General Education at Danville Area Community College has two purposes: first, to develop skills in communication and in mathematics that will be necessary for success in college, the community, and the working world; second, to acquaint students with the breadth of knowledge and the methods of inquiry in the natural sciences, the social sciences, and the humanities.

The following areas are included in the General Education requirements at Danville Area Community College:

1. Communications: The study of the skills of discourse—collecting, preparing, and presenting ideas in written and oral form.
2. Humanities: The study of literature, language, philosophy, and fine arts to analyze values, to stimulate speculation and creativity, and to explore the meaning of human existence.
3. Mathematics: The study of numbers and their operations, measurement, and relationships, and the use of computational methods in problem solving.
4. Science: The study of life and physical sciences directed toward the application of the scientific method of inquiry to natural phenomena.
5. Social Science: The study of psychological, social, historical, and political behavior directed toward an understanding of human continuity and change.

Non-Western Culture: Students seeking an AS or AA degree are recommended to take a non-western culture class from either the humanities or the social science categories.

Human Relations: Students seeking an AS, AA, AES, AGS, AAS, AFA or AFAE degree are required to take a minimum of one course as part of their general education program which contains instruction on improving human relations, including race, ethnicity, gender, and other issues related to improving human relations to address racism and sexual harassment. This requirement is in compliance with Public Act 87-581.