JSU General Education Overview

THEE Pathway: A JSU Philosophy for General Education

True to its foundation as a Historically Black University, the Jackson State University (JSU) General Education program provides its students an equitable pathway to academic achievement and student success. 

JSU’s General Education program, known as THEE Pathway, seeks to lay a foundation of skills and intellectual habits necessary to succeed in college and beyond. Specifically, THEE Pathway provides students with academic experiences to develop critical thinking, analytical reasoning, and effective communication. Each of these competencies offers a foundational stepping stone along THEE Pathway with technology being the intersection between them.

Common goals for students in THEE Pathway courses are to develop their critical consciousness by learning to ask essential questions, to use habits of the mind that support critical and analytical thinking to answer them, to think deeply and effectively communicate, and to collaborate with others to address societal problems.

By design, THEE Pathway, provides equitable opportunities for students and supports them in achieving their goals by allowing them to choose different paths through the General Education curriculum, selecting courses that are relevant to goals and interests.  Obstacles, or structural barriers that hinder student success, are removed from THEE Pathway to promote progression and to ensure that students maintain forward momentum. 

Students navigate THEE Pathway with the assistance of academic advisors and clear curriculum maps. Student learning along THEE Pathway is supported by evidence-based pedagogies in the classroom, experiential learning beyond the classroom, and holistic student success services.

THEE Pathway allows students to make meaningful connections between general education courses and their chosen careers.  THEE Pathway is more than a road map to a professional destination with economic and societal rewards at its end. It breaks new ground, allowing students to venture into uncharted territories to develop innovative ideas, skills, approaches, and relationships. THEE Pathway is not a solo journey. Students travel with the guidance of their professors, the companionship of their peers, and the support of their academic community.

General Education Components

The General Education curriculum is comprised of the General Education Core (GEC), which includes 30 hours of courses that every student must take in order to obtain a degree from Jackson State University; 3 hours of University Required (UR) courses, and 9 hours of General Education Pathway (PATH) courses.

The UR courses are courses that are specific to Jackson State University. The UR courses include two courses: a University Success course, which is typically taken at the beginning of a student’s general education program, and a Civic Engagement course, which is typically taken at the end of a student’s General Education Pathway.

A student’s Pathway is comprised of three courses that are thematically connected and are selected at the student’s discretion based on the student’s interests. Together, the GEC, UR, and PATH courses of the General Education curriculum address student learning outcomes that focus on three areas: communication, math/analytical reasoning, and critical thinking.

General Education Core Course Options (GEC – 30 Hours)

  • Communication (6 hours)
  • Humanities & Fine Arts (9 hours)
  • Social & Behavioral Science (6 hours)
  • Natural Science (6 hours)
  • Mathematics Pathway (3 hours) – Choose the Right Math for Your Path 

Pathway Course Options (PATH – 9 Hours)

University Required Courses (UR – 3 Hours)

  • UNIV 100 – Student Success (2 hours)
  • UNIV 200 – Civic Engagement (1 hour)

General Education Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completing the General Education core (GEC) curriculum, along with THEE Pathway (PATH) courses and University Required courses (UR), Jackson State University undergraduate students should demonstrate the following General Education outcomes:

  • Critical thinking,
  • Math/analytical reasoning,
  • Oral and written communication