Advising Second Semester Freshmen
 

The Basics:

1. The Dragon Core requires 14 classes:

• Four classes are taken as the Foundation Four;
• Seven classes are taken from competency areas DC 3-7;
  • Three must be Middle Cluster, which means they apply foundation skills;
  • Up to four may be Inner Cluster electives, which means they are purely introductory;
• Three classes are taken at the Outer Cluster, competency areas  DC 8-10.

2. New Entering Freshmen (as of Fall 2006) must have five writing-intensive courses to graduate:

• One is ENGL 101.
   

• Two others must be taken as part of the Middle and/or Outer Cluster of the Dragon Core program. At least one of these courses must be at the 300 or 400 level.

• One must be in the student’s major or designated by the major at the 300 or 400 level

• The other course may be at the 200, 300, or 400 level and may be designated by the major.

3. You will need to refer to the student’s DARS transcript as you advise them. The old transcripts will not be accurate any more. Click the DARS link next to your advisees’ names on the registration site for employees.

General Rules of Thumb for Second Semester Freshmen:

• A student should complete the Foundation Four in their first year. (This may not be possible or desirable for some majors—but it is the general expectation.)
   

• Students can take up to four Inner Cluster elective courses. They only need three Middle Cluster courses in the Dragon Core. Thus, second semester freshmen may be able to complete their spring schedule without taking a Middle Cluster course.
   

• If a student wants to take a Middle Cluster course, make sure they have had the required foundation courses before taking the course. Additionally, a Middle Cluster course may require that a student have completed one course in a designated competency area. The online course descriptions and course listing will provide this information.

Math Courses:

If a student is in Math 0090, he or she should next enroll in PDEV 100.

If a student is in PDEV 100, he or she should next enroll in one of these options:

• MATH 102—if his or her major does not require any other math courses or if the program has determined that MATH 102 should be taken in addition to other math courses.
   

• The first course in the math sequence required by the major.

The math requirement of the Dragon Core is fulfilled if a student completes Math 102.

OR

If a student needs or desires two math courses, they can both be applied to the Dragon Core if one course comes from Category A and one course from Category B:

• Category A: Math 102 or 105 or 127 or 142 or 143 or 229 or 261 or 262. (Counts as the Foundation Four course)
   
• Category B: Math 234 or 236 or 244 or 335. (Counts as a Middle Cluster course in competency area DC 3.)

Some Complicating Factors:
Nearly 1 in 4 new entering freshmen this year had Post Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) or Advanced Placement (AP) credit from high school. Although PSEO and AP courses are treated differently in some cases, the student’s DARS transcript should have them applied in the appropriate category. Here are some guides for advising students who came with credit:

• Generally, if a course is identified as a Minnesota Transfer Credit course and has a competency area number, that course counts for a Dragon Core course in the same competency area.
   
• For Math - For a score of 3, 4, or 5 on the AP Calculus test, Math 229 is waived, student receives credit for Math 261 (4 credits), and must then enroll in either Math 234 or 236 or 244 or 335 to satisfy competency area  DC 3 in the Dragon Core. (Both courses count for the Dragon Core—one as the Foundation Four course in competency area DC 3 and the other as a Middle Cluster course in competency area DC 3.)
   

• For English - If a student has had two semesters of advanced placement English, both courses count as DC 1B courses. Essentially, the second is an Inner Cluster elective course, meaning they can only take three additional Inner Cluster elective courses.

Questions? Tim Borchers (2656) or Sara Leigh (4318).

DARS Questions or Problems? Call Sara Leigh (4218) or the Records Office (2565).

Foundation Four Courses Filling Up?
Contact Dean Enz Finken for ENGL 101 or CMST 100 or Dean Jeppson for MATH 102.
 

A member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System
Contact @mnstate.edu | Updated 8/8/06
MSU Moorhead | 1104 7th Ave South | Moorhead, MN 56563 | 1.800.593.7246
home | msum | academic affairs | about dragon core | requirements | faculty | students | minnesota transfer