2021-2022 General Education Requirements
2021-2022 General Education Requirements
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
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.
English 245: Bible and Literature
Religion 150: Biblical Theology
Religion 153: World Religions
Religion 251: The World of Islam
Religion 252: The Judeo-Christian Tradition
Religion 260: Introduction to Christian Theology
Religion 261: Women and the Bible
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 342: Religions and Philosophies of Asia (cf: Philosophy 342)
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
English 350: Morality and Literature
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
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
Sport Studies 355: Sports Ethics
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.
Business 325: Statistics
Education 341: Assessment in Education
Health Science 304: Statistics for the Health Sciences
Mathematics 140: Practical Statistics
Mathematics 150: Quantitative Reasoning for the Liberal Arts
Mathematics 170: Applied College Algebra
Mathematics 180: Precalculus
Mathematics 190: Calculus I
Psychology 231: Applied Statistics
Psychology 232: Behavioral Statistics
Sport Studies 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
Exercise Science 336: Principles of Strength and Conditioning
Geography 120: Physical Geography
Geography 220: Earth's Climate System
Geology 105: Geohazards
Physics & Engineering 100: Physics for Video Games
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.
Education 215: Educational Psychology
Health Science 151: Global Health
Health Science 315: Public Health and Epidemiology
Health Science 345: Personal Health
Nutrition 131: Introduction to Nutrition
Nutrition 231: Nutrition Across the Lifespan
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 271: Race, Ethnicity, and Identity in the Americas
History 322: Gender and History
History 352: Latin American Film and History
History 356: History of Modern Africa
Philosophy 355: Comparative Philosophy
Political Science 131: Introduction to Comparative Politics
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
Political Science 151: Introduction to International Relations
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.