Student Learning Outcomes
This is an archived copy of the 2021-2022 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://ecatalog.socc.edu.
Student learning outcomes are incorporated into all of Southwestern's degrees and programs. All graduates of Southwestern programs will have gained the appropriate discipline, program, foundational, and general student outcomes.
Students graduating from Southwestern with a two-year degree are expected to have gained the knowledge, skills and attitudes (dispositions) and to demonstrate competency for the following institutional general learning outcomes:
Communication
Students completing a degree will be able to demonstrate effective knowledge, skills, and attitudes in reading, writing, speaking, and listening, presentation of self and information.
Computation
Students completing a degree will be able to demonstrate effective knowledge, skills, and attitudes in technology skills, computer proficiency, math proficiency, decision analysis (synthesis & evaluation), understanding of and ability to apply mathematical concepts and reasoning, analyzing and using numerical data.
Creative, Critical and Analytical Thinking
Students completing a degree will be able to demonstrate effective knowledge, skills and attitudes using curiosity, learning strategies, information gathering, analysis, synthesis, evaluation, creativity, research, and problem solving.
Community/Global Consciousness and Responsibility
Students completing a degree will be able to demonstrate effective knowledge, skills, and attitudes involving respect, citizenship, cultural awareness, interpersonal skills, ethics, lifelong learning, community service, self-esteem, integrity, and empathy.
Discipline Content
Students completing a degree will be able to demonstrate effective skills and attitudes that are specific to a discipline or career.
Writing
- Read actively, think critically, and write purposefully and capably for academic and, in some cases, professional audiences.
- Locate, evaluate, and ethically utilize information to communicate effectively.
- Demonstrate appropriate reasoning in response to complex issues.
Information Literacy
- Formulate a problem statement.
- Determine the nature and extent of the information needed to address the problem.
- Access relevant information effectively and efficiently.
- Evaluate information and its source critically.
- Understand many of the economic, legal and social issues surrounding the use of information.
Communication
- Engage in ethical communication processes that accomplish goals.
- Respond to the needs of diverse audiences and contexts.
- Build and manage relationships.
Mathematics
- Use appropriate mathematics to solve problems.
- Recognize which mathematical concepts are applicable to a scenario, apply appropriate mathematics and technology in its analysis, and then accurately interpret, validate, and communicate the results.
Health, Wellness, and Fitness
- Evaluate and assess physical fitness needs.
- Create an effective physical training program.
- Evaluate how well a physical training program works and how to make adjustments to improve it.
- Understand strength, flexibility, speed and power.
Arts & Letters
- Interpret and engage in the Arts and Letters, making use of the creative process to enrich the quality of life.
- Critically analyze personal values and ethics within the stream of human experience and expression to engage more fully in local and global issues.
Social Science
- Apply analytical skills to social phenomena in order to understand human behavior.
- Apply knowledge and experience to foster personal growth and better appreciate the diverse social world in which we live.
Science/Mathematics/Computer Science
- Gather, comprehend, and communicate scientific and technical information in order to explore ideas, models, and solutions and generate further questions.
- Apply scientific and technical models of inquiry, individually and collaboratively, to critically evaluate existing or alternative explanations, solve problems, and make evidence-based decisions in an ethical manner.
- Assess the strengths and weaknesses of scientific studies and critically examine the influence of scientific and technical knowledge on human society and the environment.
Cultural Literacy
- Identify and analyze complex practices, values, and beliefs and the culturally and historically defined meanings of difference.
Upon successful completion of a certificate the student will be able to:
Communication
- Engage in ethical communication processes that allow people to accomplish goals.
- Respond to the needs of diverse audiences and contexts.
- Build and manage personal and community relationships.
Computation
- Analyze and evaluate real-world problems in a logical manner.
- Model, analyze, and solve real-world problems in a mathematical context.
- Utilize technology for analyzing and evaluating real-world problems.
Human Relations
- Understand the importance of goal setting, planning, and the impact of a positive mental outlook in both one's personal and professional life.
- Recognize and respect diversity as a vital component of effective human relation skills.