Jax MIX: A signature general education program where you develop your human potential with engaging faculty in courses that merge innovation & experience.
Make connections
Explore ideas
Develop skills
Prepare for the future
What is Jax MIX?
Jacksonville State University’s Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), “Jax MIX: Merging Innovation & eXperience,” aims to implement a signature general education program that embeds badged microcredentials and increases the number and quality of high impact practices for undergraduate students. A thorough analysis of our institutional mission, strategic plan, and priorities led to the selection of general education because it reflects JSU’s first course to first career approach to student success and is specifically identified in JSU’s strategic plan.
JSU’s QEP has three major goals:
Launch a new general education model and competencies.
Embed badged microcredentials within general education.
Increase the number and quality of high impact practices (HIPs) students encounter in general education.
Microcredential = Focus + 3 events + Course project or community service or leadership + Reflection
Why Jax MIX?
An extensive survey was conducted to identify the skills and knowledge most valued by employers of graduates from JSU. Respondents, including companies, schools, governments, and non-profits, participated and ranked the following skills as the highest priorities:
Ranked List of Skills Sought by Employers of JSU Graduates
Ethics
Critical Thinking
Communication
Professionalism
Creative Problem Solving
Leadership
Diversity
Civic Participation
The employer survey results not only guided development of the Jax MIX model, but helped determine the student learning outcomes that were ultimately selected.
Explore Jax MIX
Jax MIX emphasizes human connection and making connections across disciplines
Find Your Focus
Jax MIX will empower students to develop key skills valued by employers while collecting new credentials through a colorful badging system.
Expression
Discovery, exploration, and appreciation of various modes of human expression
EH 201 // 3 Cr Hr American Literature I: Beginnings to 1865
EH 202 // 3 Cr Hr American Literature II: 1865 to Present
EH 203 // 3 Cr Hr British Literature I: Beginnings to 1800
EH 204 // 3 Cr Hr British Literature II: 1800 to Present
EH 205 // 3 Cr Hr Literature for Life I: Beginnings to 20th Century
EH 206 // 3 Cr Hr Literature for Life II: 20th Century to Present
EH 106 & EH 116 // 3 Cr Hr Enhanced English Composition II and Writing Studio II
Focus
A Jax MIX Focus is your opportunity to take the first step towards a badged microcredential. Each Focus requires three courses, for 9-11 credit hours of coursework that is already required for graduation. Not all Focus options work for every major, but at least one Focus is available for every major. Click on the images below to see the Focus course clusters.
Community Engagement
Learn about community needs, implementing initiatives, and effective community interventions.
Core course:
PSC 102 Introduction to State and Local Government OR
SY 221 Introduction to Sociology/SY 222 Honors Introduction to Sociology
Course 2: (choose one course from list)
ART 130 Creative Thinking OR
EH 205/206 Literature for Life (with topic that corresponds to community engagement) OR
Foreign Language:
FH 101 Beginner’s French I
FH 102 Beginner’s French II
FH 201Intermediate French I
FH 202 Intermediate French II
SH 101 Beginner’s Spanish I
SH 102 Beginner’s Spanish II
SH 201 Intermediate Spanish I
SH 202 Intermediate Spanish II
LAS 101 Beginner Portuguese I
LAS 102 Beginner Portuguese II
Course 3: (choose one course)
AN 224 Intro to Anthropology OR
BY 122 Biology of Disease OR
GY 220 Human Geography
Environmental Stewardship
Discover the interconnections between natural systems and human activities; explore solutions that balance ecological responsibility and social equity.
Core course:
BY123 Environmental Biology OR
BY 102/104 Intro Biology II (If this is taken as core, it cannot also count for Course 2)
Course 2: (choose one course from list)
BY or CY Lecture and Lab:
BY101 Introductory Biology I /BY 103 Introductory Biology Lab I OR
BY 102 Introductory Biology I I/BY 104 Introductory Biology Lab II OR
BY 105 Honors Introductory Biology I/BY 107 Honors Introductory Biology Lab I OR
BY 106 Honors Introductory Biology II/BY 108 Honors Introductory Biology Lab II OR
CY 105 General Chemistry I/ CY 107 General Chemistry Laboratory I OR
CY 106 General Chemistry II/ CY 108 General Chemistry Laboratory II OR
CY 115 Concepts of General Chemistry I OR
CY 116 Concepts of General Chemistry II OR
Course 3: (Choose one course from list)
AN 225 Intro to Archaeology OR
ART 130 Creative Thinking OR
EH 205 Literature for Life OR
GY 250 Physical Geography I/GY 252 Physical Geography Lab I OR
GY 251 Physical Geography II/ GY253 Physical Geography Lab II OR
GY 220 Human Geography
Ethical Leadership
Develop ethical awareness and leadership skills necessary for responsible decision-making and organizational success in contemporary society.
Core course:
EH141 Speech
Course 2: (Choose one course from list)
PSC 101 Intro to Political Science OR
PSY201 Principles of Psychology OR
PSY 202 Honors Principles of Psychology OR
SY 221 Intro to Sociology OR
SY 222 Honors Intro to Sociology
Course 3: (Choose one course from list)
ART 202 Art Appreciation OR
ART 203 Honors Art Appreciation OR
EH 205/206 Literature for Life (with topic that corresponds to community engagement) OR
HY 101 Western Civilization I OR
HY 103 Honors Western Civilization I OR
HY 102 Western Civilization II OR
HY 104 Honors Western Civilization II OR
HY 111 World History I OR
HY 112 Worlds History II OR
HY 201 American History I OR
HY 203 Honors American History I OR
HY 202 American History II OR
HY 204 Honors American History II OR
HY 211 Survey of Latin America to 1810 OR
HY 212 Survey of Latin America since 1810
Global Connections
Discover various cultural perspectives and the importance of diverse human identities and conditions historically and globally.
Core:
Foreign Language:
FH 101 Beginner’s French I OR
FH 102 Beginner’s French II OR
FH 201Intermediate French I OR
FH 202 Intermediate French II OR
SH 101 Beginner’s Spanish I OR
SH 102 Beginner’s Spanish II OR
SH 201 Intermediate Spanish I OR
SH 202 Intermediate Spanish II OR
LAS 101 Beginner Portuguese I OR
LAS 102 Beginner Portuguese II OR
Course 2: (Choose one course from list)
GY 120 World Regional Geography OR
AN224 Intro to Anthropology OR
AN 225 Intro to Archaeology OR
HY 111 World History I OR
HY 112 World History II OR
HY 211 Survey of Latin America to 1810 OR
HY 212 Survey of Latin America since 1810
Course 3: (Choose one course from list)
EH 231 World Literature I: Beginnings to 1660 OR
EH 232 World Literature II: 1660 to Present OR
FLM 230 Introduction to Film OR
MU 233 Introduction to Music OR
MU 236 Honors Introduction to Music OR
ART 202 Art Appreciation OR
ART 203 Honors Art Appreciation OR
THR 242 Introduction to the Theatre OR
THR 252 Honors Introduction to the Theatre
Media Literacy
Identify credible sources, recognize misinformation, and navigate responsible consumption of a variety of resources, references, and media.
Core course: (Choose one course from list)
EH102 English Composition II OR
EH 104 Honors English Composition II OR
EH 106 Enhanced English Composition II
Course 2: (Choose one course from list)
ART 111 Survey of Art I OR
ART 112 Survey of Art II OR
ART 202 Art Appreciation OR
ART 203 Honors Art Appreciation OR
FLM 230 Introduction to Film OR
MU 233 Introduction to Music OR
MU 236 Honors Introduction to Music OR
MU 237 Advanced Intro to Music OR
THR 242 Introduction to the Theatre OR
THR 252 Honors Introduction to the Theatre
Course 3: (Choose one course from list)
PSC 100 Introduction to American Government OR
PSC 103 Honors Introduction to American Government OR
MS 204 Basic Statistics OR
MS 205 Honors Basic Statistics OR
PSY 201 Principles of Psychology OR
PSY 202 Honors Principles of Psychology
Jax MIX Requires 41 hours from the following categories:
(12 hours): Category of courses that includes English composition, speech, math
Jax MIX Mission
To prepare students to be competent, ethical professionals and engaged, responsible, global citizens through core education centered on human communication, experience, expression, and inquiry. Students are encouraged through general education to reach for connections, engage with experiences, and discover opportunities as they develop skills essential for employability and lifelong learning.
