College Core Curriculum

Students make a choice of courses from the Core Curriculum Requirements noted below. They must take the following number of credits from each of the Core areas.

Requirements and the Number of Credits

English …3-8
Study & Technology Skills...0-2
Mathematics…3-5
Natural Sciences...7-12
Social Sciences…3
Fine Arts...3
Humanities…6
Constitution…3-6
Community-Based Learning…3

English (3-8 credits required)

An English placement exam is given to students with an Enhanced ACT score of 1-20 in English or a Re-centered SAT score of 200-500 in Verbal, or to students who have not taken the ACT or SAT. Ratings less than 2 on the English placement exam are referred to a community college (ratings are from 1-4). NSC offers English 100 (5 credits) in lieu of remedial English.

Course	Enhanced ACT English	Re-centered SAT Verbal
ENG 100	1-20	400-500
ENG 101	21-29	510-670
ENG 102	30-36	680-800

Students who complete ENG 102 will satisfy the Core Curriculum Requirement. Normally, students take ENG 101 during their first semester at the college and ENG 102 during the second semester. Students needing extra assistance in English writing skills will take ENG 100, a 5-credit course offering more instruction and practice than ENG 101. A student who successfully completes (with a C or higher grade) ENG 100 can move on to ENG 102. 

 

1. ENG 100 – Composition I Enhanced 5
   or
   ENG 101 – Composition I...3 
2. ENG 102 – Composition II…3

Study & Technology Skills (0-2 credits required)

Accompanying the student's Core Curriculum Courses are two one-credit courses that will teach time and stress management skills, study skills, and technological skills that will be used in subsequent and concurrent courses, such as e-mail, spreadsheet, and presentation software. Students will also be introduced to the Nevada State College program in assessment of ability-based learning outcomes. Transfer students with 30 or more transferrable college credits will be able to waive the Study and Technology Core Requirement. Transfer students who transfer less than 30 credits will be required to take both CEP 121 and CEP 122. 

1. CEP 121 – Introduction to the College Experience…1 
2. CEP 122 – Enhancing Academic Success…1

Mathematics

The Math diagnostic test administered to students has been created by NSC Math professors and has proven to be a proficient diagnostic tool. There are two Math diagnostic tests. If a student scores greater than 17 on the first diagnostic test, the second diagnostic test results will factor into the student's placement. Students who have taken the ACT or SAT will not need to take the NSC Math Diagnostic Test. 

Course	Enhanced ACT Math	Re-Centered SAT Math	NSC Math Placement Test
MATH 093*	17 or below	400 or below	9 or below
MATH 097*	17 to 20	400-500	10-17
MATH 120	21	510
MATH 124	22	520
MATH 128	25-27	560-610
MATH 181	28 or above	630 or above

• MATH 120 – Fundamentals of College Mathematics…3
• MATH 124 – College Algebra..3
• MATH 128 – Pre-Calculus & Trigonometry… 5
• MATH 181 – Calculus I...4 
• MATH 182 – Calculus II…4

*Note: Courses below the 100 level do not count toward a student's Grade Point Average.

Natural Sciences (7-12 credits required)

 Students need to take two science courses, at least one of which must include an associated laboratory course. An asterisk (*) indicates a course that may be taken for laboratory credit. Students must complete any mathematical prerequisites prior to enrolling in natural science courses. 

• AST 103 – Introductory Astronomy: Solar System...3 
  must be taken with AST 105 to fulfill laboratory requirement. 
• AST 104 – Introductory Astronomy: Stars & Galaxies...3
  must be taken with AST 105 to fulfill laboratory requirement. 
• AST 105 – Introductory Astronomy: Stars & Galaxies Lab*...1
  must be taken with AST 105 to fulfill laboratory requirement.
• BIOL 101 –Biology for Non-Majors*...4 
• BIOL 189 – Fundamentals of Life Science*...4 
• CHEM 105 – Chemistry, Man, & Society...3 
• CHEM 110 – Chemistry for Health Sciences I*...4 
• CHEM 111 – Chemistry for Health Sciences II*...4 
• CHEM 121 – General Chemistry I*...4 
• CHEM 122 – General Chemistry II*...4 
• ENV 101 – Introduction to Environmental Science...3
• GEOG 117 – Introduction to Meteorology...3 
• GEOL 100 – Earthquakes, Volcanoes, & Natural Disasters..3
• GEOL 101 – Geology: Exploring Planet Earth*...4 
• GEOL 102 – Earth & Life Through Time*...4
• PHYS 151 – General Physics I* ... 4 
• PHYS 152 – General Physics II* ... 4

Social Science (3 Credits Required)

• ANTH 101 – Introduction to Cultural Anthropology...3 
• COM 216 – Survey of Communication Studies...3 
• COU 300 – Introduction to Human Services & Counseling...3
• ECON 103 – Principles of  Macroeconomics...3 
• PSC 210 – American Public Policy ...3 
• PSC 211 – Introduction to Comparative Politics...3 
• PSC 231 – Introduction to International Relations...3 
• PSY 101 – General Psychology...3 
• PSY 460 – Social Psychology...3 
• SOC 101 – Principles of Sociology ...3 
• WMST 101 – Introduction to Women’s Studies...3

Fine Arts (3 credits required) 

• ART 160 – Art Appreciation...3 
• ART 260 - Survey of Art History I ...3 
• ART 261 - Survey of Art History II...3 
• ART 265 - Introduction to Contemporary Art...3 
• ART 475 - History of Photography ...3 
• FIS 110 - The Language of Film ...3 
• MUS 121 - Music Appreciation...3 
• MUS 122 - Survey of Jazz...3 
• MUS 128 - Masterworks of Music ...3 
• MUS 134 - Jazz Appreciation...3 
• THTR 100 - Introduction to the Theater...3

Humanities (6 credits required)

• CH 201 - Ancient and Medieval Cultures...3 
• CH 202 - The Modern World...3 
• COM 101 - Fundamentals of Speech Communication...3
• ETS 101 – Introduction to Ethnic Studies...3 
• Any Literature Course ENG 231 or higher...3 
• Any Philosophy Course (other than 102, 105,109)...3
• Any History Course...3 
• Foreign Language Course 111 or above...3-4 
• AM 145 - American Sign Language I ...4 
• AM 146 - American Sign Language II ...4 
• AM 147 - American Sign Language III ...4 
• AM 148 - American Sign Language IV ...4

Constitution (3-6 credits required) 

• CH 203 - American Experience and Constitutional Change...3
• PSC 101 (from an NSHE institution) ...4
• PSC 101 (equivalent from out-of-state) AND PSC 100...4
• PSC 101 (equivalent from out-of-state) AND HIST 217...6 
• HIST 101 AND HIST 102 (HIST 102 must be taken at an NSHE institution excluding UNR)...6 
• HIST 101 AND PSC 100...4 
• HIST 101 AND HIST 217...6

Community-Based Learning (3 credits required)

 This course should be completed during the student’s senior year of study. This interdisciplinary course partners a group of students with a community agency to work together on a problem or issue. These projects advance the community needs and serve as an educational experience for the students. 

• CBL 400 – Community-Based Leaning Capstone...3