Northwest Missouri State University

2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

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Northwest Core - Knowledge Areas and Courses

The Northwest Core Academics courses are required for the following degrees: Bachelor of Arts, the Bachelor of Fine Arts, the Bachelor of Music Education, the Bachelor of Science, the Bachelor of Science in Education­, the Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and the Bachelor of Science in Clinical Laboratory Sciences.

Required courses for the Bachelor of Applied Science may be chosen from The Northwest Core requirements. See Bachelor of Applied Science for specific information on this degree.

A course taken to fulfill The Northwest Core Academics Requirements may be used to satisfy other degree or program requirements as long as such application is not restricted in this catalog. Such multiple applications will not reduce the total hours needed to earn a degree, nor the total required hours necessary for any comprehensive majors, regular majors, minor, certificates, or other programs.

It is recommended that students consult their academic advisors to take their Core courses in an efficient, timely manner.

The Core 42 MOTR symbol indicates that the course has been identified as equivalent to a MOTR (Missouri Transfer) course.

Social and Behavioral Sciences (choose 2 courses - one from each of two different groups)

See AGRI, ECON, GEOG, PSYC, and SOC for course descriptions.

Economics

AGRI 03102Principles of Microeconomics in Agriculture *

3
ECON 52130Survey of Economics *

3
ECON 52150Principles of Macroeconomics *

3

Geography

GEOG 32101Introduction to Geography *

3

Psychology

PSYC 08103General Psychology *

3
PSYC 08299Educational Psychology

3

Sociology

SOC 35101General Sociology *

3

Anthropology

SOC 35108General Anthropology *

3

Civics (choose 1 History and 1 Political Science course)

See HIST and POLS course descriptions.

History

HIST 33155The United States to 1877 *

3
OR
HIST 33156The United States since 1877 *

3

Political Science

POLS 34102Introduction to American Government and Politics *

3

Communication

See ENGL and COM for course descriptions.

Written Communication (at least 6 credits)

See ENGL course descriptions for meeting prerequisites and placement requirements.

Any student with a 40 or above on the Directed Self Placement questionnaire (recommended):

ENGL 10111Composition I: Academic Literacies

3
ENGL 10112Composition II: Writing as Engagement *

3

Any student with a 60 or above on the Directed Self Placement questionnaire (recommended):

ENGL 10115Accelerated Composition

3

Students who have a 60 or above on the Directed Self Placement questionnaire may elect to take ENGL 10111 and ENGL 10112 rather than ENGL 10115.

Students with credit for ENGL 10111 and a 60 or above on the Directed Self Placement may elect to take ENGL 10115 rather than ENGL 10112.

Oral Communication (choose 1 course)

COM 29102Fundamentals of Oral Communication *

3

Natural Sciences

See AGRI, BIOL, CHEM, GEOL, PHSC, and PHYS for course descriptions.

Life Sciences (choose 1 course with corresponding laboratory)

AGRI 03130Plant Science *

4
BIOL 04102General Biology *

3
BIOL 04103General Biology Laboratory *

1
BIOL 04106Principles of Biology *

3
BIOL 04107Principles of Biology Laboratory *

1

Note: AGRI 03130 includes the lab.

Physical Sciences (choose 1 course with corresponding laboratory)

CHEM 24112General Chemistry *

3
CHEM 24113General Chemistry Laboratory *

1
CHEM 24114General Chemistry I *

3
CHEM 24115General Chemistry I Laboratory *

1
GEOL 27110General Geology *

3
GEOL 27111General Geology Laboratory *

1
GEOL 27114General Earth Science *

3
GEOL 27115General Earth Science Laboratory *

1
PHSC 40102The Physical Sciences: Integrated Approach *

3
PHSC 40103Physical Science Laboratory: Integrating Inquiry *

1
PHSC 40122Descriptive Astronomy *

3
PHSC 40123Descriptive Astronomy Laboratory *

1
PHYS 25110General Physics I *

3
PHYS 25111General Physics I Laboratory *

1
PHYS 25120Fundamentals of Classical Physics I *

4
PHYS 25121Fundamentals of Classical Physics I Laboratory *

1

Mathematical Sciences (choose 1 course)

See MATH for course descriptions.

Advisement necessary for correct selection.

MATH 17114General Statistics *

3
MATH 17115Concepts of Mathematics *

3
MATH 17116Mathematical Modeling *

3
MATH 17117Precalculus *

5
MATH 17118Precalculus Algebra *

3
MATH 17120Calculus I

4
MATH 17171Fundamentals of Mathematics

3

Humanities and Fine Arts

See ART, COM, EDUC, ENGL, GEOG, HUM, LANG, MMED, MUS, PHIL, POLS, REC, and THEA for course descriptions.

Literature (choose 1 course)

ENGL 10220Introduction to Literature *

3

Global Perspectives (choose 2 courses - one from each of two different disciplines)

COM 29225Intercultural Communication

3
COM 29235Introduction to Classical Rhetoric

3
EDUC 61252Pluralism in a Multicultural Society

3
ENGL 10224Multiethnic Literature of the United States

3
ENGL 10226Modern and Contemporary World Literature

3
GEOG 32102People and Cultures of the World *

3
HUM 26102Western Civilization I: The Ancient World to 1500 *

3
HUM 26103Western Civilization II: 1500 to the Present *

3
HUM 26104The Eastern World *

3
HUM 26162Comparative Religions *

3
HUM 26202Patterns in World Societies to 1500 *

3
HUM 26203Patterns in World Societies Since 1500 *

3
LANG 14131French: Communication and Culture I *

3
LANG 14132French: Communication and Culture II *

3
LANG 14141Spanish: Communication and Culture I *

3
LANG 14142Spanish: Communication and Culture II *

3
LANG 14161Russian: Communication and Culture I

3
LANG 14162Russian: Communication and Culture II

3
MMED 20221Ethnographic Film Study *

3
MUS 19280World Music *

3
PHIL 39171Introduction to Philosophy *

3
PHIL 39275Professional Ethics *

3
PHIL 39276Biomedical Ethics *

3
PHIL 39277Social Justice *

3
POLS 34105The African World *

3
REC 45211Leisure and Society

3

Fine Arts (choose 1 course)

ART 13102Art Appreciation *

3
ART 13109Survey of Art I: Prehistory through Medieval Art *

3
ART 13111Survey of Art II: Renaissance to the Present *

3
ART 13235Intersections in the Arts

3
MUS 19201The Enjoyment of Music *

3
MUS 19202Jazz Appreciation *

3
MUS 19222American Popular Music *

3
THEA 43101Theatre Appreciation *

3

Total Credit Hours: 44-47

Note: Students who hold an Associate of Arts degree from a regionally-accredited institution will have satisfied The Northwest Core. The student might, however, have to take additional lower-division courses to fulfill program or institutional requirements.

Students who have completed the 42-hour block at a Missouri college/university will have satisfied The Northwest Core. The student might, however, have to take additional lower-division courses to fulfill program or institutional requirements.