Academic Affairs

General Education

As required by New Jersey Administrative Code, Salem Community College includes a general education component in its programs of study. The general education component is designed to ensure students develop a broad base of knowledge, think creatively, communicate effectively, and think analytically and critically.

General Education Requirements

A General Education component is required in each program of study.

Associate in Applied Science Degrees (A.A.S.) require 20 general education credits selected from courses in:

  • Communications
  • Mathematics and Sciences
  • Social Sciences
  • Humanities

Associate in Arts Degrees (A.A.) require 45 general education credits:

  • 9 in Communications
  • 3 in Diversity
  • 6 in History
  • 9 in Humanities
  • 12 in Mathematics and Sciences
  • 6 in Social Science

Associate in Fine Arts Degrees (A.F.A.) require 20 general education credits selected from courses in:

  • Communications
  • Mathematics and Sciences
  • Social Sciences
  • Humanities

Associate in Science Degrees (A.S.) require 30 general education credits:

  • 6 in Communications
  • 3 in Humanities
  • 9 in Mathematics and Sciences
  • 3 in Social Science
  • 9 additional credits, in any combination, from the Communications, Mathematics and Sciences, Social Science and Humanities categories

Certificate Programs require 6 general education credits with at least one Communications course.

Professional Development Certificates do not require general education credits.

Courses fulfilling limited elective requirements may be selected from the following:

Humanities Limited Electives

  • ART 101 Art Appreciation
  • ASL 101 American Sign Language I
  • ASL 102 American Sign Language II
  • BIO 200 Bioethics
  • ENG 206 Introduction to Literature
  • ENG 210 Introduction to Drama
  • ENG 211 Studies in the Short Story
  • ENG 213 Masterpieces of English Literature
  • ENG 214 Masterpieces of Western Literature
  • ENG 221 American Literature I
  • ENG 222 American Literature II
  • FA 101 Art History I
  • FA 102 Art History II
  • HUM 101 Introduction to the Humanities
  • ITL 101 Elementary Italian I
  • MUS 101 Music Appreciation
  • MUS 102 Fundamentals of Music
  • MUS 104 Introduction to Musical Theatre
  • PHL 101 Introduction to Philosophy
  • PHL 150 Introduction to Ethics
  • PHL 222 Comparative Religions
  • SPA 101 Elementary Spanish I
  • SPA 102 Elementary Spanish II

Science Limited Electives

  • BIO 101 General Biology I
  • BIO 102 General Biology II
  • BIO 103 Environmental Science I
  • BIO 104 Environmental Science II
  • BIO 220 Human Anatomy & Physiology I
  • BIO 221 Human Anatomy & Physiology II
  • CHM 101 College Chemistry I
  • CHM 102 College Chemistry II
  • CHM 130 Basic and Organic Chemistry
  • PHY 101 Physics I
  • PHY 102 Physics II
  • PHY 221 Calculus-Based Physics I
  • PHY 222 Calculus-Based Physics II
  • PHY 223 Calculus-Based Physics III

Social Science Limited Electives

  • ECO 201 Macroeconics
  • ECO 202 Microeconmics
  • GEO 101 World Regional Geography
  • HIS 101 Western Civilization I
  • HIS 102 Western Civilization II
  • HIS 201 United States History I
  • HIS 202 United States History II
  • PSY 101 Introduction to Psychology
  • SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology
  • SOC 102 Contemporary Social Problems
  • POL 101 Introduction to Political Science
  • POL 102 American Government

Global and Cultural Awareness Electives

  • GEO 101 World Regional Geography
  • PHL 222 Comparative Religions
  • SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology

Electives designated in programs of study may be selected from the appropriate categories below:

  • History - HIS
  • Humanities - ART, ASL, CGA, ENG 206, ENG 210, ENG 211, ENG 214, ENG 221, ENG 222, FA, HUM, ITL, MUS, PHL, SPA
  • Mathematics and Sciences - BIO, BTC, CHM, MAT, PHY
  • Social Science - ECO, GEO, POL, PSY, SOC