The Maryville Curriculum, a core program of general education, is based on the conviction that liberal learning is the best preparation for a satisfying and successful life, whatever one’s vocation. While many aspects of the college experience, including major-field requirements, allow students to prepare for a variety of careers and professions, general education emphasizes the cultivation of the intellectual skills and personal qualities that mark the educated person. Through the enhancement of skills and knowledge, the deepening of sensitivities, and the clarification of personal purpose, students learn to deal responsibly in a world of uncertainty and accelerating change.
General education is the centerpiece of any liberal arts degree and provides curricular definition to the mission of a liberal arts college. The Maryville Curriculum follows directly and consciously from the College’s Statement of Purpose and Educational Goals.
The Maryville Curriculum, often called the “core” curriculum, consists of 51 credit hours. Some general education requirements are met by virtue of the student’s major; others may be met by demonstration of competence.
Course Descriptions for courses in the Maryville Curriculum are described in the Course Listings section of this Catalog.
General Education Requirements
Requirements in General Education are based on the four overarching educational goals of Maryville College. Each student must satisfy requirements for courses in each of the following instructional categories. Courses within domains share common student learning outcomes that guide teaching and learning within the group of courses.
Foundations (12 Credit Hours)
Note on special conditions:
ENG 110, ENG 120, and MTH 110: Placement examination results may result in exemption from the requirement.
Category I Domains of Knowledge (15-18 Credit Hours) - A critical knowledge of self and informed understanding of other
Religion, Spirituality and Critical Thought (3 Credit Hours)
Completion of one from this selection of courses or other course with (RS) Core designation in the course title:
REL249: Only the section entitled, "Death and Dying"
Literary Studies (3 Credit Hours)
Completion of one from this selection of courses or other course with (LS) Core designation in the course title:
| ENG 160 | The Early Western Literary Tradition | 3 |
| ENG 170 | The Modern Western Literary Tradition | 3 |
| ENG 180 | Literature and the American Experience | 3 |
| ENG 181 | Women's and Multicultural Literature | 3 |
| ENG 182 | Literature and the Classical Tradition | 3 |
| ENG 191 | American Literature: Puritan through Romantic | 3 |
| ENG 196 | Survey of British Literature I | 3 |
| ENG 292 | American Literature: Realism to the Present | 3 |
| ENG 297 | Survey of British Literature II | 3 |
Historical Reasoning (3 Credit Hours)
Completion of one from this selection of courses or other course with (HR) Core designation in the course title:
| ART 212 | Renaissance, Baroque and Modern Art | 3 |
| ART 311 | 20th Century Art | 3 |
| ASL 107 | History and Culture of the American Deaf Community | 3 |
| HIS 149 | Selected Topics in History | 3 |
| HIS 131 | Early American History: 1492-1865 | 3 |
| HIS 132 | Modern American History: 1865-Present | 3 |
| MUS 313 | History of Western Fine Arts Music to 1750 | 3 |
| THT 316 | Theatre History I | 3 |
Some
HIS 149 courses also include the U.S. Pluralism (US) designation. See course title in Self Service.
Empirical Study of Person and Society (3 Credit Hours)
Completion of one from this selection of courses or other course with (PS) Core designation in the course title:
Culture and Intercultural Dynamics (3 Credit Hours)
Completion of one from this selection of courses or other course with (CD) Core designation in the course title:
| WRC 370 | Topics in World Culture | 3 |
| SPN 305 | Civilizations & Cultures of Latin America | 3 |
| Approved Study Abroad Program | |
Approved Study Abroad Program - Students who satisfactorily complete study outside the U.S. for six-weeks during the summer, a semester, or a full academic year will be considered to have satisfied this domain requirement. Recent examples include:
PSY/INT 249: International Child Welfare
SUS 249/ENV 200: In Search of Hygge/Sustainability in Scandinavia
EXP 200: India's Identities: Religion, Caste, and Gender/South India
PSY 200: Celtic Connections with Appalachia
US Pluralism
Completion of one from this selection of courses or other course with a (US) Core designation in the course title:
| ASL 107 | History and Culture of the American Deaf Community | 3 |
| DSN 149 | Selected Topics in Design | 3 |
| EDU 312 | Instructional Strategies for Diverse Learners | 3 |
| ENG 180 | Literature and the American Experience | 3 |
| ENG 181 | Women's and Multicultural Literature | 3 |
| GWS 101 | Introduction to Gender and Women's Studies | 3 |
| HIS 131 | Early American History: 1492-1865 | 3 |
| HIS 132 | Modern American History: 1865-Present | 3 |
| HIS 305 | African American History: 1500-Present | 3 |
| MUS 312 | History of Music in the United States | 3 |
| PHR 321 | Physical Education and Recreation for Special Populations | 3 |
| PLS 149 | Selected Topics | 3 |
| PSY 228 | Human Sexuality | 3 |
| PSY 248 | Drugs and Behavior | 3 |
| PSY 324 | Child Poverty and Inequality | 3 |
| SOC 101 | Introductory Sociology | 3 |
| SOC 222 | Sociology of Appalachia | 3 |
| SOC 315 | Social Inequality | 3 |
SOC 101: If taken at Maryville College
DSN 149: Only the section entitled, "Art, Design and American Politics"
PLS 149: Only the section entitled, "Art, Design and American Politics"
Category II Domains of Knowledge (10-11 Credit Hours) - Proficiency in the use of evidence, empirical data, and quantitative analysis
Scientific Reasoning (7-8 Credit Hours)
One of the courses below must have a laboratory component (4 Credit Hours)
One physical science course from a selected group of courses with (SP) in course title:
One life science course from a selected group of courses with (SL) in course title:
| BIO 111 | Fundamentals of Biology | 4 |
| BIO 112 | Principles of Microbiology | 4 |
| BIO 113 | Principles of Organismal Biology | 4 |
| BIO 115 | Principles of Cellular Biology | 4 |
| BIO 149 | Selected Topics in Biology | 3 |
| BIO 217 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I | 4 |
| EVS 117 | Introduction to Environmental Science | 4 |
Mathematical Reasoning (3-4 Credit Hours)
Completion of one from this selection of courses or other course with (MR) Core designation in the course title:
| STA 120 | Introductory Statistics | 4 |
| MTH 125 | Calculus I (MR) | 4 |
| CSC 130 | Introduction to Computer Science and Programming | 4 |
Category III Domains of Knowledge (up to 11 Credit Hours) - Skill and discernment in producing and interpreting forms of human expression
Second Language (L2) (up to 8 Credit Hours) - #a #b
Completion of a 120 course in a second language, options include:
Notes on special conditions:
#a Placement examination results may result in exemption from the requirement.
#b Not required of students for whom English is a second language. For these students, study in a third language is recommended as an elective, but is not required.
Creative Arts (CA) (3 Credit Hours)
Completion of one of a selection of courses or three semesters of participation in a musical ensemble or three semesters of participation in theatre productions, options include:
| ART 102 | Introduction to Two- Dimensional Design | 4 |
| ART 103 | Introduction to Sculpture and Three-Dimensional Design | 4 |
| ART 110 | Painting and Drawing I | 4 |
| ART 124 | Introduction to Photography | 4 |
| ART 125 | Introduction to Ceramics | 4 |
| ART 126 | Introduction to Printmaking | 4 |
| ART 140 | Perspectives in Art | 3 |
| MUS E12 | The Maryville College Concert Choir | 0-1 |
| MUS E13 | The Maryville College Community Chorus | 0-1 |
| MUS E14 | The Orchestra at Maryville: A College-Community Ensemble | 0-1 |
| MUS E15 | The Maryville College Jazz Band | 0-1 |
| MUS E16 | The Maryville College Community Concert Band | 0-1 |
| MUS 140 | Perspectives in Music | 3 |
| THT 101 | Introduction to Theatre | 3 |
| THT 140 | Perspectives in Theatre | 3 |
| THT 204 | Theatre Production | 1 |
Category IV Domain of Knowledge (3 Credit Hours) - The judgment and knowledge required for ethical citizenship of nation and world.
Ethical Citizenship (3 Credit Hours)
Completion of one course in ethics or other course with an (EC) Core designation in the course title, typically taken in the senior year:
| ETH 490 | Philosophical and Theological Foundations of Ethical Thought | 3 |