General Education Requirements

General Education Course Requirements

Students who are completing the General Transfer Studies Associate in Arts degree, Business Administration Associate in Arts degree, or the Associate of Arts in Teaching degree must complete 42-credit hours of general education courses. These courses provide an opportunity for students to develop skills and knowledge that will enhance their lives far beyond graduation. The ability to communicate effectively, solve problems, understand values, and manage information are skills that are important whether the student is pursuing further education, is active in the workforce, or participates in the civic and cultural life of the community. Courses that provide general knowledge in quantitative reasoning, science, social and behavioral sciences, and humanities serve to broaden each student’s perspective in an increasingly complex world.

Missouri Senate Bill 997, signed into law in 2016 for implementation in fall 2018, ensures that all general education courses are fully transferable to all public colleges and universities in Missouri. This statewide framework is called CORE 42, and all courses that are included in this framework are identified in the catalog and in the course schedule with a Missouri Transfer (MOTR) number. Students who complete all 42-credit hours will have CORE 42 noted on their transcript.

In addition to the 42-credit hours of general education, students should select additional courses depending upon their intended program at their destination four-year university. Academic advisors are available on each campus to assist students in the selection of the best courses for transferability.

Associate in Applied Science General Education Requirements

For the Associate in Applied Science degrees, satisfactory completion of general education courses equal to a minimum of twenty-five percent of the total credit hours for the program, distributed as follows:

*Per Board Policy, Associate in Applied Science programs will be allowed five years to comply with the new AAS general education requirements. 

Associate in Fine Arts General Education Requirements

Associate in Science General Education Requirements

For the Associate in Science degrees, satisfactory completion of a minimum of 15 credit hours of general education courses distributed as follows:

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the General Education Requirements for the AA and AAT degree?

STLCC, along with all other public colleges and universities in Missouri, has adopted the statewide general education framework that goes into effect for the AA and AAT degrees Fall 2018.   This core transfer curriculum is commonly known as CORE 42.

The statewide general education framework is intended to ensure that all graduates possess a common core of college-level skills and knowledge.  These courses are designated with a Missouri Transfer (MOTR) number, which guarantees the one-to-one transfer of these courses among all Missouri public institutions of higher education.

What are the requirements of the CORE 42?

For the General Transfer Studies program, students must complete 42 credit hours of MOTR courses, distributed as follows:  6 credit hours of written communications, 3 credit hours of oral communications, 9 credit hours of Social and Behavioral Science courses in at least two disciplines and including at least one Civics course, 7 credit hours of Natural Science courses in at least two disciplines and including at least one laboratory course, one mathematics course (MTH 160, MTH 160S, MTH 161, MTH 161S, MTH 180, MTH 180S, or MTH 185, or a course that requires one of the Mathematics pathways courses as a prerequisite), and 9 credit hours of Humanities and Fine Arts courses in at least two disciplines. Remaining credit hours must be satisfied through MOTR courses of the student’s choosing.

I started STLCC prior to Fall 2018, are my requirements the same?

Your requirements are determined by your catalog term.  If your catalog term is prior to Fall 2018, then your requirements will be different.  You should discuss your options with an academic advisor. Many students will find it beneficial to switch to CORE 42 because the courses included in this framework are guaranteed to transfer to other public institutions in Missouri.

What is the advantage of CORE 42?

The CORE 42 brings peace of mind to students when they transfer to other public institutions in Missouri, which are obligated to accept credit for these courses by law.

Will there be more courses with MOTR numbers?

Committees of faculty from institutions across the state continue to work to identify courses to include in this framework. STLCC’s Catalog will be updated with any changes.

Social & Behavioral Sciences

• 9 credit hours minimum, from at least two (2) disciplines, including at least one Civics course

Civics Courses

Written & Oral Communications

• 6 credit hours minimum from Written Communications
• 3 credit hours minimum from Oral Communications

Written Communications

Oral Communications

Natural Sciences

• 7 credit hours minimum, from at least two disciplines, including one course with a lab component

Non-lab Courses

Lab Courses

Mathematical Sciences

• 3 credit hours minimum

**Courses that use one of the pathway courses as a prerequisite will meet the general education credit for math. For example, MTH 210 meets the General Education math requirement since MTH 160 is a prerequisite.

Humanities and Fine Arts

• 9 credit hours minimum, from at least two disciplines
• There is a limit of three (3) credit hours of Performance courses that can be applied to the Humanities and Fine Arts Knowledge Area and to the total CORE 42

Performance Options

Interdisciplinary

Interdisciplinary courses, with the MOTR IDSE designation, are not required to meet the general education requirements.  Courses with the MOTR IDSE designation are only allowed to be applied to the CORE 42 elective and cannot apply toward the other knowledge areas: Social & Behavioral Sciences/Civics, Written & Oral Communications, Natural Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, and Humanities and Fine Arts.  There will be no exceptions.