SPECTRUM: INTEGRATED GENERAL EDUCATION
UNDERGRADUATE CATALOG INDEX

Eligible students have the option of completing their general education requirements through Spectrum, an option that integrates these requirements into a specific sequence. Spectrum covers three semesters for associate degree students or four semesters for bachelor’s degree students, with a structure that requires one night a week in the classroom over approximately 18 months.

In each of Spectrum’s semesters, students take a set group of related classes with an emphasis on the real-world connections between subjects. The first semester focuses on thought and communication with coursework in English, communication, and ethics. The second semester concentrates on mathematics, computer skills, and sciences. The third and fourth semesters integrate earlier learning with studies in the social sciences while providing a foundation for later work in your field. After completing the sequence, you will have earned 36 to 50 credit hours relating to an associate or bachelor’s degree.

Spectrum is offered with orientations that prepare students to enter programs in business and leadership, criminal justice, psychology of early childhood development, and health sciences.

Business and Leadership Orientation (48 hours)
Completing this track will qualify you for the degree completion program in organizational leadership or give you a start in most other programs within the School of Business and Technology.

Semester 1: Qualitative (12 hours)
COMM 204 Intro to Speech Communication
ENGL 101 English Composition I
ENGL 102 English Composition II
PHIL 190 Ethics

Semester 2: Quantitative (12 hours)
IT 100 Intro to Computers
IT 101 Intro to Word Processing
IT 102 Intro to Spreadsheets
MATH 102 Beginning Algebra
PHSC 101 Gen Physical Science I
PHSC 102 Gen Physical Science II

Semester 3: Applied (12 hours)
HIST 101 History of Civilizations I
HUMN 101 Humanities
PSYC 201 Prin of Psychology
SOCI 201 Intro to Sociology

Semester 4: Career Foundations (12 hours)
LGLS 298 Business Law
COMM 250 Interpersonal
Communication
ENGL 220 Technical Writing
MATH 104 Business Math

Some courses may be provided through individualized study. Curriculum and instructional location are subject to change. Order of courses within a semester does not reflect the order of instruction.

Criminal Justice Orientation (42 hours)
Completing the criminal justice orientation track will qualify you for the degree completion program in criminal justice or give you a start in most of MSU’s other criminal justice programs.

Semester 1: Qualitative (12 hours)
COMM 204 Intro to Speech
Communication
ENGL 101 English Composition I
ENGL 102 English Composition II
PHIL 190 Ethics

Semester 2: Quantitative and Applied (12 hours)
IT 100 Intro to Computers
IT 101 Intro to Word Processing
IT 102 Intro to Spreadsheets
MATH 102 Beginning Algebra
PSYC 201 Principles of Psychology
SOCI 201 Intro to Sociology

Semester 3: Career Foundations (15 hours)
CRJS 101 Intro to Criminal Justice
CRJS 220 Juvenile Justice
CRJS 230 American Legal Systems
CRJS 254 Criminology
CRJS 256 Criminal Law

Individualized Study (3 hours)
CRJS 240 Intro to Policing or
CRJS 250 Intro to Corrections

Some courses may be provided through individualized study. Curriculum and instructional location are subject to change. Order of courses within a semester does not reflect the order of instruction.

Early Childhood Orientation (36 hours)
Completing the early childhood orientation track will qualify you for the A.A.S. in psychology of early childhood development or give you a solid foundation toward many School of Arts and Sciences bachelor’s degree programs.

Students who have completed West Virginia Apprenticeship for Child Development Specialist (ACDS) training are eligible for 32 semester hours of prior learning credit toward their degree upon completion of this track.

Semester 1: Qualitative (12 hours)
COMM 204 Intro to Speech Communication
ENGL 101 English Composition I
ENGL 102 English Composition II
PHIL 190 Ethics

Semester 2: Quantitative and Applied (12 hours)
IT 100 Intro to Computers
IT 101 Intro to Word Processing
IT 102 Intro to Spreadsheets
MATH 102 Beginning Algebra
PSYC 201 Principles of Psychology
SOCI 201 Intro to Sociology

Semester 3: Career Foundations (12 hours)
PSYC 202 ECD Perspectives, Issues, Methods
PSYC 203 ECD Exceptionality
PSYC 204 ECD Survey of Holistic Development/Assessmt
PSYC 205 Innovation & Excellence in ECD
*PSYC 205 includes a community laboratory experience.

Some courses may be provided through individualized study. Curriculum and instructional location are subject to change. Order of courses within a semester does not reflect the order of instruction.

Health Care Orientation (50 hours)
Completing the health care orientation track will provide a foundation for work in many programs within the School of Health Sciences. Some programs have additional requirements or selective admissions policies; see the program listings in the School of Health Sciences chapter for details.

Semester 1: Qualitative (12 hours)
COMM 200 Communication in Health Care
ENGL 101 English Composition I
ENGL 102 English Composition II
PHIL 200 Medical Ethics and Law

Semester 2: Quantitative (12 hours)
CHEM 201 Chemistry for Health Sciences I
CHEM 201L Chemistry for Health Sciences I Lab
IT 101 Intro to Word Processing
IT 102 Intro to Spreadsheets
MATH 101 Math for Health Sciences
MATH 116 Elementary Statistics

Semester 3: Applied (12 hours)
PHIL 201 Intro to Philosophy
PSYC 201 Prin of Psychology
PSYC 212 Lifespan Dev Psych
SOCI 201 Intro to Sociology

Semester 4: Career Foundations (14 hours)
BIOL 215 Human A&P I
BIOL 215L Human A&P I Lab
BIOL 216 Human A&P II
BIOL 216L Human A&P II Lab
BIOL 219 Microbiology
BIOL 219L Microbiology Lab

Some courses may be provided through individualized study. Curriculum and instructional location are subject to change. Order of courses within a semester does not reflect the order of instruction.

ONLINE GENERAL EDUCATION
For some students, online study provides the best and most convenient way of completing general education requirements. While you have a great deal of flexibility in structuring online study, MSU has developed a sequence that can help ensure that you meet all requirements quickly and efficiently by taking two classes at a time in a series of eight-week terms.

Online Enhancement Program (12 hours)
If your basic skills are rusty or need to be strengthened, you can start out with an optional series of classes designed to prepare you for university-level study.

First 8 Weeks (6 hours)
CIS 100 Basic Computer Utiliztn
MATH 100 General Mathematics

Second 8 Weeks (6 hours)
ENGL 100 College Writing
RDNG 100 Reading & Study Skills