General Education provides a foundation for study across many areas of knowledge.  All students are required to complete the General Education program as an essential component of the baccalaureate degree.

The Purpose of General Education

General education at MSU Billings is designed to advance students as participants in the ongoing accumulation of human knowledge and understanding.  General education courses promote the development of respect for diversity, along with skills in problem solving, critical thinking, and communication necessary for students to be productive and responsible members of their communities.

General Education Minimum Satisfactory Course Grade

By action of the University’s Academic Senate, the minimum satisfactory grade students must earn in a General Education course is “C-” or better.  However, students must earn an overall GPA of 2.0 in the General Education core.  (11/10/05 memo #473 p. 1770)

General Education Programmatic Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the General Education Program at MSUB, students will successfully be able to:

General Education Programmatic Outcomes

Respect Diversity	Problem Solve	Think Critically	Communicate Effectively
1. Express the impact of inequity on the human experience	3. Use statistical or mathematical methods to solve problems	6. Locate and evaluate information from multiple sources	8. Apply communication strategies for specific purposes and audiences
2. Synthesize multiple perspectives in contemporary and historical contexts	4. Use scientific methods to solve problems	7. Synthesize evidence to construct logical arguments	9. Utilize interpersonal skills to collaborate toward a common purpose
	5. Use quantitative and qualitative information to provide solutions to social and/or ethical problems

Categorization

Students will complete 31 credits of General Education, distributed in the following categories.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
I. Global Academic Skills
A. Mathematics		3
B. English		3
C. Communication & Information Literacy		3
II. Natural Sciences
A. Life Sciences		3
B. Physical Science		3
*Lab taken with either Life Sciences or Physical Sciences		1
III. Social Sciences and History
A. Social Sciences		3
B. History		3
IV. Cultural Diversity		3
V. Arts and Humanities
A. Fine Arts		3
B. Humanities		3
Total Minimum Credits		31

Category Descriptions

Global Academic Skills

Global Academic Skills include assessing sources of information, reading, writing, and calculating.

Natural Sciences

Natural science is devoted to discovering the principles that rule the physical universe.

Social Sciences and History

Social sciences represent those disciplines that apply scientific methods to study the network of human relationships and organizations.  History involves the interpretation of diverse sources to understand past societies and events.

Cultural Diversity

Courses in the cultural diversity category facilitate understanding of and interaction between distinct human communities.

Arts and Humanities

The expressive arts include visual, performing, and language-based activities.  The humanities include the study of philosophy, literature, and art history.

General Education Category Learning Objectives

1. Global Academic Skills
   1. Mathematics
      1. Demonstrate ability to solve problems with quantitative information using mathematical and/or statistical methods.
      2. Think critically, analytically and independently about mathematical situations.
      3. Communicate using mathematical terminology and symbols in support of an argument or solution method.
   2. English
      1. Exhibit competency in the use of formal writing conventions, including mechanics, syntax, style, cohesion, and organization.
      2. Select and apply effective writing strategies for specific purposes and audiences.
      3. Integrate primary and secondary source material in original work with appropriate documentation.
   3. Communication & Information Literacy
      1. Engage in research to gather, evaluate, and synthesize information from multiple sources to express ideas.
      2. Access and use information ethically, with appropriate citation, in oral and written communication.
      3. Design audience-centered informative or persuasive messages.
2. Natural Sciences
   1. Life Science
      1. Demonstrate an understanding of living systems by describing their nature, organization, and evolution.
      2. Demonstrate an understanding of the scientific method and how it is used to increase our knowledge of living things.
      3. Make logical connections between key concepts in the life sciences and describe the interaction between human lives and other living things in order to understand the ways the environment impacts humanity and how human actions affect the environment.
   2. Physical Science
      1. Demonstrate an understanding of the physical universe and planet earth, including its origin and physical processes.
      2. Demonstrate an understanding of the scientific method and how it is used to solve problems and increase our knowledge of the physical world.
      3. Make logical connections between key concepts in the physical sciences and human life, including the interactions between the two and their impacts on one another.
3. Social Sciences and History
   1. Social Sciences
      1. Analyze historical and cultural significance in human behavior, ideas, and institutions.
      2. Synthesize multiple perspectives to understand human behavior.
      3. Contextualize information from multiple points in time and place to understand society.
   2. History
      1. Explain historical events and ideas in appropriate context.
      2. Analyze and organize a variety of sources to construct historical knowledge.
      3. Express a historical argument in written form.
4. Cultural Diversity
   1. Articulate an understanding of differences across ethnicities, genders, generations, and other groups of people.
   2. Analyze how cultural differences impact interactions in society.
   3. Describe effective methods to communicate across cultures.
5. Arts and Humanities
   1. Fine Arts
      1. Demonstrate an understanding of the diverse roles the fine arts play in human culture.
      2. Identify and analyze artistic techniques used in aesthetic expression.
      3. Demonstrate an appreciation of the ways in which the arts enrich life.
   2. Humanities
      1. Explain the interrelationship between the humanities and other disciplines.
      2. Describe the ways in which the humanities influence culture and society.
      3. Analyze issues surrounding life, death, ethics, and morality.

General Education Courses

City College at MSU Billings students who wish to pursue a baccalaureate degree must also be aware of the requirements below.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
I. Global Academic Skills
Regarding Global Academic Skills, students are required to take 1 course from Mathematics, 1 course from English, and 1 course from Communication & Information Literacy.
A. Mathematics
Select three credits from the following:		3
M 105	Contemporary Mathematics
M 114	Extended Technical Mathematics
M 121	College Algebra
M 122	College Trigonometry
M 130	Math for Elementary Teachers I
M 140	College Math for Healthcare
M 143	Finite Mathematics
M 161	Survey of Calculus
M 171	Calculus I
STAT 141	Intro to Statistical Concepts
STAT 216	Introduction to Statistics
B. English
Select three credits from the following:		3
WRIT 101	College Writing I
WRIT 121	Intro to Technical Writing
WRIT 122	Intro to Business Writing
C. Communication & Information Literacy
Select three credits from the following:		3
BMIS 150	Cyber Security & Electronic Co
COMX 111	Intro to Public Speaking
COMX 115	Intro to Interpersonal Comm
COMX 210	Communication in Small Groups
HONR 205	Honors Inquiry and Research
LSCI 125	Research in the Info Age
II. Natural Sciences
Regarding Natural Sciences, students are required to take one course from Life Sciences and one course from Physical Sciences. At least one course must include a corresponding laboratory. 1
A. Life Sciences
Select three credits from the following with a corresponding laboratory course if not taken in Physical Sciences:		3-4
BIOB 101	Discover Biology
BIOB 102	Discover Biology Lab
BIOB 121	Fund of Bio for Allied Health
BIOB 123	Fund Bio: Nature of Nutrition
BIOB 160	Principles of Living Systems
BIOB 161	Principles Living Systems Lab
B. Physical Sciences
Select three credits from the following with a corresponding laboratory course if not taken in Life Sciences:		3-4
ASTR 110	Introduction to Astronomy
ASTR 111	Introduction to Astronomy Lab
CHMY 121	Intro to General Chemistry
CHMY 122	Intro to Gen Chem Lab
CHMY 141	College Chemistry I
CHMY 142	College Chemistry I Lab
GEO 101	Intro to Physical Geology
GEO 102	Intro to Physical Geology Lab
GPHY 262	Spatial Sciences Tech and Appl
GPHY 263	Spatial Sciences & Tech Lab
PHSX 103	Our Physical World
PHSX 104	Our Physical World Lab
PHSX 205	College Physics I
PHSX 206	College Physics I Lab
A. and B. Integrated Sciences
SCIN 101	Integrated Sciences I
SCIN 102	Integrated Sciences Lab I
SCIN 103	Integrated Sciences II
SCIN 104	Integrated Science Lab II
III. Social Sciences and History
Regarding Social Sciences and History, students are required to take one course from Social Sciences and one course from History.
A. Social Sciences
Select three credits from the following:		3
BGEN 105B	Introduction to Business
COMX 106	Comm in a Dynamic Workplace
ECNS 201	Principles of Microeconomics
ECNS 202	Principles of Macroeconomics
EDU 105	Education and Democracy
HTH 110	Personal Health and Wellness
PSCI 210	Intro to American Government
PSCI 220	Intro to Comparative Govt
PSYX 100	Intro to Psychology
SOCI 101	Introduction to Sociology
SOCI 201	Social Problems
B. History
Select three credits from the following:		3
HSTA 101	American History I
HSTA 102	American History II
HSTR 159	World History to 1500 CE
HSTR 160	Modern World History
PSCI 230	Intro to International Rel
IV. Cultural Diversity
Regarding Cultural Diversity, students are required to take one course from the following:		3
ANTY 220	Culture & Society
ARTH 160	Global Visual Culture
COMX 212	Intro to Intercultural Comm
GPHY 121	Human Geography
HTH 270	Global Health Issues
LIT 230	World Lit Survey
MUSI 207	World Music
NASX 105	Intro Native American Studies
NASX 205	Native Americans in Contmp Soc
REHA 201	Intro to Diversity in Counslng
RLST 170	The Religious Quest
SPNS 150	The Hispanic Tradition
WGSS 274	Women, Culture & Society
V. Arts and Humanities
Regarding Arts and Humanities, students are required to take one course from Fine Arts and one course from Humanities.
A. Fine Arts
Select three credits from the following:		3
ARTZ 105	Visual Language-Drawing
ARTZ 106	Visual Language-2-D Fndtns
ARTZ 108	Visual Language-3-D Fndtns
ARTZ 131	Ceramics for Non-Majors
CRWR 240	Intro Creative Writing Wrkshp
FILM 160	Introduction to World Cinema
LIT 270	Film & Lit
MUSI 101	Enjoyment of Music
MUSI 114	Band: MSUB Symphonic
MUSI 131	Jazz Ensemble I: MSUB
MUSI 147	Choral Ensemble: Univ Chorus
PHOT 154	Exploring Digital Photography
THTR 101	Introduction to Theatre
B. Humanities
Select three credits from the following:		3
ARTH 150	Introduction to Art History
HONR 111	Perspectives and Understanding
LIT 110	Intro to Literature
LIT 213	Montana Literature
PHL 110	Introduction to Ethics
PHL 111	Philosophies of Life
PHL 254	People and Politics
Total Minimum credits		31

¹

Students can satisfy Natural Sciences by taking SCIN 101, SCIN 102, and either SCIN 103 or SCIN 104.

Bachelor of Applied Science Degree

The Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) degree is available to students with an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree.  If a student has earned an AAS degree from a regionally accredited institution, he or she may enroll on the University campus of MSU Billings (or the other four units within the Montana University System to complete General Education requirements) and take upper division credits in existing areas of study which will complement the student’s AAS credits already earned.  The transferability of the AAS courses will be determined course by course.  Students anticipating transferring are encouraged to consult with their advisor and check the requirement of the institution into which they plan to transfer.  Contact the Advising Center located in McMullen Hall First Floor, (406) 657-2240.