General Education Requirements
General Education Requirements
General education requirements are the foundation of knowledge upon which all Missouri S&T degrees are built. They are specifically intended to prepare students as citizens who must make informed judgments about issues that go beyond the narrow area of their academic specialization. Students must complete the University General Education Requirements as listed in the undergraduate catalog. With careful planning, some courses may be chosen to meet both University General Education Requirements and one or more of the divisional, degree and major requirements. Students are required to meet with an academic advisor to ensure adequate progress towards the selected degree and major.
More information can be found at: https://catalog.mst.edu/undergraduate/degreeprogramsandcourses/.
University General Education Requirements for all S&T Degrees
These requirements are applicable to students subject to this version of the catalog.
To reference earlier editions of the University Catalog go to Archived Catalogs under the undergraduate catalog selection.
Foundational Goals-(31 credit hours total, distributed in the following areas) (a)
-Mathematical Science (3 credit hours) Choose from Math 1120, 1140, and Math 1210 or higher course number.
-Natural Sciences (7 credit hours including a minimum 1 credit hour of lab) Choose from at least two specific disciplines: Biology 1113 or higher, Chemistry 1301 or higher, Geology 1110 or higher, Physics 1111 or higher.
-Communications (6 credit hours) English 1120 (a) and choose one course from English 1160, English 3560, or Speech & Media 1185.
-Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (15 credit hours) Choose courses from History, Art, Music, Theater, English and Technical Communication, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Economics, Etymology, or Foreign Languages.
-6 credits in the Humanities and Fine Arts, selected from two specific disciplines: History 1300* (b), 1310* (b), Art 1180, Music 1150, Theater 1150, and English 1211, 1212, 1221, 1222, and 1231 (or Non-prerequisite Literature).
- 6 credits in the Behavioral and Social Sciences, selected from two specific disciplines:
History 1100, 1200* (b), 2110, Philosophy 1105, 1115, Political Science 1200* (b), Psychology 1101, Econ 1100 or 1200, Foreign Languages 1101, 1102, and 1180.
- 3 additional credits from any of these Humanities, Art, and Social Sciences disciplines.
*Students must meet the Missouri State Williams Law requirement and can choose from History 1200, 1300, 1310, or Political Science 1200. The selected course will count in the specified Foundational Goal area as one specific discipline.
Transfer Students and University General Education Requirements
S&T general education requirements may be completed at S&T or are considered completed for students who:
- Transfer to S&T with an AA degree from a regionally-accredited Missouri institution or
- Complete CORE 42 at S&T or at another CORE 42 signatory Missouri institution or
- Complete general education at a CORE 42 signatory Missouri institution
Transfer credits for other students are evaluated on a course-by-course basis. All students must complete University graduation requirements beyond the University General Education Requirements.
CORE 42 Transfer Curriculum
The CORE 42 Transfer Curriculum is a block of at least 42 credit hours that will transfer as a block and be considered to have met all General Education Requirements at all Missouri public colleges and universities, as well as independent Missouri institutions that have signed onto the agreement via the Missouri Department of Higher Education (visit https://dhe.mo.gov/core42.php).
Students who complete the CORE 42 curriculum will meet the general education requirements.
To complete the curriculum, students must earn a minimum number of credit hours in five knowledge areas:
- Mathematical sciences – three credit hours
- Natural sciences – seven credit hours, including a course with a lab
- Humanities and fine arts – nine credit hours from at least two disciplines
- Social and behavioral sciences – nine credit hours, including a civics course
- Written and oral communications – nine credit hours (six in written communications and three in oral communications)
Credits earned beyond the minimum in each knowledge area count toward the 42-hour minimum.
MOTR Course Equivalencies
Courses designated with a Missouri Transfer (MOTR) course number, guarantees the one-to-one transfer of these courses among all Missouri public institutions of higher education.
For more information about CORE 42 and MOTR Course Equivalencies, visit https://dhewd.mo.gov/core42.php.
NOTE: Many departments, degrees and majors have more specific requirements for foundation course work in addition to the University General Education Requirement. However, the reverse is not true. Departments or academic units may not have fewer general education requirements than described by the University General Education Requirements. Careful planning will allow students to simultaneously meet University General Education Requirements and prepare for many of the more specific foundation courses required by their field of study.