The MiraCosta College Core Competencies describe the broad general education learning outcomes students should have gained when completing transfer preparation (60 units including CSU or IGETC general education) or a degree, and through their exposure to different support and enrichment programs and services. Courses and programs map/align to these larger outcomes, and students gain exposure to some, but not necessarily all of them, from educational experiences that don’t encompass completion of a degree or transfer pattern. These statements were adapted from the “LEAP” Outcomes (Liberal Education and America’s Promise) developed under the auspices of the Association of American Colleges and Universities. The MiraCosta College Core Competencies were approved by the College Council on March 9, 2017.
Upon commencement of studies and progressing toward the completion of an educational goal, MiraCosta College students prepare for twenty-first century challenges by gaining:
Knowledge of Human Cultures and the Physical and Natural World
- Attained through general education and major study in the sciences and mathematics, social and behavioral sciences, humanities, histories, languages, and the arts
Informed by awareness of global issues and trends, focused by engagement with big questions, both contemporary and enduring
Intellectual and Practical Skills, including
- Inquiry, analysis and independent thinking
- Critical and creative thinking
- Quantitative literacy and problem solving
- Information literacy
- Written and oral communication skills
- Integration of knowledge
Practiced extensively across the curriculum in the context of progressively more challenging problems, projects, and standards for performance
Personal and Social Responsibility and Efficacy, including
- Civic knowledge and engagement - local and global
- Intercultural competence and respect for diverse perspectives
- Teamwork and collaborative skills
- Ethical reasoning and action
- Goal-setting / project-planning and completion
- Skills for ongoing personal, academic, and professional growth
Anchored in applied learning through active involvement with real world challenges and diverse environmental, workplace, cultural, and community contexts.
Adoption of the Core Compentecy Assessment Process
Assessments results measuring these outcomes are viewed with a different lens than other assessment results in the course. These assessments are conducted to give us a greater understanding of how students are learning the broad reaching goals in our courses and programs. Upon official adoption of the Core Competencies (CCs) in 2017, instructional departments were required to evaluate and map their course SLOs (CSLOs) to the competencies. Faculty were provided with a list of Core Competencies and their definitions/descriptions related to scoring rubrics that would be used and were developed through the Association of American Colleges & Universities (AACU). In fall semester, the Outcomes Assessment Committee (OAC) drew up plans to pilot the assessment process. Assessment began in the spring of 2018, with two of the fifteen competencies being assessed each semester. Associate faculty and full-time faculty teaching mapped courses in the diverse areas of Plan A are contacted by OAC and asked to participate in the current assessment(s). Faculty meet to discuss the process, calibrate and be trained on the common use of the specific VALUE rubric (AACU reference) prior to each core competency assessment. There is a post meeting in which faculty feedback on the process is solicited so that the process continues to improve. The data is disaggregated and disseminated to the college community.
Core Competency Reports
- Fall 2023 Core Competency Report
- Spring 2023 Core Competency Report
- Fall 2022 Core Competency Report
- Spring 2022 Core Competency Report
- Fall 2021 Core Competency Report
- Spring 2021 Core Competency Report
- Fall 2020 Core Competency Report
- Spring 2019 Core Competency Report
- Fall 2018 Core Competency Report
- Spring 2018 Core Competency Report
Core Competency Dashboard
Core Competency Dashboard - will require login