COUNS 1 – ORIENTATION FOR COLLEGE SUCCESS
DLA #3: GE and Graduation Requirements (Proficiencies)
of an Associate Degree (AA/AS)
Student Handout
If at any time, you have questions about how to complete any part of this DLA,
email them to: mdsc@lbcc.edu
Objectives: By the end of this activity, students will be able to:
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Identify appropriate general education courses for earning an associate degree.
Identify graduation proficiencies for an associate degree.
Demonstrate an understanding of general education requirements.
Evaluate general education courses that meet one’s interests and fulfill specific requirements.
Materials needed:
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Counseling 1 course packet
Student’s assessment results; (if available)
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Current LBCC Catalog
Directions:
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Before you begin this activity, review the relevant pages in the Counseling 1 course packet on
how to prepare an educational plan.
Complete this activity by reading and following all the instructions.
Meet with a Success Center staff member to discuss and review this activity.
Step #1: Review the following terms and definitions. Underline or highlight the terms that are new to
you.
Degree Applicable Units – Units numbered from 1-599 (example: Math 130 or 130A, Read 82)
Double Counting – Double-counting of courses listed in more than one area of the general education
pattern is NOT allowed. For example, HIST 25 is listed in both the American History and Social
Sciences requirement areas, but it may be used to satisfy only one of these requirements. However,
courses listed in a general education requirement area may be used to satisfy graduation proficiencies.
Field of Concentration – Program of Study or major. These requirements will be different for
students based on their educational goals.
GE (General Education) – The GE requirements are only one component of the Associate Degree.
GE classes are designed to introduce students to the variety of means through which people understand
the past, present and future world. The purpose of general education is to help students develop the
transferable skills to communicate effectively, to think critically and creatively, to develop civic
responsibility, and to gain an understanding and appreciation of natural and social sciences, arts,
culture and the society in which they live. These classes should lead to a better self-understanding and
the capacity to adapt, respond, and grow in a swiftly changing world.
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GE Units – General Education units; a minimum of 25 GE units is required for Plan A for the
Associates in Arts and a minimum of 19 GE units is required for Plan A for the Associate in Science.
Prerequisites – These are a set of requirements or courses that must be completed before enrolling in a
particular class or applying to a specific program.
Proficiencies – Required demonstrated skills to meet the graduation requirements in the following
areas: Mathematics, Writing, Reading, and Information Competency.
Step #2 – List your placement test results below (if you know them).
Math Placement
Writing Placement
Reading Placement
Step #3 – Think about the reading, writing, and math courses you are taking now or the ones you
assessed into. When you look at the English, Reading, and Math Sequence charts in your Counseling 1
packet, think about where are you in the sequence of courses that meet the graduation proficiencies for
AA or AS degrees.
According to the chart, what courses are needed to meet the graduation proficiencies?
Math
Writing
Reading
Step #4- Familiarize yourself with the Long Beach City College General Education Plans.
Review the General Education (GE) course pattern in the Long Beach City College General Education
Plan A in the current LBCC Catalog.
 How many plans are there?
 How many categories of general education area requirements are there on Plan A?
As you can see, there are many classes you can take to fulfill each of these requirements. In order to
create your education plan, you should get a feel for which classes will work to fulfill specific
categories and proficiencies.
Step #5- Complete General Education Chart 1. You will now use Plan A to complete a chart with
sample courses that fit each area’s requirement.
Please note that certain classes, such as English 1 and Math 130A or Math 130, meet both area
requirements (English Composition and Communication and Analytical Thinking)
and graduation proficiency requirements.
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General Education Chart 1 (sample classes)
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Directions: Match the possible classes from the list on the left to the correct general education requirements on the
right and the proficiencies and competencies at the bottom using the Plan A GE course pattern.
Be sure to use each class from the list only once except English 1. English 1 will be used twice.
Possible Classes
General Education Requirements
English Composition (3 units)
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Economics 1
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Philosophy 11
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History 10
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English 1
Natural Sciences (3 units)
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Physical Geography 1
Physical Geography 1
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Library 3
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Political Science 1
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Food and Nutrition 26
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Radio & Television 1
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Health Education 3
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Reading 82 or 83
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Computer Proficiency for Academic
Success 1
Physical Fitness/Wellness (1 unit)
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Math 120, 130, 130A, 140, 125, or 115
Health Education (3 units)
Cross off classes
as you use them
to keep track.
Communication & Analytical Thinking (3 units)
Social Sciences (3 units)
American History (3 units) (Not required for AS Degree)
Political Science (3 units) (Not required for AS Degree)
Humanities & Arts (3 units)
Proficiencies for Graduation
Mathematics
OR
Information Competency
Information
OR
Writing
Reading
Technology
OR
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Now that you are familiar with the information in Plan A, you can apply that information to your
education plan. To complete the General Education Chart 2 on the next page, you will select classes
that you might want to take to satisfy the requirements based on your interest and what you want to
learn.
 Since there are so many classes to select from each category, how can you decide which class
to take?
The LBCC College Catalog contains descriptions of each class. Use the catalog to look up classes from
Plan A and read their descriptions before selecting them for the chart. (A Success Center staff member
can help you use the catalog if you would like.)
 For example, look up ENVRS 1 in the catalog. What is the complete title of this class?
 Read the description of ENVRS 1. Based on what you read, would you be interested in taking
this class to fulfill the Natural Sciences requirement for Plan A? Why or why not?
Certain courses you choose may have prerequisites. Prerequisite information is also found in the
course description in the catalog.
 For example, look up SPAN 3 in the catalog. What is the prerequisite for this class?
Step #6: Now you will complete the General Education Chart 2 on the next page. Below is an
example of how to complete it.
Natural Sciences (3 units)
Chemistry 1A (a class that you are interested in taking)
Prerequisites?
Chemistry 2 or Chemistry assessment process AND Math 130, 130B, or Math
placement or high school intermediate algebra with B or better
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General Education Chart 2 (my classes)
Directions: Select classes from the Plan A GE course pattern that you wish to take or have already taken to complete
the general education requirements, proficiencies for graduation, and information competencies. Write the prerequisite
for the classes you choose on the line below if applicable.
General Education Requirements
Proficiencies for Graduation
Mathematics
English Composition (3 units)
Prerequisites?
Prerequisites?
Communication & Analytical Thinking (3 units)
Writing
Prerequisites?
Prerequisites?
Natural Sciences (3 units)
Reading
Prerequisites?
Prerequisites?
Social Sciences (3 units)
Prerequisites?
Information Competency
American History (3 units) (Not required for AS Degree)
Information
Prerequisites?
Prerequisites?
Political Science (3 units) (Not required for AS Degree)
Prerequisites?
Technology
Humanities & Arts (3 units)
Prerequisites?
Prerequisites?
Physical Fitness/Wellness (1 unit)
Prerequisites?
Health Education (3 units)
Prerequisites?
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Step #7: Answer the following questions.
1. What did you learn from this activity that you can apply right away this semester?
2. Why might a student who is working on earning an associate degree not have to complete the
American History (History) and American Government (Political Science) requirements?
3.
When you read class descriptions in the catalog, did you notice that any of the classes you
chose have recommended preparation? What is “recommended preparation”?
4. What is significant about courses such as English 1, Math 120, 130 or Math 130A, and Reading
82 or 83? In other words, why are these classes important to take?
5. As you have seen through completing this activity, there are many categories of general
education. In your opinion, why do you think general education is a requirement to earn an
associate degree?
If you do not have your placement test results with you now, you can still complete this DLA without
them. To retrieve your placement results, you can access them in your online student account. If you
need assistance with this, please visit http://www.lbcc.edu/Assessment/results.cfm. You can also visit
the Assessment Office at LAC in A1040 or at PCC in LL206. If you have not yet completed the
assessment test or orientation, you should schedule an appointment by visiting
http://www.lbcc.edu/Assessment/
Congratulations! You have completed part of your Couns 1 DLA. To receive credit for completing this assignment, you
will participate in an online follow-up session with a Center staff member. Go to the “Follow-up Sessions” button on the
Multidisciplinary Student Success Center Online Supplemental Learning Assistance site:
http://lbcc.edu/successcenters/mdsc/ to learn how to schedule your online appointment with a Center staff member.
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