Academic Catalog

General Education in the Liberal Arts and Sciences Curriculum

The General Education (referred to as gen ed) Requirements at Muskingum University ensure the breadth inherent in a liberal arts education. A liberal arts education requires that students understand the foundations of knowledge and inquiry about nature, culture, self, and society; that students master core skills of perception, analysis, and expression; that students recognize the importance of historical and cultural contexts; and that students explore connections among formal learning, citizenship, and service to our communities. Students will take most of their gen ed requirements in their freshman and sophomore years, along with some courses in their major or other elective courses.

Core Requirements

Forming the core of the General Education Program are courses in communication in writing and speech:

1. Communication in Writing

This category is designed to develop the ability to communicate clearly and effectively in writing. Objective: Students will demonstrate effective communication through writing.

ENGL 121. Composition (3 hours) (Exempted with SAT W-620/ACT E-28)

Two writing unit courses (3 hours each), one at the 300- or 400-level. A “writing unit” uses writing as a substantial mode of learning and is identified in the Undergraduate Course Schedule listings on MuskieLink and in the MAP Schedule by the symbol # preceding the course title.

 2. Communication in Speech

This category is designed to develop the ability to communicate clearly and effectively in speech. Objective: Students will demonstrate effective communication through speech.

COMM 200. Fundamentals of Speech Communication (3 hours)

Distribution Requirements

Students must successfully complete courses from at least 10 different prefixes (e.g. ART, PE, MATH) from the following Gen Ed categories.

3. Communication in a Global and Digital Age

This category is designed to develop communication and information-gathering skills through emphasis on a non-native language or other means of communicating in a technology-driven, global society. Minimum of 3 hours or participation in a Muskingum University-approved international program. Objective: Students will demonstrate effective communication skills in a non-native language or identify and use digital resources to communicate.

• Computer Science 100: Introduction to Computer Science
• Digital Media Design 400: Principles of Interactive Design
• Education 335: Educational Technology
• French 111: Beginning French I
• French 112: Beginning French II
• German 111: Beginning German I
• German 112: Beginning German II
• Media 210: Media Literacy
• Media 300: Visual Communication
• Library 220: Beyond Google: Research Skills and Resources
• Spanish 111: Beginning Spanish I
• Spanish 112: Beginning Spanish II

4. Religious Understanding

This category is designed to develop an understanding of religious ways of life. Minimum of 3 hours. Objective: Students will explain how religious belief systems interrelate with human life.

• Religion 150:  Biblical Theology
• Religion 153: World Religions
• Religion 220: Hist. of Christianity: Ancient and Medieval
• Religion 226: Hist. of Christianity: Reformation and Modern
• Religion 251: The World of Islam
• Religion 252: The Judeo-Christian Tradition
• Religion 260: Introduction to Christian Theology
• Religion 290: Topics in Religious Understanding
• Religion 301: Old Testament Literature
• Religion 302: History and the Bible
• Religion 303: New Testament Literature
• Religion 304: Jesus in the New Testament
• Religion 356: Death and Dying in World Religions

5. Moral Inquiry

This category is designed to develop an understanding of the means by which individuals and communities evaluate and respond to ethical problems, both personal and social. Minimum of 3 hours. Objective: Students will formulate and justify a position on an ethical problem.

• English 317: Journalistic Ethics
• Philosophy 203: Introduction to Ethics
• Philosophy 305: Biomedical Ethics
• Philosophy 331: Environmental Ethics
• Philosophy 343: Social and Political Philosophy (cf. Political Science 343, Sociology 335)
• Philosophy 361: Topics in Moral Philosophy
• Physical Education 355: Sports Ethics
• Political Science 342: Ethical Issues in Politics
• Political Science 356: War, Peace, and Security
• Religion 253: Ethics, Reason and the Bible
• Religion 393: Global Issues and Values
• Sociology 369: Peacemaking

6. Quantitative Reasoning (Exempted with SAT M-680/ACT M-28)

This category is designed to develop competency in understanding and using numerical concepts and methods. Minimum of 3 hours. Objective: Students will demonstrate an understanding of numerical concepts and use appropriate methods to solve problems.

• BUSI 325. Statistics
• EDUC 341. Assessment in Education
• HLSC 304. Statistics for the Health Sciences
• MATH 140. Practical Statistics
• MATH 150. Quantitative Reasoning for the Liberal Arts
• MATH 170. Applied College Algebra
• MATH 180. Precalculus
• MATH 190. Calculus I
• PSYC 232. Behavioral Statistics
• SPST 105. Introduction to Sports Analytics

7. Scientific Understanding

This category is designed to develop an understanding of the natural world, the scientific method, and the forces and elements inherent in the natural order. Minimum of 7 hours. (Must include one lab science course and courses from two course prefixes) Objective: Students will describe scientific principles and apply methods of scientific inquiry.

LAB Courses

• Biology 106: Contemporary Biologic Issues
• Biology 111: Organismal Biology I and Biology 107: Lab I
• Biology 112: Organismal Biology II and Biology 108: Lab II
• Biology 121: Anatomy and Physiology I
• Biology 122: Anatomy and Physiology II
• Chemistry 105: Issues in Chemical Sciences
• Chemistry 108: General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry
• Chemistry 111: General Chemistry I
• Geology 101: Introduction to Geology
• Geology 110: Environmental Geology
• Physics & Engineering 101: Conceptual Physics I
• Physics & Engineering 121: Classical Physics I
• Physics & Engineering 150: Introduction to Astronomy     
• Psychology 351: Advanced Experimental Psychology

Non-LAB Courses

• Biology 100: Science and Society
• Chemistry 101: Joy of Chemistry
• Education 367: Science in Early Childhood
• Geography 120: Physical Geography
• Geography 220: Earth's Climate System
• Geology 105: Geohazards
• Health Science 336: Principles of Strength and Conditioning
• Physical Education 149: Physiology of Exercise
• Physics & Engineering 100: Physics for Video Games
• Physics & Engineering 200: The Ideas of Modern Physics

8. Health

This category is designed to develop an understanding of important health issues and to foster choices for students’ health throughout life. Minimum of 2 hours. Objective: Students will identify and evaluate biological, psychosocial, and/or behavioral factors that influence health.

• Health 200: Nutrition and Physical Fitness
• Health 345: Personal Health
• Health 380: Health Issues and Programs
• Health Science 151: Global Health
• Health Science 231: Nutrition Across the Lifespan
• Health Science 315: Public Health and Epidemiology
• Physical Education 101: Concepts of Wellness
• Physical Education 102-140: Physical Education Service Courses
• Psychology 101: Introduction to Psychology

9. Artistic Understanding and Expression

This category is designed to develop an understanding of the role of the arts in the human endeavor.  Objective: Students will perform, create, or interpret artistic works. One course from the following:

• Art 112: Drawing I
• Art 120: Three-Dimensional Design
• Art 121: Ceramics I
• Art 131: Sculpture I
• Art 141: Photography
• Art 151: Introduction to Art
• Art 170: Graphic Design I
• Art 350: Art History I
• Art 351: Art History II
• Art 352: Art History III
• Communication 260: Oral Interpretation of Literature
• English 260: Introduction to Creative Writing
• French 350: Survey of French Cinema in English
• German 350: German Cinema in English
• Music 331: Brass Instruments
• Music 333: Woodwind Instruments
• Music 335: String Instruments
• Music 341: Voice
• Music 343: Keyboard Instruments
• Music 360: Southeastern Ohio Symphony
• Music 361: Wind Ensemble
• Music 362: Concert Choir
• Spanish 350: Hispanic Cinema in English
• Theatre 151: Introduction to Theatre
• Theatre 265: Design I: Explorations in Theatre Design
• Theatre 275: Acting I
• Theatre 350: History of Film

10. Cultural Diversity

This category is designed to develop an understanding of diversity (gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, etc.) in the contemporary world. Minimum of 3 hours. Objective: Students will recognize and examine the role of diversity in society.

• Communication 340: Gender Communication
• Communication 446: Interpersonal Communication
• Education 112: Educational Implications of Diversity
• English 235: Tradition of African-American Literature
• English 387: Topics in Literature and Gender
• French 211: Intermediate French I
• French 212: Intermediate French II
• German 211: Intermediate German I
• German 212: Intermediate German II
• Health Science 312: Social Gerontology
• History 220: U.S. Women's History
• History 322: Gender and History
• History 352: Latin American Film and History
• History 356: History of Modern Africa
• Political Science 131: Introduction to Comparative Politics
• Religion 261: Women and the Bible
• Religion 353: Religion and Gender
• Sociology 101: The Sociological Perspective
• Spanish 211: Intermediate Spanish I
• Spanish 212: Intermediate Spanish II
• Theatre 352: Dramatic Literature
• World 200: Cross-Cultural Communication   

11. International Perspectives

This category is designed to develop an understanding of global societies, and a familiarity with patterns of social and political behavior in a comparative context, in order to lay the basis for responsible world citizenship. Minimum of 3 hours. Objective: Students will recognize and compare the social, cultural, and/or political patterns of global communities.

• Anthropology 201: Cultural Anthropology
• English 124: World Literature
• Geography 111: World Regional Geography
• History 110: Pre-Modern World History
• History 111: The Emergence of the Modern World I
• History 112: The Emergence of the Modern World II
• History 260: The Cold War in the Americas
• History 345: The Second World War
• History 346: Southeast Asian History
• History 348: The Western Impact on Modern Japan
• History 351: Modern Latin America
• Music 310: Excursions in World Music
• Nursing 430: Perspectives in Global Nursing and Health 
• Philosophy 342: Religion and Philosophies of Asia (cf. Religion 342)
• Political Science 151: Introduction to International Relations
• Political Science 357: International Political Economy
• Sociology 350: Social Change in an International Perspective

12. Western Traditions

This category is designed to develop an understanding of social, political, cultural and behavioral dimensions of human existence in Western European traditions. Minimum of 3 hours. Objective: Students will describe and interpret the social, cultural, political, and/or behavioral dimensions of Western European traditions.

• English 123: Introduction to Literature
• English 231: British Literature to 1800
• English 232: British Literature after 1800
• English 394: Classical Mythology
• French 123: Explorations of Francophone Literature in English Translation
• German 123: Explorations in German Literature in English Translation
• History 310: Ancient History
• History 318: Nineteenth Century European History
• History 320: Twentieth Century European Europe
• Interdisciplinary 275: Arts and Humanities in Western Culture
• Music 121: Introduction to Music
• Philosophy 101: Introduction to Western Philosophy
• Political Science 121: Introduction to Public Administration and Policy
• Political Science 331: Politics of Western Europe
• Spanish 123: Explorations in Hispanic Literature in English Translation

13. The U.S. Experience

This category is designed to develop an understanding of the United States, its institutions, customs, culture, diversity of people and resources, and challenges facing the nation in the contemporary setting. Minimum of 3 hours. Objective: Students will describe and evaluate how traditions, practices, or institutions address or inform the society and culture of the United States.

• Communication 320: Introduction to Popular Culture
• English 233: American Literature to 1865
• English 234: American Literature after 1865
• English 341: Nineteenth Century American Fiction
• English 343: Modern and Contemporary American Fiction
• English 351: Modern and Contemporary American Poetry
• Health Science 301: The American Health Care System 
• History 105: United States History to 1877
• History 106: United States History since 1877
• History 230: The American Civil War
• History 374: Ohio History
• History 380:  The History of the American Dream
• History 385: American Environmental History
• Interdisciplinary 240: Introduction to American Studies
• Music 110: History of Popular Music
• Nursing 460: Community Health Nursing 
• Philosophy 353: Contemporary American Philosophy
• Political Science 111: American Political System
• Sociology 216: Social Problems in Contemporary America
• Sociology 301: American Society: Class and Culture
• Sociology 320: Racial and Cultural Minorities

Sequence for Meeting the General Education Requirements (Gen Ed)

During their first year, traditional students should take ENGL 121 Composition and COMM 200 Fundamentals of Speech Communication, which comprise the core. Some first year students may want to take a science course. Typically first year students concentrate on the gen ed requirements and take no more than one or two classes in their prospective major. After taking Composition, students must complete two writing unit courses, usually one at the 100- or 200-level and one at the 300- or 400-level. At least one of the two must be at the 300- or 400-level.

A writing unit class is one that uses writing as a significant part of the learning process, not courses that teach writing per se. Therefore, writing unit classes are not those with the word “writing” in the title. They can be identified by a # sign before the name of the course in the online schedule. For example, #Emergence of the Modern World.