General Education requirements serve as a valuable component in a student's university education. When taking these classes, many students are advised to consider evening and hybrid courses, especially if they have competing job or family obligations.
However, because university students must be well-rounded as learners, "core" classes are the same for students of all academic majors. Students majoring in a liberal arts course such as history or English, must pass a required number of mathematics and sciences courses. In the same way, students majoring in the sciences or in business administration, must successfully pass core courses in composition or history.
Virtually all of these core classes, also known as "general education requirements" can be completed by taking evening or online courses at Missouri Southern State University.
The general education curriculum constitute the 43 semester hour block that meets the State of Missouri general education goals and standards set by MSSU.
A. SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES 9 HOURS
1. Social Science 6 HOURS:
ANTH 101 General Anthropology 3 Hours
ECON 101 Economics Social Issues 3 Hours
ECON 201 Principles of Econ Macro 3 Hours
ECON 202 Principles of Econ Micro 3 Hours
GEOG 111 World Regional Geography 3 Hours
HIST 180 Modern Global History 1450-Present 3 Hours
PSY 100 General Psychology 3 Hours
SOC 110 Introduction to Sociology 3 Hours
2. CIVICS 3 HOURS:
HIST 110 U.S. History 1492-1877 3 Hours
HIST 120 U.S. History 1877-Present 3 Hours
PSC 120 American Government 3 Hours
B. COMMUNICATION 9 hours
1. WRITTEN COMMUNICATION 6 HOURS:
ENG 101 College Composition I 3 Hours
ENG 102 College Composition II 3 Hours
ENG 111 Adv. College Composition 3 Hours
2. ORAL COMMUNICATION 3 HOURS:
COMM 100 Oral Communication 3 hours
COMM 101 Intro to Human COmmunication
TH 220 Professional Interaction
C. NATURAL SCIENCES (Minimum one course with a lab) 7HOURS:
Two different MOTR disciplines (ASTR, BIOL, CHEM, GEOG, GEOL, LIFS, PHYS)
1. NON-LAB COURSES 3 HOURS:
BIO 102 General Biology 3 Hours
BIO 108 Principles of Biology I 3 Hours
CHEM 121 Chemistry for Allied Health Science 3 Hours
CHEM 140 Gen Chemistry I 3 Hours
EH 107 Environmental Science 3 Hours
GEOG 120 Introduction to Physical Geography 3 Hours
PHYS 120 Fund of Physical Science 3 Hours
PHYS 130 Astronomy 3 Hours
BIO 108, CHEM 121 and CHEM 140 have corresponding lab courses
2. COURSES WITH LABS 4 HOURS:
BIO 101 General Biology/Lab 4 Hours
BIO 109 Principles of Biology I Lab 1 Hour
BIO 121 Human Anatomy & Physiology I/Lab 4 Hours
BIO 180 Essential Anatomy &Physiology 4 Hours
CHEM 122 Chemistry for Allied Health Science Lab 1 Hour
CHEM 141 Gen Chemistry I Lab 1 Hour
GEOG 201 Physical Geography/Lab 4 Hours
GEOL 120 Introduction to Geology/Lab 4 Hours
GEOL 185 Introduction to Meteorology/Lab 4 Hours
PHYS 121 Fund Physical Sci W/Lab 4 Hours
PHYS 160 Elem Coll Physics I W/Lab 4 Hours
PHYS 270 General Physics W/Lab 4 Hours
D. MATHEMATICS 3 hours
MATH 120 Math for Elementary Teachers II 3 Hours
MATH 125 Contemporary Mathematics 3 Hours
MATH 129 Finite Mathematics (not currently offered) 3 Hours
MATH 130 College Algebra 3 Hours
MATH 135 Trigonometry 3 Hours
MATH 140 Algebra & Trigonometry 5 Hours
MATH 150 Calculus w/Analytic Geo I 5 Hours
E. HUMANITIES AND FINE ARTS/GLOBAL COMP/HEALTH & WELLNESS 14 hours
1. HUMANITIES 6 HOURS:
CHI 103 Survival Chinese 5 Hours
CHI 203 Intermediate Chinese I 3 Hours
ENG 240 Short Story 3 Hours
ENG 250 Introduction to Literature 3 Hours
ENG 261, 262 World Literature 3 Hours
ENG 271, 272 British Literature 3 Hours
ENG 281, 282 American Literature 3 Hours
FREN 101 Beginning French I 3 Hours
FREN 102 Beginning French II 3 Hours
HIST 130 Western Civilization to 1660 3 Hours
HIST 140 Western Civilization since 1660 3 Hours
HS 312 Biomedical Ethics 3 Hours
JPN 103 Survival Japanese 5 Hours
JPN 205 Basic Japanese Grammar 3 Hours
ML 150 East Asian Culture China & Japan 3 Hours
PHIL 201 Introduction to Philosophy 3 Hours
PHIL 212 Ethics 3 Hours
PHIL 312 Biomedical Ethics 3 Hours
SPAN 100 Workplace & Travel Spanish 3 Hours
SPAN 101 Beginning Spanish I 3 Hours
SPAN 102 Beginning Spanish II 3 Hours
TH 252 Intro to Western Drama 3 Hours
2. FINE ARTS 3 HOURS:
ART 110 Art Appreciation 3 Hours
ART 251 Art History Pre-Historic Thru Gothic 3 Hours
ART 252 Art History Renais. thru 19th Century 3 Hours
MUS 101 Jazz Styles & Appreciation 3 Hours
MUS 106 World Music 3 Hours
MUS 110 Music Appreciation 3 Hours
TH 110 Theatre Appreciation 3 Hours
3. GLOBAL COMPETENCIES 3 HOURS:
ANTH 155 Physical Anthropology & Archeology 3 Hours
ANTH 342 Comparative Cultures 3 Hours
CHI 103 Survival Chinese 5 Hours
CHI 203 Intermediate Chinese I 3 Hours
CJ 301 International Justice Systems 3 Hours
CJ 370 International Terrorism 3 Hours
COMM 305 Intercultural Communication 3 Hours
EDUC 280 Education in the Global Society 3 Hours
FREN 101 Beginning French I 3 Hours
FREN 102 Beginning French II 3 Hours
GEOG 111 World Regional Geography 3 Hours
GEOG 310 Human Geography 3 Hours
HIST 130 Western Civilization to 1660 3 Hours
HIST 140 Western Civilization since 1660 3 Hours
HIST 150 Asian Civilizations 3 Hours
HIST 160 History of Latin America 3 Hours
HIST 180 Modern Global History 1450-Present 3 Hours
HS 305 Intercultural Communication 3 Hours
IB 310 International Business 3 Hours
INTS 201 Intro to International Studies 3 Hours
INTS 306 Introduction to Global Health 3 Hours
JPN 103 Survival Japanese 5 Hours
JPN 205 Basic Japanese Grammar 3 Hours
ML 150 East Asian Culture China & Japan 3 Hours
PHIL 320 Comparative Religion 3 Hours
SOC 303 The Arab World 3 Hours
SPAN 100 Workplace &Travel Spanish 3 Hours
SPAN 101 Beginning Spanish I 3 Hours
SPAN 102 Beginning Spanish II 3 Hours
4. HEALTH AND WELLNESS 2 HOURS:
KINE 103 Lifetime Wellness 2 Hours
F. UNIVERSITY EXPERIENCE 3 hours
UE 100 University Experience 1 Hour
HNRS 101 Honors Forum 2 Hours
BIO 100 Freshman Seminar (YTL students only) 1 Hour
TOTAL GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS 43 HOURS
A. SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES 6 HOURS
1. SELECT ONE:
ANTH 101 General Anthropology (ANTH 101) 3 Hours
ECON 101 Economics Social Issues (ECON 100) 3 Hours
ECON 201 Principles of Econ Macro (ECON 101) 3 Hours
ECON 202 Principles of Econ Micro (ECON 102) 3 Hours
GEOG 111 World Regional Geography (GEOG 101) 3 Hours
HIST 180 Modern Global Hist 1450-Present (HIST 202) 3 Hours
PSY 100 General Psychology (PSYC 100) 3 Hours
SOC 110 Introduction to Sociology (SOCI 100) 3 Hours
2. CIVICS: SELECT ONE
HIST 110 U.S. History 1492-1877 (HIST 101) 3 Hours
HIST 120 U.S. History 1877-Present (HIST 102) 3 Hours
PSC 120 American Government (POSC 101) 3 Hours
B COMMUNICATION 6 HOURS:
1. WRITTEN COMMUNICATION 3 HOURS
ENG 101 College Composition 1 (ENGL 100) 3 Hours
2. ORAL COMMUNICATION 3 HOURS
COMM 100 Oral Communication (COMM 110) 3 Hours
COMM 101 Intro to Human Communication (COMM 100) 3 Hours
TH 220 Professional Interaction (COMM 125) 3 Hours
C. NATURAL SCIENCES 3 HOURS
BIO 102 General Biology (BIOL 100) 3 Hours
EH 107 Environmental Science (PHYS 110EV) 3 Hours
GEOG 120 Introduction to Physical Geography (GEOG 100) 3 Hours
PHYS 120 Fund of Physical Science (PHYS 110) 3 Hours
PHYS 130 Astronomy (ASTR 100) 3 Hours
BIO 101 General Biology/Lab (BIOL 100L) 4 Hours
BIO 108 Principles of Biology I (BIOL 150) 3 Hours
BIO 109 Principles of Biology I Lab (w/108 BIOL 150L) 1 Hour
BIO 121 Human Anatomy & Physiology I/Lab (LIFS 150LAP) 4 Hours
BIO 180 Essential Anatomy & Biology/Lab (LIFS 100LAP)4 Hours
CHEM 121 Chemistry for Allied Health Science (CHEM 100HP) 3 Hours
CHEM 122 Chem for Allied Hlth Sci Lab (w/121 CHEM 100LHP) 1 Hour
CHEM 140 Gen Chemistry I (CHEM 150) 3 Hours
CHEM 141 Gen Chemistry I Lab (w/140 CHEM 150L) 1 Hour
GEOG 201 Physical Geography/Lab (GEOG 100L) 4 Hours
GEOL 120 Introduction to Geology/Lab (GEOL 100L) 4 Hours
GEOL 185 Introduction to Meteorology/Lab 4 Hours
PHYS 121 Fund Physical Sci W/Lab (PHYS 110L) 4 Hours
PHYS 160 Elem Coll Physics I W/Lab (PHYS 150L) 4 Hours
PHYS 270 General Physics W/Lab (PHYS 200L) 4 Hours
Some majors may require a 4 hour science course. Consult with advisor recommended science course.
D. MATHEMATICS 3 HOURS
MATH 30 (or above) 3 Hours
Consult with major advisor for recommended MATH course.
E. HUMANITIES AND FINE ARTS 3 HOURS
A. SELECT ONE:
ART 110 Art Appreciation (ARTS 100) 3 Hours
ART 251 Art History Pre-Historic Thru Gothic (ARTS 101) 3 Hours
ART 252 Art History Renais. thru 19th Century (ARTS 102) 3 Hours
CHI 103 Survival Chinese 5 Hours
CHI 203 Intermediate Chinese I 3 Hours
ENG 240 Short Story (LITR 100F) 3 Hours
ENG 250 Introduction to Literature (LITR 100) 3 Hours
ENG 261, 262 World Literature (LITR 200A/200M ) 3 Hours
ENG 271, 272 British Literature (LITR 102A/102B) 3 Hours
ENG 281, 282 American Literature (LITR 101A/101B) 3 Hours
FREN 101 Beginning French I (LANG 101) 3 Hours
FREN 102 Beginning French II (LANG 102) 3 Hours
HIST 130 Western Civilization to 1660 (WCIV 101) 3 Hours
HIST 140 Western Civilization since 1660 (WCIV 102) 3 Hours
HS 312 Biomedical Ethics 3 Hours
JPN 103 Survival Japanese 5 Hours
JPN 205 Basic Japanese Grammar 3 Hours
ML 150 East Asian Culture China & Japan 3 Hours
MUS 101 Jazz Styles & Appreciation (MUSC 100J) 3 Hours
MUS 106 World Music (MUSC 102) 3 Hours
MUS 110 Music Appreciation (MUSC 100) 3 Hours
PHIL 201 Introduction to Philosophy (PHIL 100) 3 Hours
PHIL 212 Ethics (PHIL 102) 3 Hours
SPAN 100 Workplace & Travel Spanish 3 Hours
SPAN 101 Beginning Spanish I (LANG103) 3 Hours
SPAN 102 Beginning Spanish II (LANG104) 3 Hours
TH 110 Theatre Appreciation (THEA 100A) 3 Hours
TH 252 Intro to Western Drama 3 Hours
B. HEALTH AND WELLNESS 2 HOURS
KINE 103 Lifetime Wellness 2 Hours
TOTAL GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS 23 HOURS
Students not meeting ACT scores in certain subject areas may be required to take remedial classes in college to prepare them for the core classes. These remedial courses may not count toward university graduation.
For assistance in choosing General Education courses at Missouri Southern State University, contact your academic advisor or the department of Advising, Counseling and Testing Services (ACTS) at 417-625-6324 or acts@mssu.edu.
