Graduates of all associate's degree programs should be competent in five fundamental areas: reading, writing, oral communication, fundamental mathematical skills, and the basic use of computers. Students must demonstrate this competence as follows:

• Reading.  All associate's degree students are required to show reading competence through appropriate scores on reading competence tests. Those who cannot demonstrate this competence are required to take one or more developmental reading courses and must demonstrate competence prior to entering English 111, which is required of all students graduating with an associate's degree.
• Writing.  All associate's degree students are required to take English 111, Expository Writing. The final writing assignment for students in this class is evaluated for writing competence based on a recognized grading rubric. Students must demonstrate writing competence in order to pass the course.
• Oral Communication.  All associate's degree students are required to take English 112, Argument-Based Research, or English 114, Professional Research and Reporting. Each of these classes contains an oral communication component. Each student's competence is evaluated based on a recognized grading rubric. Students must demonstrate competence in oral communication in order to pass the course. Successful completion of an oral communication (COM) course also will satisfy this requirement.
• Mathematical Skills. All associate's degree students are required to show mathematical competence through appropriate scores on competence tests. Those who cannot demonstrate this competence are required to take one or more developmental mathematics classes prior to entering their associate's degree programs. All graduates of associate's degree programs are required to complete successfully at least one mathematics or laboratory-based quantitative science course.
• Basic Use of Computers.  All students who graduate with associate's degrees are required to successfully complete English 111, Expository Writing. In order to complete this class, all students are required to show competency in the following basic computer skills: creating and storing files, using a word processor to create a properly formatted document, transporting files by way of networks, using computer-based communications, and performing Internet-based searching and retrieval of information. These skills are reinforced in both ENG 112 and ENG 114, either of which is required for all associate's degree programs. Successful completion of a computer (CIS) course also will satisfy this requirement.
• Any candidate for graduation that has not completed the competencies described above will be separately evaluated and the competencies documented prior to receiving their degree. For example, a student who has been awarded transfer credit for English 111 will be separately evaluated by the English department for basic computer skills since the institution from which the credit was transferred may not have evaluated that competency. Successful completion of courses specifically designed to develop required competencies may be acceptable and must be approved on a case-by-case basis by the dean of instruction.

• ENG 111 emphasizes critical reading and thinking, writing, and the basic use of computers. To pass the course, students must write their assigned essays with Microsoft Word and must receive a passing grade on the final exam essay.
• Essays should follow the formatting features described in MLA Format for Essays and Research Papers.
• Graded essays and the final exam essay will be evaluated by Department of Languages' Criteria for Evaluating an Essay.
• To pass the course, students must demonstrate computer competency, which will be documented with the Department of Languages' Evaluation of Computer Competency Assignment.
• Transfer Credit: Students requesting that the college registrar grant transfer credit for ENG 111 from another college must demonstrate to the department chair of the Department of Languages - through a course description/syllabus from the transferring institution, transfer credit for that course, and either work or credit by examination - that they are competent in writing and basic computer skills as described in the criteria through the hypertext links listed above. For a list of other courses that will demonstrate compentency in basic computer skills, please download the "Verification of Basic Computer Skills and Oral Communication Competency by Transfer Students":
  • Microsoft Word Format
  • Rich Text Format

• ENG 112 emphasizes critical reading, writing, oral communication, and the basic use of computers.
• All students who pass ENG 112 must present all written documents in an approved format written with Microsoft Word, must conduct research via the Internet and library, and must demonstrate oral and written communication competency according to department standards.
• Criteria for Evaluating an Essay on Literature.
• Criteria for Evaluating a Research Paper.
• Criteria for Evaluating an Individual Presentation.
• Criteria for Evaluating a Group Literary Presentation.
• Note: Students requesting that the college registrar grant transfer credit for ENG 112 from another college must demonstrate to the department chair of the Department of Languages - through a course description/syllabus from the transferring institution, transfer credit for that course, or credit by examination - that they are competent in oral communication as described in the criteria through the hypertext links listed above. For a list of other courses that will demonstrate compentency in basic computer skills, please download the "Verification of Basic Computer Skills and Oral Communication Competency by Transfer Students":
  • Microsoft Word Format
  • Rich Text Format

• ENG 114 emphasizes critical reading, writing, oral communication, and the basic use of computers.
• All students who pass ENG 114 must present all written documents in an approved format written with Microsoft Word, must conduct research via the Internet and library, and must demonstrate oral and written communication competency according to department standards.
• Assignments in ENG 114 will be evaluated with several different criteria, depending upon the type of writing.
  • Click here to review the criteria.
• Note: Students requesting that the college registrar grant transfer credit for ENG 114 from another college must demonstrate to the department chair of the Department of Languages - through a course description/syllabus from the transferring institution, transfer credit for that course, or credit by examination - that they are competent in oral communication as described in the criteria through the hypertext links listed above. For a list of other courses that will demonstrate compentency in basic computer skills, please download the "Verification of Basic Computer Skills and Oral Communication Competency by Transfer Students":
  • Microsoft Word Format
  • Rich Text Format

To help students learn how to document their sources correctly, Sandhills provides online resources at the following Internet sites:

1. Learning Resources Center
2. TRAILS: Tools for Research and Advanced Information Literacy Skills
3. Locating and Documenting Sources in MLA Style

The Department also wants every student to be aware of the college policy on academic honesty as published in the Student Handbook:

• The Department of Languages uses the same grading scale in all ENG courses, COM courses, and HUM 160.
• A=100-93; B=92-85; C=84-77; D=76-70; F=69-0

• Click here to review departmental course syllabi and evaluation criteria suitable for printing.