Tracking Student Progression Through the Core Curriculum

Students in transfer-oriented degree programs at community colleges are often required to complete a general education “core curriculum.” Tracking student progression through the core curriculum, therefore, can help community colleges to better understand the performance of large numbers of students who plan to pursue a bachelor’s degree. This report demonstrates methods for examining student progression through the core curriculum. The authors carry out analyses at two colleges in different states, illustrating students’ overall progression through the core curriculum and the relationship of this “core” progression to their college outcomes. The analyses help to identify core curriculum subject areas in which students do well and those in which they struggle, shedding light on courses and subject areas that college administrators and faculty may want to target in order to improve outcomes for their students.