THEE Pathway: General Education Program
THEE Pathway: A JSU Philosophy for General Education
True to its foundation as a Historically Black University, the Jackson State University (JSU) General Education program provides its students an equitable pathway to academic achievement and student success.
JSU’s General Education program, known as THEE Pathway, seeks to lay a foundation of skills and intellectual habits necessary to succeed in college and beyond. Specifically, THEE Pathway provides students with academic experiences to develop critical thinking, analytical reasoning, and effective communication. Each of these competencies offers a foundational stepping stone along THEE Pathway with technology being the intersection between them.
Common goals for students in THEE Pathway courses are to develop their critical consciousness by learning to ask essential questions, to use habits of the mind that support critical and analytical thinking to answer them, to think deeply and effectively communicate, and to collaborate with others to address societal problems.
By design, THEE Pathway provides equitable opportunities for students and supports them in achieving their goals by allowing them to choose different paths through the General Education curriculum, selecting courses that are relevant to their goals and interests. Obstacles, or structural barriers that hinder student success, are removed from THEE Pathway to promote progression and to ensure that students maintain forward momentum.
Students navigate THEE Pathway with the assistance of academic advisors and clear curriculum maps. Student learning along THEE Pathway is supported by evidence-based pedagogies in the classroom, experiential learning beyond the classroom, and holistic student success services.
THEE Pathway allows students to make meaningful connections between general education courses and their chosen careers. THEE Pathway is more than a road map to a professional destination with economic and societal rewards at its end. It breaks new ground, allowing students to venture into uncharted territories to develop innovative ideas, skills, approaches, and relationships. THEE Pathway is not a solo journey. Students travel with the guidance of their professors, the companionship of their peers, and the support of their academic community.
General Education Core (GEC) Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 6 | |
| Humanities & Fine Arts | 9 | |
| Mathematics | 3 | |
| Natural Sciences | 6 | |
| Social & Behavioral Sciences | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
University Required Courses (UR)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| UNIV 100 | UNIVERSITY SUCCESS | 2 |
| BIZ 101 & BIZ 102 | UNIVERSITY SUCCESS FOR BUS MAJ and UNIVERSITY SUCCESS FOR BUS MAJ | 2 |
| UNIV 105 | UNIVERSITY SUCCESS FOR ADULTS | 2 |
| UNIV 200 | CIVIC ENGAGEMENT | 1 |
Students who transfer 12 or more hours of college credits are exempt from UNIV 100, BIZ 101 &BIZ 102, and UNIV 105. However, students are still required to make up the coursework for the exempt requirement.
Courses Which May Be Used to Satisfy Options
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Communication Options (6 Credit Hours) | ||
| ENG 104 | COMPOSITION I | 3 |
| or ENG 103 | English Composition I with Co-requisite Support | |
| or ENG 111 | COMPOSITION & LITERATURE FOR L | |
| ENG 105 | COMPOSITION II | 3 |
| or ENG 112 | COMPOSITION | |
| Humanities & Fine Arts Options (9 Credit Hours) | ||
| ART 206 | ART APPRECIATION | 3 |
| MUS 205 | MUSIC APPRECIATION | 3 |
| MUS 218 | JAZZ APPRECIATION | 3 |
| DR 201 | INTRODUCTION TO THEATRE | 3 |
| ENG 201 | Expressions in Blackness-Humanities and the African Diaspora | 3 |
| ENG 202 | Expressions in Blackness-Humanities and the African Diaspora II | 3 |
| ENG 205 | WORLD LITERATURE I | 3 |
| FR 101 | ELEMENTARY FRENCH | 3 |
| FR 102 | ELEMENTARY FRENCH | 3 |
| HIST 101 | HISTORY OF CIVILIZATION I | 3 |
| HIST 102 | HISTORY OF CIVILIZATION II | 3 |
| HIST 201 | UNITED STATES HISTORY I | 3 |
| HIST 202 | UNITED STATES HISTORY II | 3 |
| PHIL 301 | INTRODUCTN TO PHILOSOPHY | 3 |
| PHIL 309 | ETHICS | 3 |
| PHIL 416 | LOGIC | 3 |
| SP 101 | ELEMENTARY SPANISH | 3 |
| SP 102 | ELEMENTARY SPANISH | 3 |
| SPCH 201 | SPEECH ARTS | 3 |
| SW 210 | PROFNL BHVRS, ETHICS, & COMMUN | 3 |
| Mathematics Option (3-5 Credit Hours) | ||
| MATH 103 | College Algebra with Corequisite Support | 3 |
| MATH 111 | COLLEGE ALGEBRA | 3 |
| MATH 114 | Quantitative Reasoning | 3 |
| MATH 118 | ALGEBRA II & TRIGONOMTRY | 5 |
| MATH 241 | CALCULUS I WITH LABORATORY | 3 |
| STAT 115 | Introductory Statistics | 3 |
| Natural Science Options (6 Credit Hours) | ||
| BIO 101 & BIOL 101 | INTRO TO BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE and INTRO TO BIO SCI LAB | 3 |
| BIO 111 & BIOL 111 | GENERAL BIOLOGY and GENERAL BIOLOGY LAB | 4 |
| SCI 201 & SCIL 201 | PHYSICAL SCIENCE and PHYSICAL SCIENCE LAB | 3 |
| CHEM 131 | INTRODUCTION TO CHEMISTRY | 3 |
| CHEM 141 & CHML 141 | GENERAL CHEMISTRY I and GENERAL CHEMISTRY LAB | 4 |
| PHY 201 & PHYL 201 | BASIC PHYSICS I and BASIC PHYSICS LAB I | 4 |
| PHY 211 & PHYL 211 | General Physics I and GENERAL PHYSICS LAB I | 4 |
| PHY 241 | INTRODUCTN TO ASTRONOMY | 4 |
| MET 200 | INTRO TO METEOROLOGY | 3 |
| Social & Behavioral Science Options (6 Credit Hours) | ||
| COUN 315 | Human Growth and Development | 3 |
| ECO 211 | PRINCIPLES OF MACROECONOMICS | 3 |
| GEOG 105 | INTRO TO CULTURAL GEOGRAPHY | 3 |
| MUS 203 | MUSIC FOR CHILDREN ((Music Majors Only)) | 3 |
| SOC 214 | INTRODUCTN TO SOCIOLOGY | 3 |
| SOC 325 | CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY | 3 |
| SS 201 | SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS | 3 |
| SW 225 | HUMAN DIVERSITY & SOC JUSTICE | 3 |
| PS 134 | INTRO TO POLIT SCIENCE | 3 |
| PS 135 | AMERICAN GOVERNMENT | 3 |
| PS 136 | STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT | 3 |
| PSY 201 | GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY | 3 |
DATA & INFORMATION LITERACY PATHWAY OPTIONS
The Data and Information Literacy Pathway introduces undergraduate students to data in numerical and written forms. This pathway provides students with:
- abilities in finding, reading, understanding, analyzing, and communicating with data.
- skills to interact with data and find meaning in information, interpret information, evaluate data and information for credibility and accuracy, use data to guide decisions, and communicate data and information in oral and written modalities.
- an introduction to ethical principles associated with data and information literacy.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CSC 115 | DIGITAL COMPUTER PRINCIPLES | 3 |
| CSC 215 | DATA ANALYTICS | 3 |
| ENG 325 | THE BLACK IMAGE IN THE MEDIA | 3 |
| ITD 114 | COMPUTER-AIDED DRAFTING | 3 |
| JMS 250 | Media Literacy | 3 |
| MET 270 | COMPUTNAL DATA ANLYS VISUALI | 3 |
| MNGT 350 | BUSINESS COMPUTER APPLICATIONS | 3 |
| PS 236 | POLITICAL STATISTICS | 3 |
Discourse Pathway Options
The Discourse Pathway introduces undergraduate students to oral, written, nonverbal, and verbal discourse and how they function in various contexts. This pathway provides students with:
- an exploration of how communication and language function in life, society, and the professional world.
- opportunities to reflect on communication and critically examine their own experiences with speech, language, and communication.
- an awareness of how their culture, ethnicity, social and educational backgrounds, as well as their values and beliefs, shape the way they use verbal and non-verbal language and respond to other’s language use
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CLL 104 | WORKFORCE COMU,BEHAVR & CULTUR | 3 |
| CLHR 220 | TRANG, DEVELOP, & COMMUNICATNG | 3 |
| CMD 211 | INTRO TO COMMUNICATIVE DISORDR | 3 |
| ENG 213 | PROFESSIONAL WRITING | 3 |
| ENG 300 | Introduction to Creative Writing | 3 |
| ENG 331 | INTROD TO LINGUISTICS | 3 |
| JMS 200 | INTRO TO MASS COMMUNICATIONS | 3 |
| JMS 201 | INTRODUCTION TO MEDIA WRITING ((Prerequisites: ENG 104/103, 105 or 111 and 112 JMS 200 recommended)) | 3 |
| SPCH 201 | SPEECH ARTS | 3 |
| SPCH 214 | INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS | 3 |
| SPCH 215 | TRAINING THE SPEAKING VOICE | 3 |
| SPCH 216 | PUBLIC SPEAKING | 3 |
| SPCH 218 | LISTENING | 3 |
| American Sign Language Recommended Sequence Courses | ||
| SPED 466 | INTRO TO SIGN LANGUAGE | 3 |
| SPED 467 | ADVANCED SIGN LANGUAGE | 3 |
Environment, Conservation, and Sustainability Pathway Options
The Environment, Conservation, and Sustainability Pathway introduce undergraduate students to the intersection between environmental systems, conservation, and sustainability. This pathway provides students with:
- foundational environmental and sustainability concepts
- insight on conserving and sustaining the environment
- an exploration into the role that technology and innovations play in environmental protection, conservation of resources, development of communities, and climate control.
- connections between environmental protection, sustainability, community development, and climate control.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BIO 103 | ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE | 2 |
| BIO 114 | Introduction to Marine & Environmental Sciences | 3 |
| CHEM 131 | INTRODUCTION TO CHEMISTRY | 3 |
| GEOG 105 | INTRO TO CULTURAL GEOGRAPHY | 3 |
| ITEM 301 | PRINCIPLES OF EMERGENCY MNGT | 3 |
| SCI 215 | GLOBAL CHANGE | 3 |
| SCI 228 | SCIENCE SOCIETY & TECHNOLOGY | 3 |
| SOC 216 | MODERN SOCIAL PROBLEMS | 3 |
Financial Literacy Pathway
The Financial Literacy Pathway introduces undergraduate students to aspects of financial education that lead to financial well-being. This pathway provides students with:
- financial concepts such as saving, investing, and debt.
- opportunities to learn foundational principles of finance, economics, accounting, and stock market investing.
- An exploration of topics related to poverty, inequality, and other social issues related to finances.
- an understanding of the importance of financial well-being and factors that lead to financial well-being.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ACC 202 | FOUNDNTS OF ACCOUNTNG (NON MAJ | 3 |
| ECO 202 | FOUNDTNS OF ECO ISSUES(NON MAJ | 3 |
| ECO 204 | BLACK ECONOMIC & SOCIAL ISSUES | 3 |
| ECO 206 | FOUNDATNS OF GLOBAL ECONOMICS | 3 |
| ENTR 285 | CREATIVITY, INNOVATION & ENTRE | 3 |
| GB 201 | INTRO TO LEGAL ASPECTS OF BUSI | 3 |
| FIN 220 | FOUNDTNS OF FINANCE (NON MAJOR | 3 |
| FIN 247 | FOUNDTNS OF STOCK MKT INVESTNG | 3 |
Global Pathway Options
The Global Pathway introduces undergraduate students to the cultures, geographies, languages, histories, arts, and current issues of the world. This pathway provides students with:
- global considerations to enhance personal, academic, and professional development.
- an appreciation of cultural diversity, differences, and human rights that is needed for the development of a global mindset.
- a guide to developing awareness and respect for different cultures and beliefs.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ART 206 | ART APPRECIATION | 3 |
| ART 337 | NON WESTERN ART | 3 |
| French Recommended Sequence of Courses | ||
| FR 101 | ELEMENTARY FRENCH | 3 |
| FR 102 | ELEMENTARY FRENCH | 3 |
| FR 201 | INTERMEDIATE FRENCH | 3 |
| History Recommended Sequence of Courses | ||
| HIST 101 | HISTORY OF CIVILIZATION I | 3 |
| HIST 102 | HISTORY OF CIVILIZATION II | 3 |
| HIST 201 | UNITED STATES HISTORY I | 3 |
| HIST 202 | UNITED STATES HISTORY II | 3 |
| MUS 202 | WORLD MUSIC CULTURES | 3 |
| MUS 205 | MUSIC APPRECIATION | 3 |
| MUS 218 | JAZZ APPRECIATION | 3 |
| SS 111 | ETHNIC STUDIES SURVEY-BLACKS | 3 |
| SS 211 | ETHCS STU SUR - IND & SPAN SPK | 3 |
| SS 212 | ETH STUDS SUR-JEWISH & ORIENTA | 3 |
| SOC 325 | CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY | 3 |
| Spanish Recommended Sequence of Courses | ||
| SP 101 | ELEMENTARY SPANISH | 3 |
| SP 201 | INTERMEDIATE SPANISH | 3 |
| Study Abroad Courses (Consult with JSU Global for applicable Study Abroad Pathway options. | ||
Justice Pathway Options
The Justice Pathway introduces undergraduate students to justice as a thread that ties together components of equity, advocacy, distribution of resources, and opportunities. This pathway provides students with:
- a guide to view justice as a bridge to educational and health equity, social justice advocacy, small business resources, scientific and technological innovation, and critical engagement with policy and the creative arts.
- opportunities to promote justice, explore multiple perspectives and use collaborative approaches to engage students to think critically, communicate effectively, utilize diplomacy, and consider impact across race, gender, ability, faith, and socio-economic class.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CJ 100 | INTRODUCTI TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE | 3 |
| CJ 210 | INTRO CORRECT SERVICES | 3 |
| CJ 215 | ETHICS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE | 3 |
| SOC 216 | MODERN SOCIAL PROBLEMS | 3 |
| SW 215 | SOC WELFARE POLICIES & PROGRMS | 3 |
| SOC 329 | SOCIAL CHANGE | 3 |
| SW 360 | SOCIAL ISSUES IN FILM | 3 |
| ECO 204 | BLACK ECONOMIC & SOCIAL ISSUES | 3 |
Physical, Mental, and Public Health Pathway
The Physical, Mental, and Public Health Pathway introduce undergraduate students to physical, mental, and public health. This pathway provides students with
- a foundation of the basics of these three health domains.
- an introduction introduced to various areas of health and topics that relate to the health of individuals, communities, and populations.
- opportunities to gain insight into factors that contribute to health disparities in the region, the nation, and the world.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BIO 236 | CONCPTS OF PUBLIC HEALTH | 3 |
| HE 101 | CONCEPTS OF HEALTH | 3 |
| HE 113 | FIRST AID | 3 |
| HE 122 | FOUNDATIONS OF HEALTH | 3 |
| HE 208 | EPIDEMIOLOGY OF DISEASES | 3 |
| SOC 302 | BAS ISSS IN MENTAL HLTH | 3 |
| SOC 310 | INTRO TO ALCOHOL&DRUG ABUSE | 3 |
| SW 230 | Basic Trauma and Trauma-Informed Care | 3 |
| TREC 104 | INTRO TO THERAPEUTIC REC | 3 |
| PE Option Any three(3) one-hour activity course with a PE prefix | 3 | |
Leadership Pathway
The Leadership Pathway introduces undergraduate students to concepts of communication, organization, operations and power dynamics to enhance interpersonal skills.
This pathway provides students with:
- transferable skills between academic, social, and civic responsibility.
- confidence when working with others, engaging in experiential learning opportunities and navigating moments of influence, negotiation, and management.
- the abilities to create meaningful relationships, strategize, and adapt to changes.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| AS 101 | HERITAGE AND VALUES I | 1 |
| AS 102 | HERITAGE AND VALUES II | 1 |
| AS 201 | TEAM & LDRSP FUNDAMENTALS I | 1 |
| AS 202 | TEAM & LDRSP FUNDAMENTALS II | 1 |
| MATH 103 | College Algebra with Corequisite Support 1 | 3 |
| MATH 114 | Quantitative Reasoning 1 | 3 |
| ENG 228 | WORD POWER | 3 |
- 1
Option 1: Air Force (Air Force ROTC Recommended Sequence of Course Options. MATH 103, MATH114, ENG 228 & ENG 330 support the preparation for the AFOQT exam required for students pursuing officer commissioning.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MS 101 | FUND OF LDRSHP & MGNT I 2 | 1 |
| MS 102 | FUND OF LDRSHP & MGNT II | 1 |
| MS 104 | LEADERSHIP LABORATORY | 1 |
| MS 201 | INDIVIDUAL LEADERSHIP STUDIES | 2-3 |
| MS 202 | LEADERSHIP AND TEAMWORK | 2 |
| MS 203 | LEADERSHIP LABORATORY | 1 |
| MS 204 | LEADERSHIP LABORATORY | 1 |
| MS 103 | LEADERSHIP LABORATORY | 1 |
- 2
Option 2: Army (Army ROTC Recommended Sequence of Course Options.) MS courses are open for all majors to enroll.)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| HON 110 Honors Colloquium 3 | 1 | |
| CLHR 220 | TRANG, DEVELOP, & COMMUNICATNG | 3 |
| SW 210 | PROFNL BHVRS, ETHICS, & COMMUN | 3 |
| ENG 213 | PROFESSIONAL WRITING | 3 |
| SPCH 214 | INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS | 3 |
| UNIV 300 Experiential Learning I 4 | Variable Credit | |
| UNIV 301 Experiential Learning II 4 | Variable Credit | |
- 3
Prerequisite: Enrollment in HON 110 is required for Du Bois- Harvey Honors College students.
- 4
Prerequisite: Enrollment in UNIV 300 or UNIV 301 requires prior approval, including verification of an experiential learning activity. Email theepathway@jsums.edu for approval.
All degree programs at Jackson State University include a general education curriculum. The general education courses complement the specialized academic major courses to provide balance within a broader intellectual context.
The General Education curriculum is comprised of the General Education Core (GEC), which includes 30 hours of courses that every student must take in order to obtain a degree from Jackson State University; 3 hours of University Required (UR) courses, and 9 hours of General Education Pathway (PATH) courses.
The UR courses are courses that are specific to Jackson State University. The UR courses include two courses: a University Success course, which is typically taken at the beginning of a student’s general education program, and a Civic Engagement course, which is typically taken at the end of a student’s General Education Pathway.
A student’s Pathway is comprised of three courses that are thematically connected and are selected at the student’s discretion based on the student’s interests. Together, the GEC, UR, and PATH courses of the General Education curriculum address student learning outcomes that focus on three areas: communication, math/analytical reasoning, and critical thinking.
General Education Core (GEC) courses are courses that every student must take in order to obtain a degree from Jackson State University. GEC courses are essential to every undergraduate degree at Jackson State University. Collectively, there are 30 credit hours of GEC course requirements.
General Education Pathway (PATH) courses are courses that are connected through interdisciplinary themes and are selected at the student’s discretion to fulfill the general education curriculum. Through experiential learning and reflective writing, students will have the opportunity to integrate knowledge across courses and develop their skills and an enhanced sense of civic responsibility. Students select nine (9) hours from the pathway of choice. Each pathway concludes with a related one (1) credit hour a University Required (UR) course.
University Required (UR) courses are courses that are specific to Jackson State University and are designed to integrate students within the Jackson State University community by promoting student success resources, strategies, and high-impact practices.
Degree Program Required (DPR) courses that are required for the completion of a degree program within the specified major.
Electives are courses selected at a student’s discretion and provide opportunities for students to pursue their academic interests. There are two types of electives. Degree Program Elective (DPE) courses are elective courses that are partially restricted such that students select courses from a specified group of identified courses (e.g., departmental elective courses) to fulfill a particular requirement. General Elective (GEL) courses are courses that may be selected from any program for which the student has fulfilled the proper prerequisites.
Professional Concentration (PC) courses complement Degree Program Required courses and allow students to have a concentrated area of study within the major.