General Education

H. Councill Trenholm State Community College’s General Education program provides the courses necessary for the completion of the associate of arts and associate of science degrees designed for transfer. General Education also supports all other programs at Trenholm State by providing students with the critical values and range of knowledge and skills in the arts and sciences. Trenholm State graduates will demonstrate competency in basic mathematics, writing, oral communication, and basic computer usage. Students also discover certain basic principles, concepts, and methodologies both unique to and shared by the various disciplines. In addition, students learn the modes of inquiry of the major disciplines, and General Education leads them through learning activities in experiencing and appreciating the creative arts, in understanding multicultural and diverse perspectives, and in achieving insights gained through experiences involving ethical and social issues. Through these learning experiences, students develop self-understanding and become life- long learners.

General Education competencies expected and measured by the College include the following:

Scientific Effectiveness
Students will demonstrate an understanding of scientific concepts through the ability to use processes, procedures, data, or evidence. (BIO 101, 103, PHS 111, PHS 112, PSY 200)

Cultural Awareness
Students will develop the knowledge and skills to evaluate diverse cultures and forms of art. (ART 100. MUS 101)

Oral Communication
Students will demonstrate the ability to transmit ideas clearly and information orally in a way that is appropriate to the topic, purpose, and audience. (SPH 106, SPH 107)

Computational Skills
Students will accurately analyze and solve mathematical problems. (MTH 100, MTH 110, MTH 112) 

Written Communication Skills
Students will create documents that are unified, coherent, well-supported, and error-free. (ENG 101)

Developmental education courses are offered to meet three types of needs. First, they prepare individuals for admission to occupational/technical programs. Second, they assist students who have begun coursework but are now experiencing difficulties or would like to improve efficiency. Finally, developmental courses provide an opportunity for individuals who are interested in improving their skills in particular areas but are not necessarily enrolled in a program. Students can enroll in courses to meet these three needs both during the regular school year and during the summer term.

Developmental courses are the first step toward a successful college experience for many students. Students who enroll in these courses learn to become independent and successful learners so they will meet their personal, educational, and professional goals. Additionally, developmental education is designed to improve academic skills, such as critical thinking, and essentials such as reading, writing, and mathematics. These courses also aim to help students achieve the following:

• develop academic survival skills;
• set personal, educational, and career goals;
• use technology in academic and workplace settings; and
• learn the academic culture of the college.

Estimated Program Length and Cost *

* Tax not included. Prices are subject to change without prior notice; cost of books may vary considerably among suppliers. The length of the program is based on full-time status of 12-15 credit hours per term. Enrollment in transitional-level general education courses will alter the length of the program.

Awards Available

Associate of Arts

Associate of Science

Short Term Certificate 

General Studies

Program Contact

Ronica Thomas Division Director/Instructor
334-420-4271
rtthomas@trenholmstate.edu Location: Bldg. J - Trenholm Campus

As part of ongoing planning and evaluation, the College regularly evaluates student learning outcomes for each program.

Degree Requirements

Students in the Associate of Arts degree program usually transfer to a four-year institution in such fields as Art, Elementary or Secondary Education, Health, Physical Education and Recreation, Music, or Theater.

Students in the Associate of Science degree program usually transfer to a four-year institution in the Natural Sciences, the Professional Sciences, Mathematics, Computer Science, Business Administration, or Nursing fields.

As part of a transfer degree, students will take freshman- and sophomore-level general education courses in a wide range of disciplines.

All students enrolled at the institution are required to complete a specific number of semester hours in English Composition (Area I); Humanities and Fine Arts (Area II); Natural Sciences and Mathematics (Area III); and History, Social, and Behavioral Sciences (Area IV). These courses are referred to as CORE courses.

In addition to CORE courses, students will choose Electives (Area V), which will more specifically prepare them for transfer in their particular fields of interest.

Area I: Written Communication (6 hours)

• English Composition I and English Composition II

Area II: Humanities and Fine Arts (*12 credit hours)

• Must complete at least three semester hours in Literature.
• Must complete at least three semester hours in Arts.
• Must complete a six-hour sequence in Literature or History

Area III: Natural Science & Mathematics (*11 credit hours)

• Must complete three semester hours in Mathematics at the Pre-Calculus Algebra (MTH-112) or Finite Math (MTH-110) level or above. (Prerequisites and/or developmental courses may be required for some students before enrolling in these courses).
• Must complete eight semester hours in the Natural Sciences, which must include laboratory experiences.

Area IV: History, Social, and Behavioral Sciences (*12 credit hours)

• Must complete at least three semester hours in History.
• Must complete a six-hour sequence in Literature or History.
• The remaining semester hours should be selected from disciplines in Social and Behavioral Sciences.

Areas I-IV: Minimum general education requirements (41 credit hours)

The Alabama Articulation and General Studies Committee (AGSC) approved CORE courses, including courses not offered by Trenholm State, transferred from another college will meet requirements for Areas I-IV.

Area V: Pre-professional, Pre-major, and Elective Courses (**19-23 credit hours)

For additional courses, students must consult with their advisors to obtain Articulation Degree Plans for their specific areas of concentration. The Articulation Degree Plan will list specific course requirements for transfer. However, since acceptance of transfer credits is ultimately determined by the senior institution, a student planning to transfer must consult with his/her advisor as well as the catalog of the institution to which he/she plans to transfer to ensure transfer credit. For additional course information of professional/pre-major courses, the Alabama Articulation and General Studies Committee / STARS may be utilized to determine course transferability.

Additional degree requirements:

ORI-101 (one credit hour) is required of all new students to Trenholm State.

Areas I-V: General studies curricula (60 credit hours) *** Maximum program semester credit hours (64) Semester credit-hour range by award (64)***

Students must complete a six-hour sequence in Literature or History

** See the Articulation Degree Plan for specific course requirements for Areas II, III, and IV.

*** Respective programs of study for baccalaureate degrees at Alabama public universities range from 120 to 128 semester credit hours in length. Depending on the total hours allocated for the bachelor’s degrees, institutions in the Alabama Community College System are authorized to provide 50 percent of the total (60-64).