courses listed under the Communications and Humanities sections meet writing requirements outlined in FAC Rule 6A-10.030 and require a minimum grade of “C” when used for General Education credit. Courses listed under the Mathematics section meet the computation requirements outlined in FAC Rule 6A-10.030 and require a minimum grade of “C” when used for General Education credit.

 

A.A. Degree Checklist:


  • Have you completed a minimum of 60 credit hours in the following areas?
    • 36 Hours of General Education
      • 6 hours in Communications (“C” or better)
      • 6 hours in Mathematics (“C” or better)
      • 6 hours in Humanities (“C” or better)
      • 6 hours in Natural Science
      • 6 hours in Social Sciences (“C” or better in History/Government Social Science category)
      • 6 hours in Additional General Education Credits if needed
    • 24 hours of college credit A.A. transferable electives
  • Have you completed 25% of the Overall Number of Credits Required for your Degree at NWFSC?
  • Have you completed the foreign language requirement?
  • Have you met the minimum 2.0 institutional cumulative GPA requirements for the A.A.?
  • Have you met the Civic Literacy Competency (FAC Rule 6A-10.02413) requirement for the A.A.?

 

Footnote Legend


Symbol Description
Courses listed with this symbol are Florida State Core Courses and are protected in transfer to other public state institutions as meeting the state Core General Education requirements.
Ω Courses listed with this symbol meet the Civic Literacy Competency as outlined in section 1007.25(4), Florida Statutes (F.S.).