1.6: Course Competencies

Criterion Overview

Course competencies identify the knowledge, skills, and abilities students are expected to develop by the end of the course. Established through the Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) curriculum approval process, these competencies provide the instructional foundation for every course and promote consistency across sections, instructors, and colleges.

Including the official MCCCD course competencies in the syllabus helps students understand the overall purpose of the course and the learning they are expected to achieve. While competencies represent the broad outcomes of the course, they also serve as the foundation from which module objectives, learning activities, and assessments are developed.

Faculty should include the official course competencies exactly as approved through the MCCCD Curriculum system and ensure they are easy for students to locate within the syllabus. More importantly, instructors should use those competencies to guide instructional design so that students have meaningful opportunities to develop and demonstrate each competency throughout the course.

Why It Matters

Course competencies communicate the "big picture" of student learning. They define what students should know and be able to do upon successful completion of the course while providing a common instructional framework across the district.

When students understand the intended outcomes of the course, they are better able to recognize the purpose behind assignments, activities, and assessments. This transparency encourages students to take greater ownership of their learning and helps them connect individual learning experiences to broader academic, transfer, and professional goals.

For instructors, course competencies serve as the foundation for instructional design. Every module objective, learning activity, and assessment should intentionally support one or more of the approved course competencies. Establishing this alignment creates a cohesive learning experience that ensures students are practicing and demonstrating the knowledge and skills the course was designed to develop.

What This Looks Like

The official MCCCD course competencies are included in the course syllabus and presented exactly as approved through the MCCCD Curriculum system.

A well-designed course typically includes:

• Official MCCCD course competencies included in the syllabus.
• Competencies presented exactly as approved through the district curriculum process.
• Competencies located in a clearly identified section of the syllabus.
• Module objectives that support one or more course competencies.
• Learning activities and assessments intentionally aligned to the stated competencies.
• Instruction that consistently reinforces the connection between course activities and the broader course outcomes.

Students can see how the work they complete throughout the semester contributes to achieving the overall goals of the course.

Design Tips

Ask yourself: Could a student explain how the assignments, activities, and assessments in this course help them achieve the stated course competencies?

✔ Always use the official MCCCD course competencies as published through the district curriculum system.

✔ Include competencies in a consistent location within the syllabus so students know where to find them.

✔ Introduce competencies early in the course and explain why they are important.

✔ Design module objectives, learning activities, and assessments that intentionally support one or more course competencies.

✔ Avoid creating activities that do not contribute to the stated course competencies.

✔ Periodically review the official curriculum to ensure competencies remain current following curriculum revisions.

✔ Consider creating a simple course map that illustrates the relationship between course competencies, module objectives, learning activities, and assessments.

✔ Help students recognize the relevance of the competencies by connecting them to transfer pathways, professional practice, and real-world applications whenever appropriate.