In order to earn a baccalaureate degree at Rocky Mountain College, students must complete a core curriculum consisting of 40-46 semester hours of course work in a variety of areas, including mathematics, writing, communication, fine arts, humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Students should choose core curriculum courses in consultation with their academic advisor, as in some cases, courses taken to fulfill a program requirement for a major or minor may also be used to fulfill a core curriculum requirement.

Core Curriculum Learning Outcomes

Students who graduate from Rocky Mountain College will be able to:

Think critically:

• Identify, articulate, and solve problems; and
• Reach conclusions by reasoning or evidence-based practices.

Communicate effectively:

• Apply effective verbal and nonverbal communication strategies in specific contexts and audiences.

Acknowledge and value difference:

• Competently engage with diverse views, information sources, perspectives, and levels of expertise.

Mathematics (3-7 credits)

Upon completion of the core curriculum requirement in mathematics, students will be able to:

1. Explain information presented in mathematical forms;
2. Convert relevant information into various mathematical forms;
3. Make judgments and draw appropriate conclusions based on quantitative analysis of data.

Requirement:
The core curriculum requirement in mathematics is fulfilled by both of the following

• MAT 100: College Algebra or a placement exam score necessary to test out of College Algebra (see “Math Placement,” next section).
• MAT 104: Mathematics for Elementary School Teachers II
• MAT 152: To Infinity and Beyond
• MAT 175: Calculus I
• MAT 210: Probability and Statistics

Note: MAT 090 credits are considered pre-college level and do not count for core curriculum or other degree requirements.

Advanced Placement (AP) credit in math may NOT be used to satisfy a core curriculum requirement; however, math AP credit may count as general elective credit toward the total number of credits required for graduation.

Math Placement

MAT 090: Elementary Algebra
(preparatory course; does not count toward graduation):

• ACT math score 0-18
• SAT math score 260-509
• Accuplacer Elementary Algebra score 0-56

Student places into MAT 100: College Algebra
(course fulfills Math #1 requirement):

• ACT math score 19-22
• SAT math score 510-549
• Accuplacer Elementary Algebra score 57-79

Student tests out of MAT 100: College Algebra
(waives Math #1 requirement)

• ACT math score 23+
• SAT math score 550+
• Accuplacer College Level Math score 80+

Students who test out of MAT 100 may be placed into the following:

MAT 103: Mathematics for Elementary School Teachers I (for elementary education majors; does not satisfy a core requirement)
MAT 110: Precalculus (prerequisite for Calculus; does not satisfy a core requirement)
MAT 131: Trigonometry and Calculus (for aviation majors; does not satisfy a core requirement)
MAT 152: To Infinity and Beyond (fulfills Math #2 requirement)
MAT 210: Probability and Statistics (fulfills Math #2 requirement)

Additionally, students who test out of MAT 100 may place into Calculus with the following scores:

MAT 175: Calculus I (fulfills Math #2 requirement)

• ACT math score 26+
• SAT math score 610+
• Accuplacer College Level Math score 100+

Math placement beyond College Algebra depends on student interest and major; students are advised to consult with a faculty advisor before enrolling. Students with dual-enrollment or transfer coursework in math should request a course evaluation prior to enrolling.

If a student wishes to take a course at a higher level than where he or she has placed with the ACT or SAT, the student may use Accuplacer exam scores to challenge that placement. Additionally, Rocky Mountain College will accept Accuplacer exam scores for math placement for nontraditional and transfer students.

Writing (6 credits)

Upon completion of the core curriculum requirement in writing, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate in writing a thorough understanding of context, audience, and purpose;
2. Critically analyze and interpret ideas, assumptions, arguments, and textual materials;
3. Compose essays according to the appropriate disciplinary expectations of thesis, organization, content, presentation, format, and grammar;
4. Identify, incorporate, and properly cite appropriate primary and secondary sources in research-based assignments;
5. Demonstrate an understanding of cultural differences and values.

Requirement
(6 semester hours)
Students must successfully complete both of the following:

• ENG 119: College Writing I: Rhetoric and Writing
• ENG 120: College Writing II: Research and Argumentation

Advanced Placement (AP) credit in English Language and Composition  may be used to satisfy the ENG 119 core curriculum requirement (minimum score of 4 is required); other English AP credit may count as general elective credit toward the total number of credits required for graduation.

Communication (3 credits)

Upon completion of the core curriculum requirement in communication studies, students will be able to:

1. Use critical engagement skills to understand how verbal and nonverbal communication is used to create meaning and achieve situational goals;
2. Develop an organized oral message;
3. Effectively deliver an oral message;
4. Demonstrate an understanding of the ethics associated with human communication.

Requirement
(3 semester hours)
To fulfill this requirement, students must complete one of the following courses:

• COM 201: Interpersonal Communication
• COM 202: Public Speaking (formerly COM 102)
• COM 250: Small Group Communication

Fine Arts (6 credits)

The fine arts core curriculum requirement is fulfilled by successfully completing three semester hours from Requirement 1 and three semester hours from Requirement 2. The two courses must be from different disciplines.

Upon completion of the core curriculum requirement in fine arts, students will be able to:

1. Acquire competencies in applying fundamental concepts, methods, skills, and techniques specific to a fine art;
2. Engage in the artistic process;
3. Apply knowledge of cultural worldview frameworks;
4. Acknowledge and value difference through curiosity and openness.

Fine Arts Requirement 1
(3 semester hours)
Students must successfully complete a course from the following:

• Art: ART 220, ART 221, ART 222, ART 223, ART 321, ART 322, ART 323
• Music: MUS 101, MUS 140, MUS 201, MUS 202, MUS 204/304, MUS 205/305
• Theatre: THR 101, THR 131

Fine Arts Requirement 2
(3 semester hours)
Students must successfully complete a course from the following:

• Art: ART 201, ART 210, ART 215/315, ART 231, ART 232, ART 243, ART 250, ART 251, ART 252, ART 313, ART 319, ART 321, ART 322, ART 323, ART 325
• English: ENG 122, ENG 204, ENG 205, ENG 206
• Music: MUS 215/315; three semesters in concert band (MUS283/383), concert choir (MUS 271/371), or jazz ensemble (MUS 286/386) can fulfill this requirement. The three credits must be taken in the same ensemble.
• Theatre: THR 132, THR 135, THR 230, THR 235, THR 240, THR 245

Note: In order to complete the fine arts core curriculum requirements, the courses from Requirement 1 and Requirement 2 must be in different disciplines.

Humanities (9 credits)

The humanities core curriculum requirement is fulfilled by successfully completing three semester hours each in history, literature, and philosophy and religious studies.

Upon completion of the core curriculum requirements in the humanities, students will be able to:

1. Analyze and reflect on oneself and others;
2. Acknowledge and value difference through curiosity and openness;
3. Use appropriate support to warrant conclusions or meaningful interpretations;
4. Demonstrate knowledge of cultural worldview frameworks;
5. Develop bodies of knowledge from disciplines spanning the humanities;
6. Analyze and comprehend a variety of important works in their contexts.

Requirement 1: History
(3 semester hours)
Students must successfully complete a course in history from the following:

• History: HST 103, HST 104, HST 211, HST 212, HST 232, HST 260, HST 263, HST 303, HST 304, HST 311, HST 313, HST 324, HST 325, HST 356, HST 358, HST 363, HST 365, HST 370

Requirement 2: Literature
(3 semester hours)
Students must successfully complete a course in literature from the following;

• English: ENG 223, ENG 224, ENG 244, ENG 245, ENG 246 (formerly ENG 291), ENG 247, ENG 252, ENG 270, ENG 272, ENG 273, ENG 282, ENG 283

Requirement 3: Philosophy and Religious Studies
(3 semester hours)
Students must successfully complete a course in philosophy and religious studies from the following:

• Philosophy and Religious Studies: PHR 100, PHR 120, PHR 210, PHR 211, PHR 220, PHR 236, PHR 303, PHR 304, PHR 320, PHR 330, PHR 340, PHR 370, PHR 375, PHR 378

Social Sciences (6 credits)

The social sciences core curriculum requirement is fulfilled by successfully completing two courses of three semester hours each in psychology, sociology, economics, or political science. The two courses must be in different disciplines.

Upon completion of the core curriculum in the social sciences, students will be able to:

1. Name and describe ethical and/or normative perspectives and concepts in the social science discipline;
2. Recognize ethical and/or normative issues in a variety of settings;
3. Synthesize existing knowledge, research, and/or views within the discipline;
4. Analyze evidence to gain a better understanding of complex topics or issues;
5. Extrapolate findings from evidence that result in informed judgments; and
6. Discuss limitations and implications of findings.

Requirement
(6 semester hours)
Courses that may satisfy the core curriculum requirement for social sciences include:

• Economics: ECO 205
• Political Science: POL 101, POL 225, POL 313
• Psychology: PSY 101, PSY 205, PSY 206
• Sociology: SOC 101, SOC 225

Natural Sciences (7-8 credits)

This core curriculum requirement is fulfilled by successfully completing two courses (a minimum of seven semester hours) in the natural sciences: biology, chemistry, environmental science, geology, and physics. The two courses must be in different disciplines and at least one of the courses must have a laboratory component.

Upon completion of the core curriculum requirement in the natural sciences, students will be able to:

1. Define problem/ask question;
2. Synthesize existing knowledge, research, and/or views;
3. Propose solutions/state hypotheses;
4. Identify and evaluate potential solutions;
5. Implement solution;* and
6. Evaluate outcomes.

*Specific to laboratory classes only

Requirement
(7 semester hours)
Courses that may satisfy the core curriculum requirement for natural sciences includes:

• Biology: BIO 105, BIO 120*
• Chemistry: CHM 100*, CHM 101*, CHM 210
• Environmental Science: ESC 105/106*, ESC 243*, ESC 244*, ESC 262
• Geology: GEO 101/104*, GEO 120, GEO 220, GEO 218/104*
• Physics: PHS 101*, PHS 105*, PHS 201*

Courses marked with an asterisk (*) have a laboratory component.

Transfer Credits for Core Curriculum Requirements

Although the College reserves the right to refuse incoming transfer credits, credits from accredited institutions normally will be accepted, subject to these conditions:

• No more than 90 semester hours (135 quarter hours) of credit from four-year colleges will count toward the total number of credits required for graduation
• No more than 64 semester hours (96 quarter hours) of credit from two-year colleges will count toward the total number of credits required for graduation.
• No upper-division credit will be allowed for courses from two-year colleges.
• No “F” grades will be accepted.
• No preparatory/developmental classes or non-degree applicable courses will be accepted.