CURRICULUM INFORMATION

Tidewater Community College is a comprehensive institution of higher education offering programs of instruction generally extending no longer than two years beyond the high school level.

Career and technical education programs prepare you for employment.  They are designed to meet the increasing demand for technicians, paraprofessionals, skilled craft workers, and specialized clerical workers for employment in industry, business, government, and the professions.  These programs, which normally require two years or less of training beyond high school, include preparation for agricultural, business, engineering, health and medical, industrial, service, and other technical and occupational fields.  The curricula are offered primarily to meet regional needs.

The college transfer programs include first and second year courses in arts and sciences and pre-professional programs designed to meet standards acceptable for transfer to baccalaureate (four-year) degree programs. TCC transfer courses closely parallel those offered at four-year institutions.

Courses in general education contain the common knowledge and skills you need to be effective as a person, an employee, a consumer, and a citizen.  Both the college’s accrediting organization and the State Board for Community Colleges require that all curricula include general education components.

Tidewater Community College (TCC) has defined the general education core competencies that all its graduates from associate degree programs should have attained as the following:

• Communication – A competent communicator can interact with others using all forms of communication, resulting in understanding and being understood. TCC graduates will demonstrate the ability to understand and interpret complex materials; assimilate, organize, develop, and present an idea formally and informally; use standard English; use appropriate verbal and non-verbal responses in interpersonal relations and group discussions; use listening skills; and recognize the role of culture in communication.
• Critical Thinking – A competent critical thinker evaluates evidence carefully and applies reasoning to decide what to believe and how to act. TCC graduates will demonstrate the ability to discriminate among degrees of credibility, accuracy, and reliability of inferences drawn from given data; recognize parallels, assumptions, or presuppositions in any given source of information; evaluate the strengths and relevance of arguments on a particular question or issue; weigh evidence and decide if generalizations or conclusions based on the given data are warranted; determine whether certain conclusions or consequences are supported by the information provided; and use problem solving skills.
• Cultural and Social Understanding – A culturally and socially competent person possesses an awareness, understanding, and appreciation of the interconnectedness of the social and cultural dimensions within and across local, regional, state, national, and global communities. TCC graduates will demonstrate the ability to assess the impact that social institutions have on individuals and culture—past, present, and future; describe their own as well as others’ personal ethical systems and values within social institutions; recognize the impact that arts and humanities have upon individuals and cultures; recognize the role of language in social and cultural contexts; and recognize the interdependence of distinctive world-wide social, economic, geo-political, and cultural systems.
• Information Literacy – A person who is competent in information literacy recognizes when information is needed and has the ability to locate, evaluate, and use it effectively. TCC graduates will demonstrate the ability to determine the nature and extent of information needed; access needed information effectively and efficiently; evaluate information and its sources critically and incorporate selected information into his or her knowledge base; use information effectively, individually or as a member of a group, to accomplish a specific purpose; and understand many of the economic, legal, and social issues surrounding the use of information and access and use information ethically and legally.
• Personal Development – An individual engaged in personal development strives for physical well-being and emotional maturity. TCC graduates will demonstrate the ability to develop and/or refine personal wellness goals; and develop and/or enhance the knowledge, skills and understanding to make informed academic, social personal, career, and interpersonal decisions.
• Quantitative Reasoning – A person who is competent in quantitative reasoning possesses the skills and knowledge necessary to apply the use of logic, numbers, and mathematics to deal effectively with common problems and issues. A person who is quantitatively literate can use numerical, geometric, and measurement data and concepts, mathematical skills, and principles of mathematical reasoning to draw logical conclusions and to make well-reasoned decisions. TCC graduates will demonstrate the ability to use logical and mathematical reasoning with the context of various disciplines; interpret and use mathematical formulas; interpret mathematical models such as graphs, tables and schematics and draw inferences from them; use graphical, symbolic, and numerical methods to analyze, organize, and interpret data; estimate and consider answers to mathematical problems in order to determine reasonableness; and represent mathematical information numerically, symbolically, and visually using graphs and charts.
• Scientific Reasoning – A person who is competent in scientific reasoning adheres to a self-correcting system of inquiry (the scientific method) and relies on empirical evidence to describe, understand, predict, and control natural phenomena. TCC graduates will demonstrate the ability to generate an empirically evidenced and logical argument; distinguish a scientific argument from a non-scientific argument; reason by deduction, induction and analogy; distinguish between causal and correlational relationships; and recognize methods of inquiry that lead to scientific knowledge.

Developmental courses prepare you for admission to the college’s transfer and career and technical programs by helping you develop the basic skills and understanding necessary to succeed in college-level courses.  Mandatory placement testing will determine whether you are required to enroll in developmental courses.

Continuing Education programs are designed to make lifelong learning possible for residents of the college’s service area.  These programs include credit and non-credit courses and are offered during day, evening, and weekend hours.

TCC offers smart training solutions for business, industry, and government clients.  Employees need the right knowledge and skills for optimum job performance.  Results-oriented profiles, assessments, training, and education will help retain your valuable associates.  TCC offers “World Class Workforce Development Programs” at either the college’s or client’s location.  Our business, industry and government training centers offer results-oriented, customized training for successful employers.  We also offer traditional credit courses, certification programs, collaboration services, teleconferencing, and other business essential services.  TCC is “getting down to business.”  Call us for more information at (757) 822-1234.

The Portsmouth Campus provides academic coursework for the Norfolk Naval Shipyard Cooperative Education Apprentice Program.  Contact the Student Development Office at the Portsmouth Campus for more information.

Tidewater Community College offers a variety of classes through distance delivery, including telecourses, teleconference classes, and web-based online classes.  Students are able to select from a wide range of courses.  Taught by TCC faculty, these classes are of comparable academic quality and transfer exactly like their classroom counterparts.  For technical requirements, resources for students, student success strategies, and schedules of classes, visit the Distance Learning website or call (757) 822-1122 for additional information.