Arts and Sciences

General Education

Most general education coursework is offered through the Division of Arts & Sciences (DAS) as well as Digital Media Arts (DMA) program. Courses in English as a Second Language (ESL) and college preparatory courses are also offered through the DAS general education elective coursework is available in the disciplines of art history, earth science, economics, history, humanities, and literature. General education requirements vary from one field to another so students are required to check with their major departments as well as the TCI catalog to determine when and which courses they must take.

Faculty members have chosen a required general education course sequence that is best suited to students’ needs for each major program. By offering an appropriate sequence of general education courses, each degree program challenges its students to integrate knowledge from several disciplines and to apply their leaning experience in areas beyond their field of concentration. Students enrolled in general education courses are encouraged to explore and understand cultural diversity, develop ethical sensibilities, use critical thinking to analyze problems and devise a range of solutions, and research and express solutions to others.

General Education course requirements vary from one major field to another. However, regardless of their major, students  develop skills in the following 6 areas: Communication, Quantitative Reasoning, Critical Analysis and Reasoning, Culture and Society, Technology, and Information Literacy.

Student learn to:

• Effectively communicate orally and in writing in a variety of situations
• Use computational skills to analyze and solve problems
• Analyze and interpret complex information and ideas
• Successfully work in teams with people of diverse backgrounds and apply ethical principles in decision-making
• Display competency in computer operation
• Use content–specific software for research, problem-solving, and decision-making
• Access information sources effectively

General Education Skills Across the Curricula

There is a strong relationship of General Education to TCI’s majors.  The skills taught in General Education courses and used in the technical courses of the majors help students develop a broader approach to becoming competent in their career fields.  Taking this position allows students to view work, and life in general, in a much more holistic way which is far-ranging and interesting, rather than narrow and boring. 

Also, with technological and cultural changes happening at such a rapid rate, General Education teaches students to think outside the box in their technical majors.  This is the kind of thinking which helped produce some of the greatest inventions of mankind, from the creations of DaVinci, to Edison, to our own Gugliemo Marconi. 

The skills found in TCI’s General Education courses enable a student to tackle problems within the context of the global arena. To not only understand the specific technical challenges society faces, but also the context in which those challenges arise and exist is vitally important is solving our problems and creating a better world.

College Preparatory Studies

For students who need assistance in preparing for college-level coursework, the Division of Arts and Sciences also offers basic skills education in English and Mathematics.  In addition, non-native sparkers may be placed into one of three levels of English language training to adequately prepare them for an English language academic environment.

English as a Second Language (ESL)

TCI offers a structured three-tier program in ESL, enabling student to be successful with English in their college coursework.  A student's placement in the first semester is dependent on scores on TCI's placement examination given by the Office of Credentials Verification and Assessment.  A student speaking English as a Second Language may be placed into one of three different levels depending on the student's ability to speak, read, and write the English language.

ESL courses must be completed before credit-bearing English, Arts and Sciences, and Humanities coursework is undertaken unless prior approval is received from the office of the Dean of Arts and Sciences, with certain exceptions.

Since ESL coursework addresses individual language skills in writing, speaking, listening, vocabulary and grammar, the progress of students through the ESL sequence may vary.  Specific courses may be waived at the discretion of the ESL evaluator, chairperson, or the divisional dean if a student's ability to pursue the major program requirement is not affected.

ESL courses are non-credit bearing and are graded on a Pass/Fail basis.  Final exams, which may be graded by a panel of instructors, determine whether the student will be promoted to the next level.

A Commitment to Your Success!

The faculty of the Division of Arts and Sciences are dedicated to assisting and monitoring students throughout the completion of their degrees and the building of their careers.  Many of the faculty are actively engaged in their disciplines outside the classroom and bring real world experiences to their teaching.  Moreover, the faculty strive to provide students with a strong foundation for pursuing higher educational goals and building a basis for lifelong learning.

If you would like more information about the General Education program, your Arts and Sciences electives, or if you have any questions in general, please contact the Division of Arts and Sciences office located on the Concourse in Room C-49 or call 212-594-5308 or 5762. We’re here to help!