Associate of Arts in General Education
A well-rounded education is vital for living a more rewarding life, and in preparing you for further study in a major field of specialization. Berkshire University’s Associate of Arts in General Education program provides the building blocks for your intellectual growth with instruction on English and mathematical skills, as well as the humanities, information literacy, science, and social science disciplines.
Your general education curriculum will begin with a focus on writing and speech, then expand to develop your abstract reasoning capabilities through courses in mathematics and informational literacy. Finally, you’ll explore the natural sciences, humanities, fine arts, language, and the social and behavioral sciences. Throughout many of these courses, the instruction will include an examination of the human condition in a multicultural society.
Pursuing an associate of arts in general education is an opportunity for discovery and self-improvement on its own, but it also serves as an introduction to and foundation for areas of study you may want to explore further. It prepares you for a more insightful, rewarding life, whether you aspire to additional education or not.
Requirements for the Concentration
MNS 205 Intro to Quantitative Methods – 4.50
Key mathematical and statistical concepts useful for understanding business problems and making informed decisions with the right tools are introduced. Concepts relate to numbers, formulas, linear equation models and descriptive statistics. Applications focus on personal decisions and decisions within businesses in the areas of finance, discounts, pricing, interest rates, loans, insurance, investment, payroll and taxes. Microsoft Excel is the software used in this class. MNS 205 and MTH 210 are the primary quantitative courses required for MNS 407. Students who have taken college algebra or calculus (MTH 215 or MTH 220) are exempt from this course.
ECO 203 Principles of Microeconomics – 4.50
In this course, students will study the price system, market structures, and consumer theory. Topics covered include supply and demand, price controls, public policy, the theory of the firm, cost and revenue concepts, forms of competition, elasticity, and efficient resource allocation, among others.
ECO 204 Principles of Macroeconomics – 4.50
This course provides an examination of aggregate economic activity. It includes a study of aggregate supply and demand, the monetary and banking systems, aggregate economic accounting, inflation, unemployment, the business cycle, macroeconomic policy, and economic progress and stability, among other things.
ACC 201 Financial Accounting Funds. – 4.50
A survey of basic accounting theory and the application of accounting principles, this course includes the recording and summarization of business transactions in the form of financial statements under the rules of generally accepted accounting principles. (GAAP). It is designed for students who have little or no prior knowledge of financial accounting. This course corresponds to Principles of Accounting I at other colleges.
ACC 202 Managerial Accounting Funds. – 4.50
Prerequisite: ACC 201
This course is an overview of the use of financial accounting and cost accounting data for the design and preparation of reports to aid management in organizing, directing, controlling, and decision-making functions. The topics include the fundamentals of cost accounting, budgeting, and responsibility accounting for cost and profit centers.
FIN 310 Business Finance – 4.50
Prerequisite: ACC 201
This course is a survey of the basic principles and concepts used in the financial management of a business enterprise addressed from both theoretical and practical standpoints. Topics include money and capital markets, financial management of working capital, capital budgeting and fixed asset management, cost of capital, and short-term and long-term financing by means of debt and equity capital.
LAW 204 Legal Aspects of Business I – 4.50
A survey of contracts, sales, agencies, personal property, commercial paper, and associated topics. Emphasizes prevention of litigation and liability arising from business operations.
MGT 309 Prin. of Mgmt & Organizations – 4.50
Introduction to the roles of managers and the vision, mission and goals of organizations. Investigates management theories and explores the four primary functions of managers: planning, organizing, leading and controlling. Covers issues related to human resource management, organizational structure and behavior, creative problem solving, effective communication, and the management of teams, change and innovation.
Requirements for Concentration
CJA 229 Introduction to Policing – 4.50
This course is designed to provide the student with a basic understanding of the role of the peace officer in American society. The course will examine the steps in selecting candidates for the position of police officer, the complexity of the enforcement requirement, the challenges that face peace officers each day, the limitations placed on peace officers by all three branches of government at both the state and federal levels.
CJA 340 Corrections – 4.50
An introduction to the field of corrections and the corrections continuum. Topics include contemporary theories of punishment, corrections and rehabilitation, local, state, federal and military confinement facilities and community alternatives to incarceration.
CJA 337 The Juvenile Offender – 4.50
A study of the nature and control of juvenile delinquency. Examines patterns of delinquent behavior, factors of causation, juvenile law and the juvenile justice system. Students also learn policies and procedures in treatment and prevention.
CJA 351 Courts & the Judicial Process – 4.50
A study of concepts and theories regarding the utilization, organization and management of the judicial process. Critically reviews the issues of fair trial, speedy trial, free press, calendar control, judicial responsibility and new technology. Students analyze the roles of the legal actors, problems of lower, trial and appellate courts and the distribution of judicial powers.
CJA 352 Criminal Law and Procedure – 4.50
A survey of jurisprudential philosophy and case study of common law and statutory crimes. Discusses historical development, theory, principles and functions of criminal law. Also covers elements of due process, rule of law and the role of the constitution in protecting rights.
CJA 356 Criminal Evidence – 4.50
A study of the elements of criminal law as applied to various theories of criminal evidence to enhance understanding of the various issues facing prosecutors, criminal justice practitioners and law enforcement agents. This course will explore the application of evidentiary issues and its relationship to investigations and criminal conduct.
Degree and Course Requirements
To receive the AA degree in General Education, students must complete at least 90 quarter units, 18 of which must be taken in residence at Berkshire University. Of the 90 units required, 69 must fall into the areas of General Education as listed below. A list of courses for each category can be found in the General Education section of the Catalog under General Education for Bachelor Degrees. In the absence of transfer credit, additional general elective courses may be taken to fulfill the total unit requirement for the degree.
The General Education Program consists of a minimum of 69 quarter units. Of the 69 units, students must complete at least 4.5 units at the upper-division level and 4.5 units in diversity enriched coursework. A plus [+] indicates a diversity enriched offering.
Students are urged to meet English and mathematics requirements as early as possible in their college studies to avoid serious difficulties in other coursework. Refer to the section on Undergraduate Admission Procedures for specific information regarding application and placement evaluation.
AREA A: English Communication (Minimum 13.5 quarter units)
AREA B: Mathematical Concepts & Quantitative Reasoning (Minimum 4.5 quarter units)
AREA C: Information Literacy (Minimum 4.5 quarter units)
AREA D: Arts, Humanities, & Languages (Minimum 18 quarter units in at least 2 areas)
AREA E: Social & Behavioral Sciences (Minimum 13.5 quarter units)
AREA F: Physical & Biological Sciences (Minimum 6 quarter units)*
*Note: one science lab is required
AREA G: Lifelong Learning & Self Development (Minimum 4.5 quarter units)
AREA A-G: General Education (Minimum 4.5 quarter units)
Program Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:
Demonstrate skills for self-development that contribute to lifelong learning.
Demonstrate literacy in written and oral communication.
Apply information literacy skills in developing research projects and presentations.
Demonstrate a capacity for responsible citizenship in a diverse society.
Demonstrate awareness of past and present human and cultural diversity.
Identify ethical issues raised in different disciplines.
Demonstrate scientific and quantitative literacy skills in appraising information and solving problems.
Demonstrate the ability to use the elements of critical thinking to analyze issues, solve problems, and make decisions.
Demonstrate the ability to work successfully in a team.
Demonstrate creative thinking in expression or problem solving.
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