MSU-Northern General Education Core

The general education core allows you (the student) to reaffirm your common experiences, to redefine your common goals, and to provide a foundation for confronting your common problems. The courses selected for inclusion in the general education core emphasize communication and techniques of creative inquiry that are used in all disciplines.

Montana State University-Northern defines seven (7) categories within the general education core. The categories and the outcomes for each category are defined below.

Category I – Communication

You (the student), upon successful completion of course(s) within this category, should be able to:

Writing: (3 credits)

1. Write clear, accurate sentences and paragraphs in Standard American English.
2. Write extended papers which effectively develop and support theses, tell stories, describe events, and/or express feelings, insights and personal values.
3. Demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively through the forms of writing most common in the student's chosen career area.
4. Identify and incorporate research materials into informative and analytical writing.
5. Demonstrate understanding and recognition of plagiarism.

Human Interaction: (3 credits)

1. Recognize the importance of communication in human interactions.

2. Recognize and articulate the components of human communication.

3. Identify verbal and nonverbal aspects of message creation.

4. Demonstrate how listening skills and other variables affect how we interpret both the verbal and non-verbal messages sent by others.

5. Describe the environmental factors that influence the outcomes of communication.

Category II - Mathematics

You (the student), upon successful completion of course(s) within this category, should be able to:

1. Solve problems through mathematical reasoning.
2. Describe or demonstrate how mathematical models or statistical designs are used to obtain knowledge in several disciplines.
3. Perform mathematical applications beyond intermediate algebra.

Category III - Natural Sciences

You (the student), upon successful completion of course(s) within this category, should be able to:

1. Demonstrate basic foundational competence in the principles and theories used in the natural sciences.
2. Define, describe, and apply the scientific method.
3. Convey ideas using language and presentation skills specific appropriate to the natural sciences.
4. Use critical thinking to synthesize information, evaluate assumptions and claims, and draw evidence based conclusions.

Category IV - Social Sciences/History

You (the student), upon successful completion of course(s) within this category, should be able to:

1. Describe processes of continuity and change which have shaped events up to the present.
2. Identify and describe the characteristics of major era in world history or international relations, or a distinct social movement, thereby providing a framework for comprehending aspects of human experience.
3. Explain how human experiences give rise to movements, institutions, traditions, and ideas which have a subsequent influence.
4. Analyze factors leading to the dominance, suppression, or acceptance of selected racial, gender, ethnic, class and/or religious groups.
5. Use factual and interpretive information to analyze and draw conclusions on historical or political hypotheses in selected areas of the social sciences.

Category V - Cultural Diversity

You (the student), upon successful completion of course(s) within this category, should be able to:

1.  Compare and contrast, identify and understand cultural worldviews.
2. Analyze social issues, social structures, behavior of cultures and subcultures.
3. Examine how generalizations, stereotyping and prejudices develop, and how they impact culture.
4. Recognize and/or demonstrate an appreciation of and respect for different cultures through language and communication.

Category VI- Humanities Appreciation/Creative Arts

You (the student), upon successful completion of course(s) within this category, should be able to:

Humanities Appreciation sub-category

1. Discuss great works of literature, drama or visual art.
2. Ascertains the aesthetic, entertainment, and historical value of works within the humanities.
3. Recognize the expression of cultural values in works of literature, music, theatre, and visual art, and the ways the arts shape culture.

Creative Arts sub-category

1. Demonstrate skills in practice of a fine art, such as visual art, performing art, or literary art.
2. Describe the basic elements and practices of a fine art.
3. Demonstrate an appreciation for the creative process as it is express in master work of a fine art.

Category VII - Technology

You (the student), upon successful completion of course(s) within this category, should be able to:

1. Explain the impact of technology on society and how society impacts technology.
2. Understand technology's role in problem solving and communications.
3. Discuss the ethical, legal and social concerns stemming from advances in technology.
4. Demonstrate an ability to use technology within a discipline.
5. Demonstrate an introductory level of technical literacy.

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Students planning to transfer to another institution before completing Northern’s General Education Core would be well advised to take courses from the MUS Transferable Core found on page 15 of this catalog.