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The Institutional Core Competencies are the knowledge, skills and abilities that Reading Area Community College graduates should be able to demonstrate in the workplace and society of the 21st Century. These institutional core competencies are integrated into the general education core program of each College associate degree program to ensure that students have learned the critical skills to succeed in today’s rapidly-changing, global and technological society. Therefore, each graduate of an associate degree program will be expected to learn and show competencies in the following areas:
Written Communication
A graduate will demonstrate understanding of purpose and style of various genres of academic discourse by focusing writing around a main idea; developing, analyzing, and interpreting credible and relevant evidence into cohesive written texts and demonstrating strong sentence structure, grammar, and word choice appropriate for situation and tone.
Oral Communication
A graduate will explain key concepts and principles applicable to oral communication, apply those principles to the coherent delivery of relevant, well-planned presentations, as well as evaluate key features of audience and context that influence a mode of delivery, the efficacy of which the student will reflect upon.
Information Literacy
A graduate will identify the need for information, then access, collect, analyze, organize, interpret, evaluate, and employ information/data ethically and legally, using a variety of credible sources to support the purposes of a project or assignment.
Critical Analysis and Reasoning
A graduate will integrate knowledge, experience, and substantiated evidence to make sound judgments in a logical and rational manner. This involves evaluating the validity of ideas through critical thinking, which employs the skills of analysis, reasoning, logic and creativity. Using these skills, graduates will formulate an opinion or conclusion to present convincing arguments.
Quantitative Reasoning
A graduate will be able to interpret information presented in mathematical forms (e.g. equations, tables, graphs, charts); represent information using mathematical forms; perform mathematical computations; analyzing driver conclusions from given and/or derived data; make educated assumption; and effectively communicate mathematical results and processes in oral and/or written form.
Scientific Reasoning
A graduate will be able to describe the methods of scientific inquiry; distinguish between science and pseudoscience; convert textual (Scientific) information into mathematical forms (e.g. equations, tables, graphs, diagrams); extract and interpret quantitative information in scientific contexts; draw logical conclusions based on observations, testing, and results; and evaluate experimental methods and conclusions based on given information.
Cultural Understanding
A graduate will be able to identify and analyze ways culture (learned shared ideas) influences group and individual behavior and can lead to intercultural misunderstanding and conflict. The graduate will also develop skills to respond sensitively to cultural and social diversity.
Digital/Technological Competence
A graduate will perform basic file management functions using computer-technology; understand and demonstrate the purpose and use of computer system components; use word processing, presentation and spreadsheet software; use database management software to analyze data and create reports; access information via the Internet and other digital sources; use the computer to communicate; and recognize issues of social and ethical responsibility in the digital world.
Aesthetic Understanding
A graduate will be able to identify and appreciate creativity in the expression, representation, and response to human experience.
A graduate will be able to identify how literature, philosophy, or the visual and performing arts reflect, influence, or challenge human values past and present.
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