The broader a student’s educational experiences, the better equipped they will be for the personal, professional, and educational challenges they will face in the future. Parkland College is committed to deepening students’ knowledge, skills, and values both as individuals and global citizens through general education classes.
All degree programs and some certificate programs at Parkland College include a general education component. No matter a student’s area of study, when they complete a degree at Parkland College, they will have gained skills needed to communicate effectively, think through problems, and seek out new information.
Students planning on transferring to a four-year university in Illinois should visit the General Education Core Curriculum (GECC) page to see how their general education requirements at Parkland College can transfer as a package to their target university.
In addition to general education classes, all courses at Parkland College include one or more of the college’s General Learning Outcomes (GLOs).
General Learning Outcomes (GLOs)
The six GLOs were designed by Parkland College faculty to give students a broad knowledge and skill base that will benefit them whatever their future plans may be. A course containing a particular GLO will include assignments that develop student skills in that area:
Communication
- Read, write, listen, and speak effectively.
Creativity and Innovative Thinking
- Students will design, present, and interpret materials, information and ideas in innovative ways.
Critical Thinking and Information Literacy
- Evaluate perspectives, evidence, and implications, and locate, assess, and use information effectively.
Reasoning and Inquiry
- Solve problems using deductive reasoning and logic, quantitative reasoning, or the scientific method.
Technology
- Evaluate, select, and appropriately use current and emerging tools.
Global Awareness and Cultural Reasoning
- Students will demonstrate their understanding of global issues, gender and sexual orientation, and multicultural perspectives.