Core Transfer Curriculum (CORE 42)
The Missouri Department of Higher Education (MDHE) has developed a standard core transfer curriculum and a common course numbering equivalency matrix for lower-division general education courses. This core curriculum is known as CORE 42. All Missouri public two and four-year institutions of higher education have adopted CORE 42 to facilitate the seamless transfer of coursework.
CORE 42 courses are designated with a Missouri Transfer (MOTR) course number that guarantees one-to-one transfer of these courses to all Missouri public institutions of higher education.
To identify MACC’s CORE 42 courses, look for the Core 42 symbol in the course title.
Associate of Arts – Communications Core 42 Approved Courses
Complete a minimum of 3 courses – 9 credit hours
The required hours must be selected from the following list:
Language and Literature (LAL)
LAL101 Composition I
LAL102 Composition II
Speech (SPK)
SPK101 Public Speaking
Associate of Arts – Humanities and Fine Arts Core 42 Approved Courses
Complete a minimum of 3 courses – 9 credit hours.
Two disciplines must be represented. The required hours must be selected from the following list:
1Students may select only one performance course to meet the Humanities/Fine Arts requirement.
Art (ART):
ART 101 Art Survey and Appreciation I1
ART 102 Art Survey and Appreciation II
ART 110 Drawing and Composition I1
ART124 Beginning Sculpture1
ART201 Painting I1
ART205 Ceramics1
Drama (DRM):
DRM 120 Theater Appreciation
DRM150 Acting I1
DRM160 Children’s Theatre
DRM 165 Stage Makeup1
DRM 215 Directing1
Foreign Language (FLN):
FLN 101: Elementary Spanish
FLN 102: Intermediate Spanish
FLN 111: Elementary French
FLN 112: Intermediate French
FLN121 Elementary Arabic
FLN122 Intermediate Arabic
History (HST):
HST 101 Western Civilization I
HST102 Western Civilization II
HST150 African American History I
HST151 African American History II
Literature (LAL):
LAL115 Introduction to Fiction Writing1
LAL116 Introduction to Poetry Writing1
LAL117 Introduction to Creative Nonfiction1
LAL120 American Literature Survey to 1870
LAL121: American Literature Survey from 1870 to Present
LAL125: African-American Literature
LAL125H African-American Literature Honors
LAL150: English Literature Survey to 1750
LAL151: English Literature Survey from 1750 to Present
LAL151H: English Literature Survey from 1750 to Present Honors
LAL153 Introduction to Contemporary Literature
LAL210 A Survey of World Literature I
LAL211 A Survey of World Literature II
LAL250: History and Development of Short Story
LAL 255 Women’s Literature
LAL275 Classical Mythology
Music (MUS):
MUS 101: Fundamentals of Music
MUS 102: *Music Appreciation
MUS 103: History of Rock and Roll
MUS 105: Music of America
MUS 130: MACC Singers I1
MUS 131: MACC Singers II1
MUS 137: Community Band I1
MUS 205: *World Music
Philosophy (PHI):
PHI 150: Introduction to Philosophy
PHI 150H: Introduction to Philosophy (Honors)
PHI 151: Introduction to Logic
PHI 152: Introduction to Ethics
PHI 251: Religions of the World
PHI252 Hebrew Bible
Associate of Arts – Social and Behavioral Core 42 Approved Courses
Complete a minimum of 3 courses – 9 credit hours
Two disciplines must be represented. The required hours must include one of the following courses to fulfill the state’s history/Constitution (civics) requirement:
HST105: American History to 1865
HST106: American History from 1865
HST106H: American History from 1865 (Honors)
PSC 105: Introduction to American Government
The remaining six hours must be selected from the following list:
Economics (ECN):
ECN 101: Macroeconomics
ECN 102: Microeconomics
Geography (GEO):
GEO 101 World Geography I
History (HST):
HST105: American History to 1865
HST106: American History from 1865
HST106H: American History from 1865 (Honors)
Political Science (PSC):
PSC 105: Functions & Policies of American Government
PSC 150: International Relations
Psychology (PSY):
PSY 101: General Psychology
PSY 205: Human Lifespan Development
Sociology (SOC):
SOC 101: Sociology
SOC 150: Introduction to Criminal Justice Systems
SOC 205: Social Problems
Associate of Arts – Biological and Physical Science Core 42 Approved Courses
The Associate of Arts degree requires a student to complete a minimum of 7 credit hours in science. In addition, the science courses must represent each discipline (BIO and PHY) and include a minimum of one lab course. The required hours must be selected from the following list:
Biological Science
AGR141: Plant Science
BIO101: Biology
BIO105: Introductory Conservation Biology
BIO105H: Introductory Conservation Biology Honors
BIO150: General Zoology
BIO151: Introductory Plant Biology
BIO 155 General Biology for Majors
BIO205: Human Anatomy
BIO209:Physiology
Physical Science (PHY)
PHY101: Foundations of Physical Science
PHY120: Foundations of Chemistry
PHY121: General Chemistry I
PHY125: Foundations of Physics
PHY140: Soil Science
PHY160: Earth Science I
PHY 162 General Astronomy
PHY 163 Geology
PHY164: Atmospheric Science
PHY181: General Physics I
PHY201: Engineering Physics I
MTH140 Precalculus Algebra
MTH 142 Quantitative Reasoning
MTH150 Precalculus
MTH160 Elementary Statistics
- Course Offerings – CORE 42 courses are designated with their corresponding state-wide MOTR course number to the left of the MACC course number (i.e., ART 101 is designated as MOTR ARTS 101).
- MACC College Catalog
- MDHE CORE 42 Website
- Course Transfer Tracker – The Course Transfer Tracker is a tool to see how general education courses will transfer to other public institutions in Missouri. This tool is continually updated; however, it is always best to check with your receiving institution to ensure that you are enrolling in the appropriate courses.
CORE 42 Transfer Guidelines
- Students who complete the Associate of Arts degree at a Missouri community college and transfer to a Missouri public university shall have completed all lower-division general education requirements at the receiving institution. Students shall receive full credit, including any prerequisites or requirements in the major, for all MOTR courses transferred. The receiving institution cannot require the student to take additional lower-division general education courses. A student may, however, have to take additional lower-division courses to fulfill program or institutional requirements.
- Students who complete the CORE 42 at any public institution shall be considered as having completed all lower-division general education requirements at a receiving institution. Students shall receive full credit, including any prerequisites or requirements in the major, for all MOTR courses transferred. The receiving institution cannot require the student take any additional lower-division general education courses. A student may, however, have to take additional lower-division courses to fulfill program or institutional requirements.
- Students who do not complete either the Associate of Arts or the CORE 42 shall receive credit at a receiving institution for each MOTR course completed at a sending institution. Students shall receive full credit, including any prerequisites or requirements in the major, for all MOTR courses transferred. After receiving credit for MOTR courses, the student shall complete the CORE 42 at the receiving institution.
Core 42 Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: What if I’m transferring to a private institution in Missouri?
A: Many private institutions have decided to become signatory institution, which indicates that they will adhere to all CORE 42 policies.
Q: What if I’m transferring to an out-of-state institution?
A: The CORE 42 is only applicable in Missouri. Out-of-state institutions will evaluate your credits on a course-by-course basis.
Q: Will new courses be added to the CORE 42?
A: New courses will be added each academic year.
Q: A course at my institution has a different number of credit hours than the receiving institution? How are different credit hour differences handled in the CORE 42?
A: In some disciplines, particularly the sciences and foreign language, there are courses with different credit hour designations that are identified as equivalent. Institutions across the state will continue to work to create consistency in these areas.
Q: How do I fill the five credit hours of MOTR courses?
A: Any MOTR course in any knowledge area can be used to satisfy the five credit hours. Credits earned beyond the minimum in a particular knowledge are count toward these five hours (for example, if you complete 12 credit hours of Humanities and Fine Arts MOTR courses, nine credits will satisfy the Humanities and Fine Arts requirement and the remaining three credit hours will count toward the five hours).