This website explains Missouri's CORE 42 statewide transfer curriculum and the Missouri Transfer (MOTR) course-numbering system for administrators at participating institutions of higher education (IHEs)— Chief Academic Officers (CAOs), Transfer and Articulation Officers (TAOs), registrars, Core Curriculum Advisory Committee (CCAC) and Faculty Discipline Group (FDG) representatives, and others managing general education, transfer, and course equivalency.

Not your role?

Academic Advisors: See the Committee on Transfer and Articulation (COTA)
Students and families: Visit https://journeytocollege.mo.gov/finish/transfer-credit/core-42/

On this website:

What CORE 42 is and how it transfers; the MOTR numbering system and course equivalency process; the governance structure (CBHE – MDHEWD – CCAC and FDGs); and the annual tools, forms, and deadlines IHEs use to maintain courses. When a conflict exists between this document and state statute, regulation, or official CBHE policy, the statute, regulation, or official policy controls. This document is guidance and explanatory material intended to assist CORE 42 institutions in implementing those authorities.

How to get started:
Start with the Glossary to learn key terms and acronyms. Then review the "Core Transfer (CORE 42) Curriculum" and "CORE 42 Missouri Transfer (MOTR) Numbers" sections. See "Who Does What" for quick reference responsibilities by role.

CORE 42 Key Principles

MOTR Equivalent Course credits are guaranteed to transfer one-to-one and serve the same role (including as prerequisites) as the receiving IHE’s equivalent course. MOTR Equivalent Course designation does not guarantee that the course will satisfy every major, minor, concentration, certification, or program requirement at every CORE 42 Institution of Higher Education (IHE).

“CORE 42 Complete” transfers as a block, which means lower-division general education is complete. “CORE 42 Complete” is not a major, program, or degree completion; additional coursework may be required.

Background & Statutory Authority

The purpose of CORE 42 and MOTR numbers is to facilitate seamless transfer of general education coursework among Missouri institutions of higher education (IHEs) and reduce academic credit loss when students transfer. Many courses transfer without being MOTR equivalent; CORE 42 and MOTR carry additional statewide guarantees.

The Higher Education Core Curriculum Transfer Act, enacted through Missouri Senate Bill 997 (2016) and codified at RSMo §§ 178.785–178.789, directed the Coordinating Board for Higher Education (CBHE) to develop and maintain

a common 42-credit-hour transferable lower division general education core curriculum (CORE 42) that includes a statement of the content, component areas, and objectives of the core curriculum.
a common course numbering equivalency matrix for lower-division general education courses (CORE 42 MOTR number).

Pursuant to SB 997, the CBHE established the Core Curriculum Advisory Committee (CCAC) to assist in developing and maintaining the common transfer curriculum and course-numbering matrix. The CCAC is composed of representatives from each participating institution, per SB 997 a majority are required to be faculty members. The current CCAC membership and operating procedures have been implemented through CBHE policy, regulation, and CCAC governance documents.

While the Higher Education Core Curriculum Transfer Act establishes the statewide transferable CORE 42 framework, the specific MOTR numbers, learning outcomes, Knowledge Area distributions, and associated procedures are developed and maintained through CBHE regulations and the CCAC governance process. Under the direction of the CBHE and in accordance with the Higher Education Core Curriculum Transfer Act (2016 MO S.B. 997), the CCAC established the CORE 42 curriculum framework and knowledge areas, as well as the CORE 42 Missouri Transfer (MOTR) numbers, based on the Act, building on the foundation of the previous state general education policy and previous statewide course transfer initiatives, such as the Transfer Library and exit competencies for common courses. Procedures and operational details are established through CBHE regulation and CCAC processes rather than directly in statute.

The CORE 42 was implemented in the 2018-2019 academic year. The Missouri Code of State Regulations 6 CSR 10-3.020, Guidelines for Student Transfer and Articulation Among Missouri Higher Education Institutions, contains the rules promulgated under the Higher Education Core Curriculum Transfer Act’s rulemaking authority (178.789; see also RSMo 173.005.2(6)). CCAC procedures related to CORE 42 and MOTR numbers are documented in the CCAC meeting minutes archive.

Participating Institutions of Higher Education

https://dhewd.mo.gov/media/file/core-42-participating-ihes

Core Transfer (CORE 42) Curriculum for General Education

Per the 6 CSR 10-3.020, Guidelines for Student Transfer and Articulation Among Missouri Higher Education Institutions, general education is a prescribed course of study, as defined by faculty and validated by the governing board, that is distinct from a major program and required of all graduates. Under the direction of the CBHE and in accordance with the Higher Education Core Curriculum Transfer Act (2016 MO S.B. 997), the CCAC designed the 42-credit-hour lower-division Missouri Higher Education Core Transfer (CORE 42) general education curriculum to facilitate student transfer among CORE 42 institutions of higher education (IHEs).

This statewide CORE 42 general education curriculum is intended to ensure that all graduates possess a common core of college-level skills and knowledge. CORE 42 specifies the distribution of credits from specific Knowledge Areas so that students completing degrees at a Missouri CORE 42 IHE develop both specific knowledge and skill competencies in each area as well as the basic competencies. The CORE 42 curriculum is composed of credits designated with a CORE 42 Missouri Transfer (MOTR) number distributed across Knowledge Areas. Individual courses equivalent to an MOTR are guaranteed to transfer one-to-one among all CORE 42 IHEs.

Transfer Guarantee Reminders

Transferability and applicability are not the same. A MOTR Equivalent Course is guaranteed to transfer and to serve the same role as the receiving institution’s equivalent course; however, degree, licensure, program, and major requirements may still determine how the credit applies toward a particular credential. “Same role” means the transfer course must be treated as satisfying prerequisites, major requirements, graduation requirements, and other curricular functions to the same extent that the receiving institution's equivalent course satisfies those functions for native students.

The Core Curriculum Advisory Committee (CCAC) develops, reviews, and maintains recommendations regarding the CORE 42 and CORE 42 MOTR numbers under the authority of the CBHE. The CCAC works with Faculty Discipline Groups (FDG), statewide groups of faculty reviewers assigned by discipline, to maintain CORE 42 MOTR numbers.

All CORE 42 IHEs must offer a CORE 42 curriculum for transfer students that includes MOTR Equivalent Courses as established by the Missouri Coordinating Board for Higher Education (CBHE) and approved through the CORE 42 MOTR processes implemented by the CCAC.

CORE 42 IHEs are not required to have a course equivalent to every specific MOTR number, but must:
- Ensure that students have enough to meet the CORE 42 Knowledge Area and Distribution requirements necessary for completing the CORE 42.
- Accept the transfer of any MOTR Equivalent Course to fulfill the designated Knowledge Area and distribution requirement within the CORE 42.
CORE 42 IHEs may choose to require an institution-specific general education program for non-transfer native students who attend only one institution after high school. A native general education program may require a more specific distribution of MOTR Equivalent Courses or specific MOTR Equivalent Courses and/or include courses not equivalent to a MOTR number. See “Professional Programs, Native Students, and Institutional General Education Programs” for more information.

CORE 42 Framework and Knowledge Area Competencies

General education is the curricular foundation of Missouri institutions of higher education (IHEs). It equips students with the intellectual tools, knowledge, and creative capabilities to engage in today’s globally interconnected and rapidly changing world. Regardless of major, career plans, or personal goals, all Missouri graduates should excel in the essential skills of oral and written communication, critical thinking, information management, and quantitative and qualitative analysis. Through general education, Missouri IHEs foster student success in their specialized areas of study and toward rewarding lives as educated persons, active citizens, and effective contributors to their own prosperity and to the general welfare of the world in which they live.

Under the direction of the CBHE, the CCAC designed the framework for Missouri’s CORE 42 consistent with the Higher Education Core Curriculum Transfer Act (2016 MO S.B. 997 178.785(2)) definition of the core curriculum by building on the existing Code of State Regulations guidelines for general education. The CORE 42 framework is documented in the current 6 CSR 10-3.020, Guidelines for Student Transfer and Articulation Among Missouri Higher Education Institutions. The CORE 42 is designed for students to obtain both:

Basic Framework competencies of Valuing, Managing Information, Communicating, and Higher-Order Thinking through the completion of at least 42-semester hours distributed across the broad Knowledge Areas of Communication, Humanities & Fine Arts, Natural Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, and Social & Behavioral Sciences, or through specific interdisciplinary credits aligned to these competencies.
Knowledge Area competencies (specific to each area) through the completion of the minimum number of CORE 42 Missouri Transfer (MOTR) Equivalent Course credit hours required for that Knowledge Area.

See the CORE 42 Framework and Knowledge Area Competencies (updated April 2021) for the competencies associated with the entire framework as well as each Knowledge Area. See the CORE 42 MOTR Matrix for the specific MOTR numbers in each Knowledge Area of the CORE 42.

CORE 42 Knowledge Areas Distribution

Under the direction of the CBHE and in accordance with the Higher Education Core Curriculum Transfer Act (2016 MO S.B. 997), the CCAC designed the distribution for Missouri’s CORE 42 by building on the existing Code of State Regulations guidelines for general education. The CORE 42 distribution is documented in the current 6 CSR 10-3.020, Guidelines for Student Transfer and Articulation Among Missouri Higher Education Institutions. The CORE 42 is composed of credits from the common statewide course-numbering equivalency matrix for the transfer of lower-division general education course credits, known as Missouri Transfer (MOTR) numbers. The specific coursework consists of CORE 42 MOTR Equivalent Course credit hours distributed across Knowledge Areas. See the table below for the required distribution of the 42 credit hours.

Knowledge Area (KA)	Distribution Requirement
Written Communication	Six (6) credit hours minimum.
Oral Communication	Three (3) credit hours minimum.
Mathematical Sciences	Three (3) credit hours minimum. Per 6 CSR 10-3.020, a non-MOTR mathematics course may count toward CORE 42 if it has a CORE 42 MOTR MATH Equivalent Course listed as a prerequisite. The non-MOTR course credits apply to both the 3-hour math requirement and the 42-hour CORE 42 total. Example: A student places into and successfully completes a higher-level non-MOTR Calculus course with MOTR MATH 130 Pre-Calculus Algebra as a prerequisite. That course satisfies the CORE 42 Mathematical Sciences general education requirement, and those credit hours count toward CORE 42 completion.
Natural Sciences	Seven (7) credit hours minimum, from at least two (2) disciplines, including one course with a lab component.
Social & Behavioral Sciences	Nine (9) credit hours minimum, from at least two (2) disciplines, including at least one Civics* designated MOTR Equivalent Course.
Humanities & Fine Arts	Nine (9) credit hours minimum, from at least two (2) disciplines; PERF** designated MOTR Equivalent Courses limited to three (3) credits.
CORE 42 elective credit hours	The remaining five (5) credit hours are not a separate statewide Knowledge Area. These CORE 42 elective credits may be satisfied through: CORE 42 MOTR IDSE (Interdisciplinary Studies) credits Excess CORE 42 MOTR credits*** earned beyond the minimum requirements in the CORE 42 Knowledge Areas.
* CORE 42 Civics MOTR Number Standard: Fulfills the RSMo 170.011 requirement: “Regular courses of instruction in the Constitution of the United States and of the state of Missouri and in American history and institutions shall be given in all public and private schools…”. Requires equivalent courses to have a learning outcome related to “the provisions and principles of the Constitution of the United States and of the state of Missouri, and in American history, American institutions, and American civics” to help CORE 42 IHEs satisfy RSMo 170.011 requirements. DOES NOT require the separate RSMo 170.013 requirement that to earn a degree at a public IHE, students must pass an exam on the provisions and principles of American civics with a score of 70% or greater as a condition of graduation, named the Missouri Higher Education Civics Achievement Examination. Each IHE determines how its graduates satisfy the RSMo 170.013 exam requirement and the separate graduation-exam requirement of RSMo 170.011.3, with the option of satisfying them through separate exams or a single combined examination. Performance or Production of Creative Arts (designated as CORE 42 MOTR PERF) are limited to a total of three (3) credit hours for CORE 42 completion. *When a student exceeds the minimum requirements in a specific Knowledge Area, the additional credits may be applied to CORE 42 electives. PERF Equivalent Courses are limited to a total of three (3) credit hours for CORE 42 completion.

See the

CORE 42 MOTR Matrix for the specific MOTR numbers in each Knowledge Area of the CORE 42.
CORE 42 Framework and Knowledge Area Competencies (updated April 2021) for the competencies associated with each Knowledge Area.

CORE 42 Completion Requirements

To complete the CORE 42, a student must:

Meet all Knowledge Area distribution requirements, including required civics coursework and at least one natural science course with a lab component,	At least 37 credit hours
Complete the required elective CORE 42 credits,	+ At least 5 credit hours
Earn the required total CORE 42 general education credits	= At least 42* credit hours
*No more than 3 credits from PERF Equivalent Courses.

Each CORE 42 IHE, acting through its designated academic and records processes (typically the registrar), determines whether a student has satisfied CORE 42 requirements and records the appropriate notation. Completion is designated on the transcript as either “General Education Complete” or “CORE 42 Complete”. Per the 6 CSR 10-3.020, Guidelines for Student Transfer and Articulation Among Missouri Higher Education Institutions, receiving CORE 42 IHEs shall deem both transcript notations “...as meeting the general education requirements of the receiving institution.”

CORE 42 completion fulfills lower-division general education requirements; it does not automatically satisfy all major, program, licensure, certification, or institutional graduation requirements.

Transfer Guarantee Reminders

CORE 42 Missouri Transfer (MOTR) Numbers

The Missouri Transfer (MOTR) number is the statewide course-numbering equivalency matrix for transferring lower-division common general education course credits. MOTR numbers facilitate seamless course transfers by promoting consistency in course designation and identification. MOTR Number Standards define the minimum criteria for equivalent courses.

CORE 42 MOTR numbers began in the 2018-2019 academic year as part of the CORE 42. The Core Curriculum Advisory Committee (CCAC) established the criteria for a statewide CORE 42 MOTR number pursuant to the Higher Education Core Curriculum Transfer Act (2016 MO S.B. 997) and prior state policies on general education.

All MOTR numbers are aligned to CORE 42 Framework and Knowledge Area Competencies. See:

CORE 42 MOTR Matrix for the specific MOTR numbers in each Knowledge Area.
CORE 42 Framework and Knowledge Area Competencies (updated April 2021) for the Knowledge Area competencies associated with each MOTR number.

The “CORE 42 MOTR Number Standards”, a list of MOTR numbers with minimum criteria for equivalent courses, posted on the CORE 42 website, identifies the following for each MOTR number:

CORE 42 KNOWLEDGE AREA
KA subcategory requirements/limitations
MOTR NUMBER
MOTR TITLE
MOTR CREDITS - Minimum Credits for Equivalent Courses
MOTR DESCRIPTION
MOTR OUTCOMES - Minimum Expected Learning Outcomes for Equivalent Courses
Notes related to this specific MOTR number
MOTR number Established Date
Date of last Faculty Discipline Group (FDG) review of MOTR Number Standards (title, minimum credits, description, & minimum outcomes)
Faculty Discipline Group (FDG)

CORE 42 MOTR Number Standards updates for AY 2026-2027:

As of 2026, several film- and theatre-related MOTRs remain under FDG review to complete validation/revision of the MOTR Number Standard. These are expected to be completed during AY 2026-2027.
New for AY 2026-2027: standardized hyphenated MOTR number formatting for MOTR subcategories designated by letters after the number, and more consistent formatting. Historical and hyphenated formats represent the same MOTR number for transfer, appeal, audit, transcript, and database purposes.

CORE 42 IHE MOTR Equivalent Courses

Missouri Transfer (MOTR) number equivalence is established at the institutional level for courses. Courses at Missouri CORE 42 institutions of higher education (IHEs) are identified as equivalent to specific MOTR numbers by faculty on the Core Curriculum Advisory Committee (CCAC), with the help of an FDG. Individual courses that are equivalent to a MOTR number are guaranteed to transfer one-to-one among all Missouri CORE 42 IHEs. This means that MOTR Equivalent Courses serve the same role in transfer as the equivalent course at a receiving CORE 42 IHE, including as a prerequisite to other courses and/or for fulfillment of major or graduation requirements.

Transfer Guarantee Reminders

Per 6 CSR 10-3.020(4)(A)1, Guidelines for Student Transfer and Articulation Among Missouri Higher Education Institutions, “If a specific course designated as part of the CORE 42 serves as a prerequisite to another course, or fulfills major or graduation requirements for native students, it shall serve that same role for the purpose of transfer.”

For transfer-evaluation purposes, the Approved MOTR Equivalent Course Database published by MDHEWD is the official record of approved equivalencies. See the Approved MOTR Equivalent Course Databases section at the Missouri Higher Education Core Transfer Curriculum (CORE 42) website for the list of CORE 42 MOTR Equivalent Courses at each CORE 42 IHE for each academic year.

Per the Higher Education Core Curriculum Transfer Act (2016 MO S.B. 997):

(178.786.2), equivalent courses at each CORE 42 IHE are identified by the equivalent MOTR number from the statewide course-numbering equivalency matrix in its course listings
(178.788.3), IHEs publish the board's transfer and dispute-resolution procedures in their course catalogs and on their websites.

CORE 42 MOTR Equivalent Courses should include the MOTR Number and the CORE 42 logo with a link to the Journey to College Transfer Tracker.

Note that individual CORE 42 IHEs are not required to offer a course equivalent to every MOTR number. However, all courses equivalent to a CORE 42 MOTR number are guaranteed to transfer toward completion of the CORE 42. Students may transfer MOTR number equivalent credits independent of completing the entire CORE 42 curriculum.

Approved MOTR Equivalent Course Databases

For transfer-evaluation purposes, the Approved MOTR Equivalent Course Database published by MDHEWD is the official record of approved equivalencies. Institutions should use the most recently posted version to maintain correct course mappings.

In addition to the annual database update, MDHEWD issues mid-academic-year corrections and amendments to the MOTR Equivalent Course Database only for extreme database errors that could impact student transfers

**Courses reviewed from the institution Saint Luke's College of Health Sciences have been reassigned to Rockhurst University

MOTR Equivalent Course Administration

The following procedures for MOTR Equivalent Course Administration were established by the CCAC and MDHEWD to implement the requirements of 6 CSR 10-3.020(4)(A)1, Guidelines for Student Transfer and Articulation Among Missouri Higher Education Institutions.

Types of Proposals and Reports with acceptance/approval paths

NEW & SUBSTANTIVE CHANGE
PROPOSAL PATH

CLERICAL UPDATE & DEACTIVATION
REPORT PATH

New MOTR Equivalent Course proposal

First-time equivalence to a specific MOTR number.

Submit: MOTR number/title, IHE course number, title, credit hours, prerequisites, course description, and expected student learning outcomes linked to the Minimum Outcomes for MOTR Equivalent Courses. Math courses require an additional Institutional Course Evaluation Form.

MDHEWD + CCAC screening & FDG review required

Submission does not automatically grant equivalence.

Clerical Update to an MOTR Equivalent Course Report

Minor updates only: course prefix/number/name changes, honors designation, spelling/punctuation fixes must be reported.

Do NOT use for changes to credit hours, course description, or learning outcomes or to request a change to a different MOTR number — those require the substantive change form. If the CCAC determines the update requires further review, you will be asked to resubmit as a Substantive Change.

Only MDHEWD + CCAC screening required

Substantive Change to an MOTR Equivalent Course Proposal

Changes to course credit hours, description, or learning outcomes, or to request a change to a different MOTR number must be submitted for evaluation of the continued or changed MOTR equivalence of the course

Submit: All course components, including previously approved course information that has not changed. Must indicate which components changed and whether the MOTR number itself is changing. Math courses require an additional Institutional Course Evaluation Form.

MDHEWD + CCAC screening & FDG review required

Submission does not automatically grant continued equivalence.

Deactivation of a MOTR Equivalency for a Course Report

Course that is no longer offered, or those that have been substantively changed so that they no longer meet the MOTR number equivalence criteria, must be reported.

Specify one reason:

(1) the course continues to be offered but should no longer count as MOTR equivalent, or

(2) the course will no longer be offered.

Previous offerings still count toward MOTR equivalence.

Only MDHEWD + CCAC screening required

Report and Proposal Forms

See the CORE 42 & MOTR Tools and Forms section of the Missouri Higher Education Core Transfer Curriculum (CORE 42) website for example forms for CORE 42 MOTR number equivalence.

Proposal cycles are named for the academic year in which approved equivalencies will first be recognized, not the year in which proposals are submitted; proposals submitted during 2026 are reflected in the AY 2027-2028 database.

These documents are provided to assist CORE 42 IHEs in collecting the information needed for the portal. IHEs are strongly encouraged to use the example forms to collect the data needed for the portal and as an emergency backup if the portal fails. DO NOT email proposals or reports unless the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development (MDHEWD) instructs you to do so.

Required IHE course information for a MOTR number equivalency proposal or report

Required Course Information

To be considered for Missouri Transfer (MOTR) number equivalency, a CORE 42 institution of higher education (IHE) must submit the following information for the course from its college catalog and/or university bulletin:

· Course prefix

· Course number

· Course title/name

· Course credit hours

· Course description

CORE 42 IHEs must also provide the minimum expected learning outcomes shared across all modes of delivery and locations where the course is offered.

Institutional Approval Requirement

Before submission of an MOTR Equivalent Course proposal or report, the CORE 42 IHE’s course and any changes or updates to the course must have been approved through the IHE’s established curriculum approval process.

Alignment to MOTR Number Standards Requirement

CORE 42 IHEs should consult the “CORE 42 MOTR Number Standards”, a list of MOTR numbers with minimum criteria for equivalent courses, posted on the CORE 42 website, when preparing proposals. For New MOTR equivalency proposals and Substantive Change proposals, CORE 42 IHEs should demonstrate how their course learning outcomes align with the MOTR Number Standard: MOTR OUTCOMES for the requested MOTR number.

Proposal and Report Process Overview and Annual Timeline

The Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development (MDHEWD) and the Core Curriculum Advisory Committee (CCAC) are transitioning from a document-and-email process to a fully online portal for Missouri Transfer (MOTR) number-equivalence proposals or reports. MDHEWD will send detailed information to CORE 42 institutions of higher education (IHEs) on how to access and use the portal when it opens for submission in each new annual cycle. The CCAC maintains detailed processes and procedures for the CORE 42 MOTR Equivalent Course workflow in the CCAC Basecamp project page (available to CCAC members). These are updated annually.

IHE submits.
MDHEWD & CCAC screens.
FDGs recommend.
Knowledge Area groups review.
CCAC approves.
MDHEWD & IHEs administer.
COTA oversees implementation and transfer appeals processes.
Commissioner of Higher Education determines unresolved transfer disputes.

Detailed processes and procedures are maintained on a separate CCAC Basecamp project page (available to CCAC members). Highlights from that document are below. Information relevant to each stakeholder is shared directly with that group at each step of the process. For more information, contact MDHEWD or your CCAC representative.

Important dates for proposals or reports submitted in 2026 to be reflected in the AY 2027-2028 database with CORE 42 IHE actions in bold:

Date	Activity	Phase
Aug 31, 2026	IHE Points-of-Contact roster due.
Sept 1, 2026*	IHE proposal or report submission scheduled to open, subject to official MDHEWD launch announcement.	1
Oct 15, 2026	Proposal or report submission deadline.	1
Oct 16, 2026	Proposal or report screening concludes - MDHEWD & CCAC screening occurs concurrently during the submission period. Screening of proposals or reports received in the final days concludes the following business day. Report acceptance/denial notifications sent as screening concludes. Proposals or reports requiring correction after the deadline cannot be revised during that cycle.	2
Oct 20, 2026	FDG review begins.	3
Nov 13, 2026	FDG review closes.	3
Nov 20, 2026	CCAC final vote.	4
Dec 1, 2026	CCAC decisions with rationale for rejects due.	4
Dec 2, 2026	Proposal Decision Notifications begin.	5
Dec 30, 2026	Draft database and instructions for mandatory IHE check of draft sent.
Feb 1, 2027	All CORE 42 IHE Draft check verification/error reports due.
Feb 26, 2027	Final database for next AY posted.

CORE 42 & MOTR Tools and Forms

CORE 42 & MOTR Tools and Forms

Core Curriculum Advisory Committee

AY 2025-2026 Meeting Dates

Friday, Sept 19, 2025 10:00 am - 1:00pm virtual
- Friday, Oct 17, 2025 10:00 am - 1:00pm virtual
  - Friday, Nov 21, 2025 10:00 am - 1:00pm Jefferson City
  - Friday, Feb 20, 2026 10:00 am - 1:00pm virtual
  - Friday, Apr 17, 2026 10:00 am - 1:00pm University of Missouri-Columbia
  - Friday, Jun 5, 2026 10:00 am - 1:00pm virtual

Glossary of Acronyms & Terms

The 6 CSR 10-3.020, Guidelines for Student Transfer and Articulation Among Missouri Higher Education Institutions, and the CCAC are the authoritative sources for these terms and acronyms.

Acronym Glossary

This glossary provides quick-reference definitions for commonly used acronyms in the Missouri Higher Education CORE 42 transfer curriculum and Missouri Transfer (MOTR) processes.

Acronym	Definition
AY	Academic Year.
CAO	Chief Academic Officer; the IHE’s primary academic administrator responsible for official CORE 42 contact updates and the CORE 42 IHE’s participation. CAOs are on the Council of Chief Academic Officers (CCAO) which meets regularly with MDHEWD.
CBHE	Coordinating Board for Higher Education; board members appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate.
CCAC	Core Curriculum Advisory Committee; faculty representatives from CORE 42 IHEs who maintain CORE 42, approve MOTR equivalencies, and oversee transfer curriculum processes. CCAC representatives are designated annually by CORE 42 IHEs through the institutional points-of-contact roster submitted by the CAO.
CORE 42	Missouri’s statewide 42-credit-hour transferable lower-division general education curriculum.
COTA	Per 6 CSR 10-3.020, the Committee on Transfer and Articulation (COTA) oversees statewide transfer policy and appeals processes; final determinations in unresolved CORE 42 transfer-credit disputes are made by the Commissioner of Higher Education or designee.
FDG	Faculty Discipline Group; faculty experts who review MOTR Equivalent Course proposals and periodically validate MOTR Number Standards. FDG representatives are designated annually by CORE 42 IHEs through the institutional points-of-contact roster submitted by the CAO.
IDSE	Interdisciplinary Studies; a category of MOTR numbers that do not fit entirely within a single CORE 42 Knowledge Area and count only toward CORE 42 Elective credits. CORE 42 Elective credits are not a separate statewide course category. They may be satisfied through IDSE MOTRs and through CORE 42 MOTR credits earned beyond the minimum requirements in other CORE 42 Knowledge Areas.
IHE	Institution of Higher Education.
KA	Knowledge Area; one of the CORE 42 curriculum distribution categories (e.g., Humanities & Fine Arts, Natural Sciences, Social & Behavioral Sciences).
MACRAO	Missouri Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers. Per 6 CSR 10-3.020, the CCAC includes “…one (1) two- (2-) year representative and one (1) four- (4-) year representative from the Missouri Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers.”
MDHEWD	Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development. At the direction of the CBHE, the MDHEWD develops, coordinates and implements a plan that outlines how the state’s postsecondary education and public workforce development systems can most effectively and efficiently provide higher education to students and meet the state’s workforce needs.
MMAC	Missouri Mathematics Advisory Committee, formerly Math Pathways Taskforce; the advisory group responsible for Mathematical Sciences MOTRs and mathematics pathway recommendations. MMAC representatives are designated annually by CORE 42 IHEs through the institutional points-of-contact roster submitted by the CAO.
MOTR	Missouri Transfer; the statewide course-numbering equivalency matrix used to facilitate seamless transfer of lower-division general education courses among CORE 42 IHEs. The MOTR Number Standards define the minimum criteria for equivalent courses.
MOU	Memorandum of Understanding; the agreement signed by participating independent institutions joining CORE 42.
PAS	Portal Access Setup; the process used to establish user access and permissions for the CORE 42 proposal or report and review portal
PERF	Performance or Production of Creative Arts; a subset of Humanities & Fine Arts Knowledge Area MOTR courses subject to a limit of no more than 3 total PERF credits for CORE 42 completion.
PPG	Pathway Planning Group; faculty groups responsible for developing and maintaining Missouri Transfer Pathways. PPG representatives are designated annually by the TPAC representative.
TAO	Transfer and Articulation Officer; the IHE contact responsible for transfer and articulation coordination. TAOs are designated annually by IHE through the institutional points-of-contact roster submitted by the CAO.
TPAC	Transfer Pathways Advisory Committee; committee of public IHE representatives that supports the development and maintenance of Missouri Transfer Pathways designed to support seamless transfer in a specific academic program. TPAC representatives are designated annually by public IHEs through the institutional points-of-contact roster submitted by the CAO; frequently the CAO serves on the TPAC.

CORE 42 Terminology Glossary

This glossary provides quick-reference definitions for commonly used terms in the Missouri Higher Education CORE 42 transfer curriculum and Missouri Transfer (MOTR) processes.

Term	Definition
Knowledge Area Competencies	The content-specific goals and competencies associated with a CORE 42 Knowledge Area that approved MOTR courses must address.
Framework Competencies	The CORE 42 statewide competencies of Valuing, Managing Information, Communicating, and Higher-Order Thinking.
MOTR Number Standard	The statewide minimum criteria for a MOTR number, including title, credits, description, and expected learning outcomes required for equivalent-course approval. New for AY 2026-2027: standardized hyphenated MOTR number formatting for MOTR subcategories designated by letters after the number, and more consistent formatting. Historical and hyphenated formats represent the same MOTR number for transfer, appeal, audit, transcript, and database purposes.
Civics MOTR	A subset of Social & Behavioral Sciences MOTR numbers. CORE 42 Civics MOTR Number Standard: Fulfills the RSMo 170.011 requirement: “Regular courses of instruction in the Constitution of the United States and of the state of Missouri and in American history and institutions shall be given in all public and private schools…”. Requires equivalent courses to have a learning outcome related to “the provisions and principles of the Constitution of the United States and of the state of Missouri, and in American history, American institutions, and American civics” to help CORE 42 IHEs satisfy RSMo 170.011 requirements. DOES NOT require the separate RSMo 170.013 requirement that to earn a degree at a public IHE, students must pass an exam on the provisions and principles of American civics with a score of 70% or greater as a condition of graduation, named the Missouri Higher Education Civics Achievement Examination. Each IHE determines how its graduates satisfy the RSMo 170.013 exam requirement and the separate graduation-exam requirement of RSMo 170.011.3, with the option of satisfying them through separate exams or a single combined examination.
MOTR Equivalent Course	An institutional course approved as equivalent to a specific Missouri Transfer (MOTR) number and guaranteed to transfer among CORE 42 institutions according to CORE 42 transfer rules. Historical and hyphenated formats (e.g., BIOL 100B → BIOL 100-B, BIOL 100LB → BIOL 100L-B; HIST 101AA → HIST 101-AA) represent the same MOTR and should be treated identically in transfer evaluation.
CORE 42 MOTR Equivalent Course proposal and report online portal	Online portal developed by MDHEWD for IHEs to submit MOTR Equivalent Course proposals and reports. Used for proposal and report screening, FDG proposal reviews, CCAC final decisions, and IHE notifications of final decisions. Also referred to as the CORE 42 MOTR online portal and the portal.
Approved MOTR Equivalent Course Database	The official annual database listing all courses approved as equivalent to MOTR numbers at participating institutions. For transfer-evaluation purposes, the Approved MOTR Equivalent Course Database published by MDHEWD is the official record of approved equivalencies.
General Education Complete	Transcript notation recognized by CORE 42 institutions as evidence that lower-division general education requirements have been completed.
CORE 42 Complete	Transcript notation recognized by CORE 42 institutions as evidence that a student has completed the statewide CORE 42 curriculum of lower-division general education requirements. It does not automatically satisfy all major, program, licensure, certification, or institutional graduation requirements.
IHE Points-of-Contact Roster	The annual institutional list identifying CAOs, TAOs, CCAC representatives, FDG members, and related contacts.

Transfer Terminology Glossary

This glossary provides quick-reference definitions for commonly used terms related to transfer.

Term	Definition
Associate of Arts (AA) Degree	A transfer-oriented associate degree whose completion satisfies lower-division general education requirements under CORE 42 transfer rules.
Professional Degree Program	A degree program with specialized accreditation or licensure requirements that may be exempt from certain CORE 42 provisions.
Native Student	Per 6 CSR 10-3.020, “Native student means a degree-seeking student who, after graduating from high school, and excluding the summer immediately preceding fall enrollment, begins postsecondary education for the first time at that institution, has not transferred to another institution, and has not earned more than eleven (11) credits at another institution.” MDHEWD/CCAC administrative interpretation for CORE 42 implementation: Students who earned dual credit while in high school but have not yet completed an Associate of Arts degree or the CORE 42 will be considered native students at the first institution of higher education (IHE) they enrolled in after high school.
Transfer Student	A student who enrolls at an IHE after earning credit at another IHE.
Receiving Institution	The institution to which a student transfers.
Sending Institution	The institution from which transfer credit originates.

Please contact MDHEWD Transfer Office for more information about CORE 42.