The general education program at Minot State University provides students with a broad base of knowledge and essential skills that facilitate the exploration of personal interests, potential career trajectories, and opportunities for professional growth. To navigate an increasingly complex life and work environment, students learn how to evaluate information and data, think critically and creatively, communicate effectively, and appreciate different perspectives.
General Education Program Purposes
General education programs are specified by the following objectives:
- Develop Core Competencies: Enhance students' written, oral, and quantitative competencies.
- Broaden Intellectual Horizons: Expose students to diverse ways of thinking and acquiring knowledge.
- Cultivate Broad Interests: Empower students to explore their passions and interests.
- Foster Engagement: Enable students to engage in a variety of social, academic, and community activities that foster personal growth, academic success, and civic responsibility.
These objectives will be developed by courses in the Core, Growth, Choice, and First-Year Experience content areas of the Minot State University general education program, totaling 38 credit hours.
Core Content
The purpose of core content is to enhance students' written, oral, and quantitative competencies, they must take core courses in oral and written communication (9 cr.) and quantitative reasoning (min 3 cr.).
Growth Content
The purpose of growth content is to expose students to diverse ways of thinking and acquiring knowledge, students must take growth courses in academic areas distributed across the arts, humanities, and history (6 cr.), natural sciences and technology (min 6 cr.), and social sciences (6 cr.). The prefixes of each of the growth courses must be distinct from each other. At least one science laboratory course must be taken.
Choice Content
The purpose of choice content is to empower students to explore their passions and interests beyond their major field of study, students are encouraged to take choice courses (6 cr.) from the core or growth content areas that are outside their major field of study.
First-Year Seminar Within the First-Year Experience
Students must take the general education course, UNIV 110 First Year Seminar (2 cr.), as part of the required First-Year Experience (FYE) to inspire students in their transition to university life and learning through unique learning communities, peer mentors, and opportunities to engage with the campus and larger student community.
Digital Literacy
In addition, students must demonstrate knowledge in digital literacy; defined as the ability to use technology to find information, evaluate sources, create content, and communicate with others effectively. It’s a skill set used to navigate the new technological paradigm in which society operates. Students meet this requirement by successfully completing ENGL 120 College Composition II at Minot State or transferring an ENGL 120 College Composition II equivalent course from a nationally or regionally accredited institution. If a student completes a different course to meet their Foundational Content written communication requirement, they may complete ENGL 95 Digital Literacy to meet this requirement. If a student transfers to Minot State University with their general education requirements met, the student's digital literacy requirement will have been met as well.
- General Education Current Catalog Requirements
- General Education Handouts
Pre Fall 2025
