General Education Core

Montana State University – Northern General Education Core

All students seeking an associate of arts, associate of science, or bachelor’s degree at Montana State University-Northern are required to fulfill course work within each of the seven General Education categories as listed below:

Associate of Arts (A.A.)
Associate of Science (A.S.) 
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

Discipline Area Minimum Required
CAT I: Communication 6 credits
CAT II: Mathematics 3 credits
CAT III: Natural Science (with lab) 6 credits
CAT IV: Social Science/History 6 credits
CAT V: Cultural Diversity 3 credits
CAT VI: Humanities Appreciation/Creative Arts 6 credits
CAT VII: Technology 3 credits
Total General Education Core Credits 33 credits

The following courses will satisfy the various categories of general education. If general education core classes are required in a program area, they can be counted towards fulfilling the general education core as well as the program requirement. (However, the number of the credits for the course only counts once toward the total credits of the degree). Students who transfer course work to MSU-Northern will have general education courses counted in the same category as the transferring institution, even if the course is not offered at MSU-Northern. NOTE: Different departments and academic units specify particular courses within a category to meet degree requirements.  Students are urged to consult their academic advisor and the course requirements for their degree prior to selecting courses in General Education.

Category I (CAT I) Communication (6 credits) General Education Code: C1 WRIT 101 OR WRIT 122 AND COMX 111 OR COMX 115 OR WRIT 350
Category II (CAT II) Mathematics General Education Code: C2 M 112, M 121, M 130, M 131, M 105, M 151, M 162, M 171, M 172, STAT 216
Category III (CAT III) Students must take one science course that includes a lab. See course description to verify this requirement. Natural Sciences (6 credits) General Education Code: C3 and C3L BIOB 160/161, BIOB 101/102, BIOE 110, BIOH 104, BIOM 250/251, BIOO 200/221, BIOH 201/202, BIOH 211/212, BIOB 272, BIOB 290, CHMY 121/122. CHMY 123/124, CHMY 141/142, CHMY 143/144, ENSC 245, GEO 101/102, GEO 206, GEO 211/212, GEO 314, GPHY 111, PHSX 105/106, PHSX 205/206, PHSX 207/208, TSCI 304
Category IV (CAT IV) Social Sciences/History (6 credits) General Education Code: C4 and C5 CMLD 101, ECNS 201, ECNS 202, ECNS 372, HSTA 101, HSTA 102, HSTA 255, HSTR 101, HSTR 102, PSCI 210, PSCI 250, PSCI 260, PSCI 471, PSYX 100, PSYX 150, PSYX 230, SOCI 101, SOCI 211, SOCI 241, SOSC 201
Category V (CAT V) Cultural Diversity (3 credits) General Education Code: C6 NASX 105, NASX 232, NASX 235, NASX 304, NASX 310, NASX 340, NASX 376, NASX 120, GRMN 101, SOCI 315, COMX 212, SPNS 101, LIT 285, LIT 230, FILM 160, NRSG 361, BGEN 360
Category VI (CAT VI) It is recommended that baccalaureate candidates complete at least one course in each sub category, for a total of 6 credits. Humanities Appreciation/Creative Arts (6 credits) General Education Code: C7 and C8 ARTZ 105, ARTZ 106, ARTZ 231, ARTZ 284, ARTH 160, ARTH 330, ARTH 340, LIT 110, LIT 210, LIT 211, LIT 230, MUSI 201, PHIL 200, PHIL 210, THTR 105, THTR 101, THTR 120, THTR 208, MUSI 132, MUSI 105, LIT 285, FILM 160, LIT 270, CRWR 240, GRMN 101, LSH 201, LIT 223, LIT 224, LIT 382, LIT 309, NRSG 305
Category VII (CAT VII) Technology (3 credits) General Education Code: C9 AOT 301, CAPP 120, CAPP 151, EDU 270, IT 100, GDSN 231, NRSG 320