General Studies Certificate
In accordance with the mission of the University of Montana-Missoula, the objectives of general education coursework are to develop competent and humane individuals who are informed, ethical, literate, and engaged citizens of local and global communities. Students should become acquainted with issues facing contemporary society, participate in the creative arts, develop an understanding of science and technology, cultivate an appreciation of the humanities, and examine the history of different American and global cultures. Upon completion of the general education requirements students should be able to articulate ideas orally and in writing, understand and critically evaluate tangible and abstract concepts, and employ mathematical and other related skills appropriate to a technologically focused society. These foundational skills are important for students continuing on in both liberal arts and professional programs of study.
The Certificate of General Studies requires completion of University of Montana’s lower-division general education requirements that reflect the Montana University System’s General Education Core. Students may use the certificate to demonstrate completion of lower-division general education requirements when transferring within the MUS or as a milestone to earning an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree a Missoula College, University of Montana.
General Certificate Requirements
Additional requirements for graduation can be found on the Degree/Certificate Requirements for Graduation page.
Unless otherwise noted in individual program requirements, a minimum grade point average of 2.00 in all work attempted at the University of Montana-Missoula is required for graduation. Please see the Academic Policies and Procedures page for information on how your GPA is calculated.
Courses taken to satisfy the requirements of a major, minor, or certificate program must be completed with a grade of C- or better unless a higher grade is noted in the program requirements.
Online Program Option
This program may be completed in an online format. Students interested in pursuing an online degree or certificate program are strongly encouraged to contact the offering department to discuss specific program and course modalities and create a plan of study with an academic advisor. The course requirements listed below may not be consistently offered via online delivery.
Certificate of Applied Science - General Studies
To receive the Certificate of General Studies, students must:
- Complete the University of Montana lower-division general education requirements (GERs) with the exception of the language requirement that also fulfill the general education requirements outlined by the Montana University System (the MUS Core).
- All courses taken to satisfy general education requirements must be taken for a traditional letter grade and must be passed with a grade of C- or better.
- Earn a minimum of 30 credits,
- Have a minimum cumulative institutional GPA of 2.0.
- At least 16 of the total 30 degree credits must be earned from the University of Montana-Missoula.
Missoula College students are limited to enrolling in lower-division (100- and 200-level) courses only.
Students awarded an Associate of Arts or an Associate of Science degree have been granted an exception to the language requirement. Missoula College students who continue to Mountain Campus without receiving either of these degrees must complete the language requirement unless their declared four-year major has been granted an exception.
One Year Plan
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Autumn | Hours | |
| ANTY 101H or NASX 105H |
Anthropology & the Human Experience or Introduction to Native American Studies |
3 |
| BIOB 101N | Discover Biology | 3 |
| PSCI 210S or COMX 140L |
Intro to American Government or Introduction to Visual Rhetoric |
3 |
| PSYX 100S or SOCI 101S |
Intro to Psychology or Introduction to Sociology |
3 |
| WRIT 101 | College Writing I | 3-4 |
| Hours | 15-16 | |
| Spring | ||
| BIOB 109N | Montana Ecosystems | 3 |
| COMX 111A | Introduction to Public Speaking | 3 |
| LIT 110L | Introduction to Literature | 3 |
| M 105 or M 115 |
Contemporary Mathematics or Probability and Linear Mathematics |
3-4 |
| PHL 110E | Introduction to Ethics | 3 |
| Hours | 15-16 | |
| Total Hours | 30-32 | |
Last Updated Fall 2025