Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC) Goal Areas

The Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC) provides the general education distribution requirements for the Associate of Arts degree and provides the general education component for each of the career programs at NHCC. The Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC) is an agreement among Minnesota public institutions that aids in transfer among public colleges and universities in Minnesota. Upon full completion of the MnTC, a student will receive credit for all lower-division general education requirements (40 credits) upon admission. Partial completion of the MnTC will first be evaluated for completion of any of the 10 Goal Areas within the MnTC, and then on a course-by-course basis. In all cases, courses recognized within particular Goal Area(s) by the previous institution will be accepted at NHCC within the same Goal Area(s).

(NOTE: Superscript number (#) indicates additional Goal Area.)

Goal Area 1: Communication

To develop writers and speakers who use the English language effectively and who read, write, speak, and listen critically. Students should complete introductory communication requirements early in their collegiate studies. Writing competency is an ongoing process reinforced through writing-intensive courses and writing across the curriculum. Speaking and listening skills are reinforced through multiple opportunities for interpersonal communication, public speaking, and discussion.

MnTC approved courses for goal area 1:
Students must complete a minimum of nine (9) credits by taking at least six (6) credits in writing and three (3) credits in speech and/or theater from the following list:

• English 1111 or 1112*
• Speech 1010, 1110, or 1410

* English 1140 also is certified as a substitute for English 1112, but only for specified A.S. or A.A.S. degrees.

Goal Area 2: Critical Thinking

To develop thinkers who are able to unify factual, creative, rational, and value-sensitive modes of thought. Critical thinking will be taught and used throughout the general education curriculum to develop students’ awareness of their own thinking and problem-solving procedures. To integrate new skills into their customary ways of thinking, students must be actively engaged in practicing thinking skills and applying them to open ended problems.

MnTC approved courses for goal area 2:
Completion of the MnTC fulfills the Critical Thinking requirement.

Goal Area 3: Natural Sciences

To improve students’ understanding of natural science principles and of the methods of scientific inquiry, i.e., the ways in which scientists investigate natural science phenomena. As a basis for lifelong learning, students need to know the vocabulary of science and to realize that while a set of principles has been developed through the work of previous scientists, ongoing scientific inquiry and new knowledge will bring changes in some of the ways scientists view the world. By studying the problems that engage today’s scientists, students learn to appreciate the importance of science in their lives and to understand the value of a scientific perspective. Students are encouraged to study both the biological and physical sciences.

MnTC approved courses for goal area 3:
Students must complete a minimum of seven (7) credits in two of these courses. Each course must come from a different department, and at least one must be a lab course indicated by an *:

• Anthropology 1020¹⁰
• Biology 1000*, 1001*, 1002*, 1030¹⁰, 1120, 1160¹⁰, 1200¹⁰*, 1350, 1610¹⁰, 1650, 2020* or 2030*, 2100*, 2111*,2112* 
• Chemistry 1000*, 1030*, 1010*, 1061* or 1062*
• Geography 1010¹⁰
• Geology 1010¹⁰, 1020¹⁰, 1030¹⁰, 1040¹⁰, 1110*, 1120¹⁰*, 1130*, 1150¹⁰, 1160¹⁰ or 1850/1851^10*
• Natural Science 1010, 1020, 1030 or 1110^10*
• Physics 1000*, 1030*, 1120¹⁰*, 1140, 1201*, 1202*, 1400, 1450, 1400/1410*, 1450/1460*, 1601* or 1602* 

Goal Area 4: Mathematical/Logical Reasoning

To increase students’ knowledge about mathematical and logical modes of thinking. This will enable students to appreciate the breadth of applications of mathematics, evaluate arguments, and detect fallacious reasoning. Students will learn to apply mathematics, logic, and/or statistics to help them make decisions in their lives and careers. Minnesota’s public higher education systems have agreed that developmental mathematics includes the first three years of a high school mathematics sequence through intermediate algebra.

MnTC approved courses for goal area 4:
Students must complete a minimum of three (3) credits in one of these courses.

• Mathematics 1010, 1130, 1140, 1150, 1170, 1180, 1200, 1221, 1222, 2010, 2220, 2300 or 2400
• Philosophy 1050

Goal Area 5: History and the Social and Behavioral Sciences

To increase students’ knowledge of how historians and social and behavioral scientists discover, describe, and explain the behaviors and interactions among individuals, groups, institutions, events, and ideas. Such knowledge will better equip students to understand themselves and the roles they play in addressing the issues facing humanity.

MnTC approved courses for goal area 5:
Students must complete a minimum of nine (9) credits in three of these courses. One course must come from the Behavioral Sciences and one from Social Sciences.

Behavioral Sciences 

• Anthropology 1010⁸
• Economics 1050⁹
• Psychology 1150, 1165, 1170, 1210, 1220, 2320, 2330, or 2340⁷
• Sociology 1110⁷, 1710, 1750, 2110, 2210⁷, 2310⁹, or 2730
• Women’s Studies 1110

Social Sciences

• Economics 1060⁸ or 1070
• History 1110⁸, 1010⁸, 1020⁸,  1120⁸, 1130⁸, 1150⁸, 1200, 1210, 1220⁷, 1240⁷, 1270⁷
• Political Science 1100⁹, 1140, 1600⁸, 2130 or 2180⁹

Goal Area 6: Humanities and Fine Arts

To expand students’ knowledge of the human condition and human cultures, especially in relation to behavior, ideas, and values expressed in works of human imagination and thought. Through study in disciplines such as literature, philosophy, and the fine arts, students will engage in critical analysis, form aesthetic judgments, and develop an appreciation of the arts and humanities as fundamental to the health and survival of any society. Students should have experiences in both the arts and humanities.

MnTC approved courses for goal area 6:
Students must complete a minimum of nine (9) credits in three of these courses. Courses must come from at least two different departments.

• American Studies 1010⁷, 1020⁷, 2210⁷, or 2220⁷
• Art 1040⁸, 1101, 1102, 1160, 1301, 1302, 1310, 1320, 1340, 1401, 1402, 1510, 1770, 2180⁸, 2190⁸, 2300⁸, 2611, 2612, 2640, 2741, 2742, 2780, 2800, 2820 or 2970
• English 1150, 1400, 1920, 1930, 2270, 2310, 2340^10, 2350⁷, 2360⁸, 2370⁷, 2380⁷, 2450⁷, 2460⁷, 2550⁸, 2560⁸, 2580⁸ or 2590⁸
• German 1030⁸
• History 1110⁵ or 1120⁵
• Music 1130, 1200, 1220⁸, 1300⁸, 1350, 1560, 1600, 1610, 1810, 1840 or 2970
• Philosophy 1010⁸, 1020⁹, 1030⁸, 1040⁷, or 1060⁸
• Spanish 1030⁸
• Theater, Film & Television 1200, 1210, 1250, 1260⁸, 1290, 1500, 1510, 1520, 1600, or 2950

Designated Themes: Students must take courses in three (3) of the four (4) goal Areas: Human Diversity, Global Perspective, Ethical and Civic Responsibility, and People and the Environment. Courses in goal areas 1- 6 that are also listed in these four goal areas can be used to satisfy both areas.

Goal Area 7: Human Diversity

To increase students’ understanding of individual and group differences (e.g. race, gender, class) and their knowledge of the traditions and values of various groups in the United States. Students should be able to evaluate the United States’ historical and contemporary responses to group differences.

MnTC approved courses for goal area 7:

• American Sign Language 1300
• American Studies 1010⁶, 1020⁶, 2210⁶ or 2220⁶
• English 2350⁶, 2370⁶, 2380⁶, 2450⁶ or 2460⁶
• Geography 1000, 1040⁸ or 1120
• History 1220⁵, 1240⁵ or 1270⁵
• Philosophy 1040⁶
• Psychology 1170
• Sociology 1110⁵, 1130⁹ or 2210⁵
• Speech 1310⁸

Goal Area 8: Global Perspective

To increase students’ understanding of the growing interdependence of nations and peoples and develop their ability to apply a comparative perspective to cross-cultural social, economic, and political experiences.

MnTC approved courses for goal area 8:

• American Sign Language 2201 or 2202
• Anthropology 1010⁵
• Art 1040⁶, 2180⁶, 2190⁶ or 2300⁶
• Economics 1060⁵
• English 2360⁶, 2550⁶, 2560⁶, 2580⁶ or 2590⁶
• Geography 1040⁷ or 1100
• German 1030⁶
• History 1010⁵ , 1130⁵ , 1390⁵
• Music 1220⁶, 1300⁶
• Philosophy 1010⁶, 1030⁵, 1060⁵, or 1210
• Political Science 1600⁵ or 1700⁹
• Sociology 2410⁵
• Spanish 1030⁶, 2201⁶ or 2202⁶
• Speech 1310⁷

Goal Area 9: Ethical and Civic Responsibility

To develop students’ capacity to identify, discuss, and reflect upon the ethical dimensions of political, social, and personal life and to understand the ways in which they can exercise responsible and productive citizenship. While there are diverse views of social justice or the common good in a pluralistic society, students should learn that responsible citizenship requires them to develop skills to understand their own and others’ positions, be part of the free exchange of ideas, and function as public-minded citizens.

MnTC approved courses for goal area 9:

• Economics 1050⁵
• Philosophy 1020⁶, 1110, 1200 or 1210
• Political Science 1100⁵, 1700⁸ or 2180⁵
• Sociology 1130⁷ or 2310⁵

Goal Area 10: People and the Environment

To improve students’ understanding of today’s complex environmental challenges. Students will examine the interrelatedness of human society and the natural environment. Knowledge of both biophysical principles and socio-cultural systems is the foundation for integrative and critical thinking about environmental issues.

MnTC approved courses for goal area 10:

• Anthropology 1020³
• Biology 1030³, 1160³,1200³ ,1600 or 1610³
• English 2340⁶
• Geography 1010³
• Geology 1010³, 1020³, 1030³, 1040³, 1120³, 1150³, 1160³ or 1850³
• Natural Science 1110³
• Philosophy 1200⁹
• Physics 1120³