Montana University System Core

The MUS Core is offered both online and on campus.

In our world of rapid economic, social, and technological change, students need a strong and broadly-based education. General education helps students achieve the intellectual integration and awareness they need to meet challenges in their personal, social, political, and professional lives. General education courses introduce great ideas and controversies in human thought and experience. A solid general education provides a strong foundation for the life-long learning that makes career goals attainable. The breadth, perspective, and rigor provided by the core curriculum helps students become educated people.

Great Falls College Montana State University’s General Education Core reflects the Montana University System’s General Education Core. As students work on the Montana University System General Education Core, they should attempt to select classes that are also required in their major. That efficient use of coursework could help students complete their degrees more quickly, since the classes could be used to satisfy both the requirements of the major and the requirements of the MUS General Education Core.

Upon completion of the 31 credits required in the core, students are eligible to receive a Certificate in General Studies from Great Falls College MSU. The Certificate recognizes the completion of the core and is approved by the Montana University System Board of Regents. Students may use the Certificate to demonstrate completion of the core when transferring within the MUS or as a milestone to earning an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree at Great Falls College MSU.

Graduates are prepared to:

Communication (Written and Oral)

Written Communication

• use writing as a means to engage in critical inquiry by exploring ideas, challenging assumptions, and reflecting on and applying the writing process;
• formulate and support assertions with evidence appropriate to the issues, positions taken, and audiences;
• use documentation appropriately and demonstrate an understanding of the logic of citation systems;
• give and receive feedback on written texts;
• read texts thoughtfully, analytically, and critically in preparation for writing tasks

Oral Communication

• use oral communication as a means to engage in critical inquiry by exploring ideas, challenging assumptions, and reflecting on and applying the oral communications process;
• demonstrate multiple flexible strategies for inventing, drafting, and editing oral presentations;
• deliver thoughtful oral presentations with clarity, accuracy, and fluency;
• listen actively in a variety of situations and speak effectively about their ideas;
• adapt content and mode of presentation to fit a given audience and medium;
• give and receive feedback on oral presentations

Mathematics

• apply the acquired skills to other courses;
• reason analytically and quantitatively;
• think critically and independently about mathematical situations;
• understand the quantitative aspects of current events;
• make informed decisions that involve interpreting quantitative information;
• make informed decisions about their personal and professional lives

Humanities/Fine Arts

Humanities

• explore the human search for meaning and value in one or more time period(s) and cultures;
• recognize, interpret, and respect concepts of values and beliefs in a global society;
• communicate, in writing and in speech, thoughtful and critical assessments of multiple value systems;
• construct and articulate a set of beliefs and values;
• utilize respectful inquiry to understand global concepts, values, and beliefs;
• incorporate humanities perspectives in other areas of study

Fine Arts

• demonstrate the processes and proficiencies involved with creating and/or interpreting creative works;
• reflect upon, analyze, and articulate their personal responses to artistic works and the processes involved in creating them;
• demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of artistic expressions in various past and present cultures;
• connect periods and expressions of art to changes in societies and cultures

Natural Science

• identify and solve problems using methods of the discipline;
• use logical skills to make judgments;
• demonstrate thinking, comprehension, and expression of subject matter;
• communicate effectively using scientific terminology;
• use quantitative skills to solve problems;
• integrate through analysis;
• demonstrate the relationship between actions and consequences;
• discuss the role of science in the development of modern technological civilization

Social Sciences/History

Social Sciences

• analyze how institutions and traditions develop, evolve, and shape the lives of individuals, social and cultural groups, societies, and nations;
• analyze human behavior, ideas, and social institutions for historical and cultural meaning and significance;
• gather information, analyze data, and draw conclusions from multiple hypotheses to understand human behavior;
• synthesize ideas and information with regard to historical causes, the course of events, and their consequences, separated by time and place;
• use factual and interpretive data to support hypotheses based upon appropriate inquiry methodology

History

• analyze historical phenomena in appropriate context;
• weigh and interpret the evidence available to them and present a narrative argument supported by historical evidence;
• recognize the distinction between primary and secondary sources, and understand how each are used to make historical claims;
• recognize and interpret multiple forms of evidence (visual, oral, statistical and material, and print);
• understand the historical construction of differences and similarities among peoples within and across groups, regions, and nations;
• interpret other societies in comparative context and one’s own society in the context of other societies

Cultural Diversity

• demonstrate an awareness of the centrality of cultural diversity to their own and other human societies;
• demonstrate an awareness of the negative impacts upon cultural diversity of economic, social, and other forms of institutional and interpersonal discrimination;
• demonstrate competence and effectiveness in interacting with culturally diverse people by understanding cross- and inter-cultural interaction and communication;
• demonstrate the ability to advocate for non-discriminatory policies and behaviors on their own behalf and on behalf of others, including peers, clients, and colleagues

Cultural Heritage of American Indians

Courses include significant content related to the cultural heritage of American Indians.

Many students need preliminary math, science, and writing courses before enrolling in the program requirements. These courses may increase the total number of program credits. Students should review their math and writing placement before planning out their full program schedules.

As students work on the MUS General Education Core, they should attempt to elect classes that are required in their major. That efficient use of coursework could help students complete their degree more quickly, since the classes could be used to satisfy both the requirements of the major and the requirements of the MUS General Education Core.

Transfer students should consult with the intended receiving institution to determine whether or not additional core courses may be required to satisfy that institution's General Education Core.

Offered Online And On Campus

Montana University System Core Courses

Communication - 6 Credits (3 credits written, 3 credits verbal)

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Written
WRIT 101	College Writing I **,+	3
Verbal
COMX 111	Introduction to Public Speaking +	3
COMX 115	Introduction to Interpersonal Communication +	3

Mathematics - 3 Credits

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
M 105	Contemporary Mathematics **,+	3
M 121	College Algebra **,+	3
M 140	College Math for Healthcare **, +	3
M 151	Precalculus **,+	4
M 171	Calculus I **,+	4
M 172	Calculus II *,+	4
M 273	Multivariable Calculus *,+	4
STAT 216	Introduction to Statistics **,+	4

Humanities/Fine Arts - 6 Credits

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Humanities
BGEN 220	Business Ethics and Social Responsibility +	3
CRWR 240	Introduction Creative Writing Workshop +	3
LIT 110	Introduction to Literature +	3
LIT 270	Film and Literature **,+	3
LIT 285	Mythologies (Can only be counted for Humanities OR Cultural Diversity) +	3
LSH 201	Introduction to the Humanities +	3
PHL 101	Introduction to Philosophy +	3
PHL 110	Introduction to Ethics +	3
WGSS 242	Gender and Equality +	3
Fine Arts
ARTH 160	Global Visual Culture +	3
ARTZ 101	Art Fundamentals +	3
ARTZ 105	Visual Language-Drawing +	3
ARTZ 106	Visual Language -2-D Foundations +	3
ARTZ 224	Watercolor I +	3
MUSI 101	Enjoyment of Music +	3
MUSI 103	Fundamentals of Musical Creation +	3
MUSI 203	American Popular Music +	3
MUSI 207	World Music (= to 307) +	3
PHOT 154	Exploring Digital Photography +	3

Natural Science - 7 Credits (Must include 1 lab course)

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
BIOB 101	Discover Biology w/ Lab +	4
BIOB 160	Principles of Living Systems w/ Lab *,+	4
BIOB 170	Principles of Biological Diversity w/ Lab *,+	4
BIOH 104	Basic Human Biology w/ Lab +	4
BIOH 108	Basic Anatomy +	4
BIOH 112	Human Form and Function I +	4
CHMY 101	Discover Chemistry **,+	3
CHMY 121	Intro to General Chem w/Lab **,+	4
CHMY 141	College Chemistry I w/Lab **,+	4
CHMY 143	College Chemistry II w/Lab *,+	4
GEO 101	Introduction to Physical Geology w/Lab +	4
NUTR 221	Basic Human Nutrition +	3
PHSX 105	Fundamentals of Physical Science w/Lab +	4
PHSX 205	College Physics I w/Lab **,+	4
PHSX 220	Physics I w/Lab **,+	4

Social Sciences/History - 6 Credits

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Social Sciences
ANTY 101	Anthropology and the Human Experience (Can only be counted for Social Sciences OR Cultural Diversity) +	3
BGEN 105	Introduction to Business +	3
CJUS 121	Introduction to Criminal Justice +	3
ECNS 201	Principles of Microeconomics +	3
ECNS 202	Principles of Macroeconomics +	3
PSCI 210	Introduction to American Government +	3
PSYX 100	Introduction to Psychology +	3
PSYX 230	Developmental Psychology +	3
PSYX 240	Fundamentals of Abnormal Psychology *,+	3
SOCI 101	Introduction to Sociology +	3
History
HSTA 101	American History I (N) +	3
HSTA 102	American History II (N) +	3
HSTA 255	Montana History (N) +	3
HSTR 160	Modern World History +	3
NASX 105	Introduction to Native American Studies ((N) Can only be counted for History OR Cultural Diversity) +	3

Cultural Diversity - 3 Credits

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
ANTY 101	Anthropology and the Human Experience (Can only be counted for Social Sciences OR Cultural Diversity) +	3
CAS 140	Addictions and Diversity (N) +	3
LIT 285	Mythologies (Can only be counted for Humanities OR Cultural Diversity) +	3
NASX 105	Introduction to Native American Studies ((N) Can only be counted for History OR Cultural Diversity) +	3
NASX 204	Introduction to Native American Beliefs and Philosophy (N) +	3
NASX 232	Montana Indians: Cultures, Histories, Current Issues (= to 332) (N) +	3
NASX 240	Native American Literature (=340) (N) +	3
SIGN 101	Introduction to American Sign Language +	3
SPNS 101	Elementary Spanish I +	4
SPNS 102	Elementary Spanish II *,+	4

Cultural Heritage of American Indians - 3 Credits

Courses with an “N” behind the course title will fulfill the Cultural Heritage of American Indians requirement as well as a designated core area requirement.⁺

Total Credits - 31

+

 A grade of C- or above is required for graduation.

*

 Indicates prerequisite needed.

**

 Placement in courses(s) is determined by placement assessment.