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2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
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2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog

General Education Program

Mission and Goals of the General Education Program

Through the General Education Program, the faculty of Northern Michigan University seeks to help our students develop the skills necessary for becoming independent lifelong learners and effective citizens of a challenging and rapidly changing world. The General Education Program is designed to complement a student’s academic major by promoting the integration of knowledge derived from multiple perspectives and stresses the development of problem-solving skills and intellectual creativity through the exploration of a broad range of disciplines and fields. In pursuit of these goals, we encourage our students to be rigorous and systematic in their thought and reflective about their learning, their lives and their world. The General Education Program for a Bachelor’s Degree will provide students with eight learning outcomes based on critically important skills and knowledge. These include:

  • demonstrates critical thinking;
  • demonstrates communication skills that express and convey ideas clearly and effectively;
  • demonstrates interpretation of quantitative data leading to conclusions;
  • demonstrates engagement with cultural and ethnic diversity and global citizenship;
  • demonstrates integrative thinking by synthesizing disciplinary knowledge and applying this synthesis to new contexts;
  • demonstrates analysis and evaluation of artistic, literary or rhetorical expression;
  • demonstrates synthesis and analysis of major social structures and processes or events; and
  • demonstrates use of scientific processes to investigate and report knowledge about natural or social phenomena.

To successfully complete the Bachelor’s Degree General Education Program, students must complete ten (10) courses from the components listed below. Students must achieve a grade point average of “C” (2.0) or better across all ten courses to meet the Bachelor’s Degree General Education Program requirement. All courses in this program are at least three credits. The number of courses that are required to meet each component are indicated in parentheses following the component title. Courses in the program may be used in the student’s major or minor programs.

Substitute Courses

Transfer students wishing to substitute a course with no specific NMU equivalent to meet a specific general education component should consult their academic adviser. If the adviser supports the request, a written recommendation justifying the request should be submitted to the Registrar’s Office. In special cases, the Registrar’s Office will confer with the General Education Committee. NMU courses not designated as general education courses cannot normally be used to meet the general education components. All exceptions to this rule must be thoroughly justified by the adviser, have the support of the department offering that course, and be approved by the Registrar. Students should get approval of the substitution before they register for the course.

Advanced Placement and Credit by Examination

Examinations are available in most divisions of the general education program through the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) and the advance placement program of the College Entrance Examination Board (APP-CEEB). The university awards credit for higher level international baccalaureate courses with a score of 5. If these courses are the equivalent of NMU general education courses, credit will be awarded. A list of exams accepted and required scores can be found at the Advanced Placement and Credit by Examination  page.

Graduation Requirements

There are four baccalaureate graduation requirements that students must complete. They are: (1) a Laboratory Science course; (2) a Global Citizenship course; (3) written English competency; and (4) Mathematics competency. While the baccalaureate graduation requirements are not, strictly speaking, part of the General Education Program, they often can be fulfilled by courses that meet the various general education components.

General Education Information

Students admitted to NMU as of the fall 2017 semester or later must follow NMU’s General Education Program. This program will apply to the majority of students currently enrolled at NMU.

Liberal Studies Program

Students admitted to NMU prior to the Fall of 2017 may follow the requirements in the previous Liberal Studies Program and work with their adviser to satisfy the requirements. 

Questions

Students who have specific questions about these requirements should contact their adviser.

 

Effective Communication (EFFC)

Effective Communication Courses

Students select two courses from this component. Students who complete the Effective Communication component will demonstrate communication skills that express and convey ideas clearly and effectively.

Notes:

EN 109  (minimum grade of “B”) and EN 111  (minimum grade of “C”) count toward the First-Year Composition section of the Written English Competency Graduation Requirement (COMP) .

EN 211  (minimum grade of “C”) counts toward the Intermediate Composition section of the Written English Competency Graduation Requirement (COMP) .

 

 

Quantitative Reasoning and Analysis (QUAR)

Quantitative Reasoning and Analysis Courses

Students select one course from this component. Students who complete the Quantitative Reasoning and Analysis component will demonstrate interpretation of quantitative data leading to conclusions.

Notes:

All mathematics courses in the component meet the Mathematics Competency Graduation Requirement (MATH) . if completed with a grade of “C” or better.    

Transfer courses designated as MA 1001 will also count toward the Quantitative Reasoning and Analysis component, as well as the Mathematics Competency Graduation Requirement (MATH) .  

Students must achieve a grade point average of “C” (2.0) or better across all ten courses to count toward the General Education Program requirements.

Courses in the program may be used in the student’s major or minor programs.

 

 

Social Responsibility in a Diverse World (SOCR)

Social Responsibility in a Diverse World Courses

Students select one course from this component. Students who complete the Social Responsibility in a Diverse World component will demonstrate engagement with cultural and ethnic diversity.

Notes:

Students must achieve a grade point average of “C” (2.0) or better across all ten courses to count toward the General Education Program requirements.

Courses in the program may be used in the student’s major or minor programs.

 

 

Integrative Thinking (INTT)

Integrative Thinking Courses

Students select one course from this component. Students who complete the Integrative Thinking component will demonstrate integrative thinking by synthesizing disciplinary knowledge and applying this synthesis to new contexts.

Notes:

HON 211  is open to honors program students only.

Students must achieve a grade point average of “C” (2.0) or better across all ten courses to count toward the General Education Program requirements. 

Courses in the program may be used in the student’s major or minor programs.

 

 

Human Expression (HUME)

Human Expression Courses

Students select one course from this component. Students who complete the Human Expression component will demonstrate analysis and evaluation of artistic, literary or rhetorical expression.

Notes:

Students must achieve a grade point average of “C” (2.0) or better across all ten courses to count toward the General Education Program requirements. 

Courses in the program may be used in the student’s major or minor programs.

 

 

Perspectives on Society (PERS)

Perspectives on Society Courses

Students select two courses from this component. Students who complete the Perspectives on Society component will demonstrate synthesis and analysis of major social structures and processes or events.

Notes:

General psychology transfer courses (PY 100G or PY 1001) will also count toward the Perspectives in Society component.

GR 310  and SN 314 are taught in English. SN 310  is taught in Spanish. HON 101  and HON 201  are open to honors program students only.

Students must achieve a grade point average of “C” (2.0) or better across all ten courses to count toward the General Education Program requirements. 

Courses in the program may be used in the student’s major or minor programs.

 

 

Scientific Inquiry (SCII)

Scientific Inquiry Courses

Students select two courses from this component. Students who complete the Scientific Inquiry component will demonstrate use of scientific processes to investigate and report knowledge about natural or social phenomena.

Notes:

Students must achieve a grade point average of “C” (2.0) or better across all ten courses to count toward the General Education Program requirements. 

Courses in the program may be used in the student’s major or minor programs.

 

 

Laboratory Science Graduation Requirement (LAB)

Each baccalaureate student must take at least one course of three credits or more designated to meet the Laboratory Science Graduation Requirement. These courses must meet the following requirements:

The course must have been approved for inclusion in the General Education Program.

The course must have a designated laboratory as approved by the Committee on Undergraduate Programs (CUP).

At least two-thirds of the content must focus on a natural science discipline or combination of disciplines.

The natural science disciplines are astronomy, biology, chemistry, geology, meteorology, oceanography, and physics. Courses which do not originate in a department which is home to these disciplines must have the approval of the appropriate department(s) that the two-thirds of content requirement is met.

Laboratory Science Courses

 

 

Global Citizenship Graduation Requirement [GCIT]

Note: Effective Fall 2025, the Global Citizenship graduation requirement replaced the World Cultures graduation requirement. Courses approved for Global Citizenship also fulfill the former World Cultures requirement. Students following older catalogs who need to complete the World Cultures requirement should refer to the Global Citizenship course list.

Each baccalaureate student must demonstrate competency in the Global Citizenship requirement which deals primarily with supporting students in furthering their knowledge of globally diverse groups, issues, and identities to support a worldview based in the critical understanding of all who live in it. The experiences may include such topics as literary, artistic and other cultural achievements; religious and ethical values; social, economic and political systems; or intellectual and historical trends. Students may explore how various socially marginalized groups navigate the world with different and ever-changing social disparities, furthering the understanding to be conscious and reflective in regard to their own lived experiences as well as the lived experiences of those around them. Transfer students seeking approval of a previous credit taken at a prior institution substitute course to meet this requirement should contact the Registrar’s Office and provide a course syllabus for the course they wish reviewed.

The intention of the requirement is to advance students’:

  1. Understanding of how culture is expressed in terms of historical evidence, artistic accomplishments, technology, customs and texts.
  2. Engagement with and respect for social and cultural diversity, demonstrating an understanding of global interconnectedness.
  3. Understanding of how factors (such as race, ethnicity, culture, gender, sexuality, social class, marginalization and ability) affect how groups within a culture relate to each other.
  4. Articulation of the important achievements and contributions of various cultures in such areas as the arts, literature, philosophy, ethical values, religion and science.

This requirement can be achieved 1 of 3 ways:

Option #1 - A course from the list of approved Global Citizenship courses (identified by *)

Option #2 - An NMU approved Study Abroad course using the following description

The Global Citizen requirement may be met by successful completion of a course through participation in an NMU-approved Study Abroad program during which the participant resides in a country outside of the U.S. and actively engages with the people and practices of the host culture. Study Abroad programs should require that the student utilize a wide variety of skills, both academic and inter/intrapersonal, to interact with globally diverse groups to negotiate shared experiences through cross-cultural communication and exposure to new ideas, worldviews, histories, cultural identities, as well as political, religious, and economic trends outside of the U.S. Students should have had an opportunity to analyze their experience and reflect on how their worldview is newly shaped by it.

Option #3 - A lived experience outside of the first two options.

A student who believes they have a lived experience that meets the Global Citizenship requirement must submit a petition to the General Education Council for the experience to satisfy the requirement. 

Some examples may include:

  • Attending university in another country and transferring back to the U.S.
  • Completing an NMU approved course during which the participant resides in a country/culture outside of the U.S. and actively engages with the people and practices of the host culture (i.e. Internship, Directed Study).  Any courses considered for this option must give students the opportunity to analyze their experience and reflect on how their world view is newly shaped by it.
  • Living in/coming from a culture other than U.S. culture.  Under usual circumstances individuals must have lived in that culture for at least 3 months.
Petition for Lived Experience to Fulfill the Global Citizenship Requirement

To request approval, students must work through the Registrar’s Office to submit a formal petition to the General Education Council, which includes the following:

1. A Brief Letter (1-2 pages) Addressing:

  • Description of Experience - Provide a clear summary of your lived experience, including when and where it took place.
  • Connection to Global Citizenship Goals - Explain how this experience furthered your knowledge of globally diverse groups, issues, and identities.
  • Personal Growth & Reflection - Discuss how this experience shaped your worldview, challenged assumptions, and deepened your understanding of global interconnectedness.

​2. Supporting Documentation (if applicable):

  • Evidence such as transcripts, syllabus, course materials (if studying abroad), program details, work records, or any relevant materials that support your petition.

3. Submission Process:

  • Students should work with the Registrar’s Office to first identify if their experience qualifies.
  • Petitions should be submitted to the General Education Council.
  • The review process typically takes 2-4 weeks, and students will be notified of the decision via email.

Below are the approved list of courses that may be applied toward the Global Citizenship Requirement:

Global Citizenship Courses

 

 

Written English Competency Graduation Requirement (COMP)

A. First-Year Composition

Students should satisfy this requirement during their first or second semester in college. Students can satisfy this requirement in one of three ways:

  1. Earning a B (3.0) in EN 109 - Intensive College Composition [EFFC] [COMP] , and its co-requisite, EN 109W - Intensive College Composition Workshop [COMP]  (counts toward Effective Communication  component); or
  2. Earning a C (2.0) or better in EN 111 - College Composition I [EFFC] [COMP]  (counts toward Effective Communication  component); or
  3. Successfully completing one of the following:
    1. CLEP - CLEP English Composition General Examination with Essay with a score of 50 or higher (counts toward Effective Communication  component as EN 111 - College Composition I [EFFC] [COMP] );
    2. AP - English Literature and Composition or English Language and Composition with a score of 3 or higher (counts toward Effective Communication  component as EN 111 - College Composition I [EFFC] [COMP] );
    3. IB - International Baccalaureate English Language Examination in English with a score of 5 or higher (counts toward Effective Communication  component as EN 111 - College Composition I [EFFC] [COMP] );
    4. Accuplacer WritePlacer Exam score of 7 (Serves as a placement exam; students still need two courses from Effective Communication  component);
    5. An equivalent or higher level composition course from another accredited college or university with a grade of C (2.0) or higher.

Note: If a student has already satisfied Intermediate Composition requirement, this also serves to meet the First Year Composition requirement.

B. Intermediate Composition

Students should satisfy this requirement soon after completing the First-Year Composition requirement. Students can satisfy this requirement in one of three ways:

  1. Earning a “C” (2.0) or better in EN 211 - College Composition II [EFFC] [COMP]  (counts toward Effective Communication  component); or
  2. Earning a “C” (2.0) or better in an equivalent course to EN 211  transferred from an accredited college or university (counts toward Effective Communication  component as EN 211 - College Composition II [EFFC] [COMP] ); or
  3. Earning a “B” (3.0) or better in HON 101  and HON 111  (Students still need two courses from Effective Communication  component.).

Written English Competency Courses

 

 

Mathematics Competency Graduation Requirement (MATH)

Students may satisfy this requirement in one of three ways:

  1. Earning a “C” (2.0) in MA 100  or higher level math course (excluding middle digit 5 courses); or
  2. Earning a “C” (2.0) in quantitatively-oriented courses as approved by the Mathematics and Computer Science Department; or
  3. Successfully completing one of the following:
    1. CLEP Calculus or Precalculus score of 50 or greater;
    2. CLEP College Algebra or Mathematics score of 63 or greater;
    3. AP Calculus (AB or BC) score of 3 or greater;
    4. IB Mathematics Studies or Mathematics (SL or HL) score of 5 or greater;
    5. ACT mathematics score of 25 or greater;
    6. SAT Mathematics score of 600 or greater;
    7. SAT subject test in Mathematics (Level 1 or 2) score of 650 or greater;
    8. Proctored Math Placement Exam placement into MA 111 , MA 115 , MA 161 , or MA 163 ; or
    9. Successful completion of the math portion of the Professional Readiness Exam taken by education majors.

Mathematics Competency Courses

Notes:

Transfer courses designated as MA 1001 will also count toward the Mathematics Competency Graduation Requirement.