An integral part of all University of Minnesota Crookston (U of M Crookston) degree programs, liberal education is the set of common understanding and skills essential to successful living in a modern society and to functioning as a whole person integrated into that society. Specifically, there are three core component areas of liberal education (communication, critical thinking, and working with others) that are integrated throughout the curriculum for every degree. Bachelor of science degree programs require a minimum of 40 credits of liberal education; the bachelor's degree in an applied field has separately established liberal education requirements. U of M Crookston's 40 credit liberal education requirement for all bachelor of science degrees also meets the ten goal areas of the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum, a collaborative effort among two- and four-year public colleges and universities in Minnesota to help students transfer their work in liberal education. The faculty of U of M Crookston recognize the courses below as meeting the student competencies of the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum. Because courses may be added or deleted from the list, check with an academic adviser for the most current updates.


Minnesota Transfer Curriculum and Liberal Education Requirements for Bachelor of Science Degrees

U of M Crookston bachelor of science degree programs require a minimum of 40 credits of liberal education. This requirement also meets the ten goal areas of the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum.

Goal Area 1: Written and Oral Communication - 9 credits minimum

  • *Comp 1011 - Composition I
  • *Comp 1013 - Composition II
  • *Spch 1101 - Public Speaking - OR - Comm 2002 - Interpersonal Communication

*required for bachelor of science degrees

Goal Area 2: Critical Thinking (effective Fall Semester 2019)

  • UMC 1200 – Introduction to University Life
  • UMC 1202 – Topics in Problem Solving

New High School (NHS) students who complete liberal education requirements as on-campus students must satisfy Goal Area 2: Critical Thinking through the completion of UMC 1200 – Introduction to University Life (2.0 credits) in their first semester on campus and UMC 1202 – Topics in Problem Solving (1.0 credit) in their second semester on campus. This requirement extends to all NHS students who begin as online students and transition to on-campus students.

For New Advanced Standing (NAS) students and online NHS students, completion of the other 9 Minnesota Transfer Curriculum goal areas shall generally fulfill the critical thinking goal. On-campus NAS students, in consultation with their advisor, may elect to complete UMC 1200 and 1202 as a means of strengthening their critical thinking skills.

Goal Area 3: Biological and Physical Sciences (with labs) - 3 credits each area minimum

  • +Biol 1000 – Biology and Society (also Goal Area 10)
  • +Biol 1009 – General Biology (also Goal Area 10)
  • +Biol 2020 – Plant Anatomy and Physiology (also Goal Area 10)
  • +Biol 2021 – Plant Diversity, Ecology, and Evolution (also Goal Area 10)
  • +Biol 2022 – General Botany (also Goal Area 10) -- effective Fall 2020
  • ++Chem 1000 – Chemistry in Context
  • ++Chem 1001 – Introductory Chemistry
  • ++Chem 1002 – Calculations and Conversions in Chemistry
  • ++Chem 1061 – Chemical Principles I -AND- Chem 1065 – Chemical Principles I Lab
  • ++Chem 1401 – Elementary Bioorganic Chemistry
  • ++Geol 1001 – Introductory Geology (also Goal Area 10)
  • +HSci 1123 – Fundamentals of Nutrition
  • +NatR 1226 – Environmental Science and Sustainability (also Goal Area 10)
  • +NatR 3374 – Ecology
  • ++Phys 1002 – Introductory Meteorology (also Goal Area 10)
  • ++Phys 1003 – Introduction to Astronomy (also Goal Area 10)
  • ++Phys 1012 – Introductory Physics (also Goal Area 10)
  • ++Phys 1101 - Introductory College Physics I
  • ++Phys 1102 – Introductory College Physics II
  • ++Phys 1301 – Introductory Physics I for Science and Engineering

+biological sciences course
++physical sciences course

Goal Area 4: Mathematical Thinking - 3 credits minimum

  • Math 1031 - College Algebra
  • Math 1142 - Survey of Calculus
  • Math 1150 - Elementary Statistics
  • Math 1250 - Precalculus
  • Math 1271 - Calculus I

Goal Area 5: History and the Behavioral and Social Sciences - 6 credits minimum

  • CrJs 1500 - Introduction to Criminal Justice (also Goal Area 9)
  • Ed 2100 - Child and Adolescent Development and Learning
  • Econ 2101 - Microeconomics
  • Econ 2102 - Macroeconomics
  • Geog 1104 - World Regional Geography (also Goal Area 8)
  • Hist 1301 - American History I
  • Hist 1302 - American History II
  • Lead 2600 - Introduction to Creative and Innovative Thinking
  • Psy 1001 - General Psychology
  • Psy 1093 - Lifespan Development
  • Soc 1001 - Introduction to Sociology (also Goal Area 7)
  • Soc 1102 - Cultural Anthropology (also Goal Area 8)
  • Soc 3005 - Sociology of the Family (also Goal Area 7)

Goal Area 6: The Humanities (the arts, literature, and philosophy) - 6 credits minimum

  • Art 1152 – Drawing and Design
  • Art 1252 – Painting and Design
  • Art 1352 – Pottery Design and Techniques
  • Engl 1005 – Introduction to World Literature (also Goal Area 8)
  • Engl 1016 – American Literature: Race, Gender, Class, and the American Dream (also Goal Area 7)
  • Engl 1017 – British Literature
  • Engl 3001 – World Culture and Literature (also Goal Area 8)
  • Engl 3005 – Ancient to 17th Century World Literature (also Goal Area 8)
  • Engl 3006 – 18th Century to Contemporary World Literature (also Goal Area 8)
  • Engl 4000 – Intercultural Literature (also Goal Area 7)
  • Hum 1301 – Introduction to Humanities
  • Hum 2000 – Global Studies in Humanities (also Goal Area 8)
  • Hum 3000 – Global Seminar in Humanities (also Goal Area 8)
  • Hum 3310 – Culture and Technology (also Goal Area 8)
  • (R) Mus 1011 – University Singers
  • Mus 1021 – Introduction to Music (also Goal Area 7)
  • (R) Mus 1041 – Private Music Instruction
  • (R) Mus 1042 – Private Instruction: Class Piano
  • (R) Mus 1051 – Student-Community Band
  • (R) Mus 1052 – Jazz Band
  • (R) Mus 1071 – Musical Theatre
  • Mus 1111 – Elementary Music Theory
  • (R) Mus 3011 – University Singers (Choir)
  • Mus 3027 – Rock and Jazz Music Styles (also Goal Area 7)
  • (R) Mus 3041 – Private Instruction
  • (R) Mus 3051 – Student-Community Band effective Fall 2020
  • (R) Mus 3052 – Jazz Band
  • Phil 1001 – Introduction to Philosophy (also Goal Area 9)
  • Phil 2002 – Introduction to Ethics (also Goal Area 9)
  • (R) Th 1121 – Theatre Production
  • Th 2434 – Oral Interpretation and Performance Techniques
  • Writ 2335 – Introduction to Creative Writing
  • Writ 3861 – Advanced Creative Writing

(R) repeatable to 3 credits toward meeting Minnesota Transfer Curriculum and liberal education goal

Goal Area 7: Human Diversity - one course minimum

  • Comm 3001 - Human Relationships and Leadership
  • Engl 1016 - American Literature: Race, Gender, Class, and the American Dream (also Goal Area 6)
  • Engl 4000 - Intercultural Literature: Conversations between Cultures (also Goal Area 6)
  • HSM 2710 - Health Determinants and Disparities
  • Lead 2210 - Personal Leadership
  • Mus 1021 - Introduction to Music (also Goal Area 6)
  • Mus 3027 - Rock and Jazz Music Styles (also Goal 6)
  • Soc 1001 - Introduction to Sociology (also Goal Area 5)
  • Soc 3005 - Sociology of the Family (also Goal Area 5)

Goal Area 8: Global Perspective - one course minimum

  • Comm 3002 – Intercultural Communication – effective Spring 2020
  • Econ 1010 – Global Trade Economics
  • Engl 1005 – Introduction to World Literature (also Goal Area 6)
  • Engl 3001 – World Culture and Literature (also Goal Area 6)
  • Engl 3005 – Ancient to 17th Century World Literature (also Goal Area 6)
  • Engl 3006 – 18th Century to Contemporary World Literature (also Goal Area 6)
  • EnSc 3003 (was EnSc 1003) – Sustainable YoU, Sustainable World (also Goal area 10)
  • GBus 2000 – Global Studies in Business – effective Spring 2020
  • GBus 3000 – Global Seminar in Business – effective Spring 2020
  • Geog 1104 – World Regional Geography (also Goal Area 5)
  • GMST 2000 – International Travel Experience 
  • GMST 3000 – International Travel Experience 
  • GnAg 2000 – Global Studies in Agriculture and/or Natural Resources – effective Spring 2020
  • GnAg 3000 – Global Seminar in Agriculture and/or Natural Resources – effective Spring 2020
  • GnEd 2000 – Global Study
  • GnEd 3000 – Global Seminar
  • Hist 1021 – World Civilization I
  • Hist 1022 – World Civilization II
  • Hum 2000 – Global Studies in Humanities (also Goal Area 6) - effective Spring 2020
  • Hum 3000 – Global Seminar in Humanities (also Goal Area 6) - effective Spring 2020
  • Hum 3310 – Culture and Technology (also Goal Area 6)
  • IBus 2010 – International Dimensions of Business and Culture
  • Soc 1102 – Cultural Anthropology (also Goal Area 5)
  • Span 1104 – Beginning Spanish I – effective Fall 2020
  • Span 1204 – Beginning Spanish II – effective Fall 2020

Goal Area 9: Ethical and Civic Responsibility - one course minimum

  • CrJs 1500 - Introduction to Criminal Justice (also Goal Area 5)
  • Econ 1111 - Personal Finance
  • Lead 2900 - Community Engaged Project
  • Phil 1001 - Introduction to Philosophy (also Goal Area 6)
  • Phil 2002 - Introduction to Ethics (also Goal Area 6)
  • Pol 1001 - American Government

Goal Area 10: People and the Environment - one course minimum

  • Biol 1000 – Biology and Society (also Goal Area 3)
  • Biol 1009 – General Biology (also Goal Area 3)
  • Biol 2020 – Plant Anatomy and Physiology (also Goal Area 3)
  • Biol 2021 – Plant Diversity, Ecology, and Evolution (also Goal Area 3)
  • Biol 2022 – General Botany (also Goal Area 3) -- effective Fall 2020
  • EnSc 3003 (was EnSc 1003) – Sustainable YoU, Sustainable World (also Goal area 10)
  • Geol 1001 – Introductory Geology (also Goal Area 3)
  • ITM 3733 – Green Technology Solutions
  • Natr 1226 – Environmental Science and in Sustainability (also Goal Area 3)
  • Phys 1002 – Introductory Meteorology (also Goal Area 3)
  • Phys 1003 – Introduction to Astronomy (also Goal Area 3)
  • Phys 1012 – Introductory Physics (also Goal Area 3)

Technology Requirements for Baccalaureate Degrees

Each program requires a minimum of 3 credits of technology. Refer to the program for the specific course(s) that will meet this requirement.