The Minnesota Transfer Curriculum is a framework for students completing an associate’s degree or planning to transfer from a two-year public college to a four-year public university in Minnesota. The framework outlines educational expectations, student outcome goals, and core competencies that are to be addressed in courses included in the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum.
The Minnesota Transfer Curriculum was designed to offer students high-quality general education and seamless progress toward a baccalaureate degree regardless of where they begin their education. The ten goal areas focus on core liberal arts and sciences competencies, and are designed to transfer as a complete package of credits to meet the first two years of general education requirements to any public Minnesota college or university.
Goal Area 1: Communication
To develop writers and speakers who use the English language effectively and who read, write, speak, and listen critically. As a base, all students should complete introductory communication requirements early in their collegiate studies. Writing competency is an ongoing process to be reinforced through writing-intensive courses and writing across the curriculum. Speaking and listening skills need reinforcement through multiple opportunities for interpersonal communication, public speaking, and discussion.
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 in order 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.
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 should be encouraged to study both the biological and physical sciences.
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.
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.
Goal Area 6: Humanities and the 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.
Goal Area 7: Human Diversity, Race, Power, and Justice in the United States (Previously 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.
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.
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.
Goal Area 10: People and the Environment
To improve students’ understanding of today’s complex environmental challenges. Students will examine the inter-relatedness of human society and the natural environment. Knowledge of both bio-physical principles and socio-cultural systems is the foundation for integrative and critical thinking about environmental issues.
While the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum remains a powerful tool for transfer students, Minnesota State recognizes that it was created three decades ago and is in need of revision. Over the last two years, there has been a review of the core competencies focused around human diversity. During this review, feedback from stakeholder engagement highlighted broad interest and support for revising the entire Minnesota Transfer Curriculum to better reflect students’ needs in the 21st century.
In May 2022, a general education process design team was convened to develop recommendations to the senior vice chancellor of academic and student affairs on the process for re-envisioning the Minnesota State 2-year general education and transfer curriculum. Co-led by the special advisor to the chancellor and the presidents of the Inter Faculty Organization and the Minnesota State College Faculty, this team met through July 2022. In fall 2022, a steering committee was launched to coordinate and oversee the redesign process. It will also ensure collaboration with the University of Minnesota system and the Tribal Colleges located in Minnesota
Along with the steering committee, Minnesota State Taskforce on Law Enforcement Education Reform recommended the review and revision of Minnesota Transfer Curriculum Goal 7. Minnesota Transfer Curriculum Goal 7 was reviewed, through listening sessions held with faculty, for the rigorous inclusion of anti-racism and racial equity issues as primary objectives within the goal area. Campuses will begin any needed curriculum revisions in Fall 2023 with full implementation by the 2025/2026 academic year.
