General Education Mobile (GEM)

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GEM

The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) is a proud partner with the Community College of the Air Force General Education Mobile (GEM) Program. The Community College of the Air Force is a federal program offered by the United States Air Force and Space Force which grants an Associate of Applied Science Degree in collaboration with Air University. The Community College of the Air Force serves approximately 300,000 active, guard, and reserve enlisted personnel, making it the world's largest community college system.

The General Education Mobile Program exists as an exciting partnership between the Community College of the Air Force and civilian academic institutions that was designed to help Air Force and Space Force Service Members fulfill their general education requirements in a mobile, nontraditional classroom format. GEM offers General Education courses to meet Community College of the Air Force degree requirements and is presented in a distance learning format. The partnership established between the Air Force, Space Force and USM is designed to provide online freshman/sophomore level general education courses that will help satisfy requirements for Community College of the Air Force credit.

Participation in the program enables airmen and guardians to complete up to 15 credit hours of their general education requirements in a single block of five online courses at USM that may be applied directly to a student’s Associate in Applied Science degree at the Community College of the Air Force, or a degree at USM. By earning the General Education requirements in a single block of courses from one institution, Air Force and Space Force Military Students benefit from greater continuity and are able to rapidly earn their degree. Through this online program, students are able to continue their education without interruption, regardless of deployment, travel or Family commitments.

Thoughts to consider:

The GEM program eases student course selection and registration via single-point access on the Air Force Virtual Education Center.
GEM facilitates student planning across the entire General Education curriculum and motivates students to complete courses on a self-paced timeline.
Education focus is placed upon freshman and sophomore level instruction.

Courses Offered Through the GEM Program -

Oral Communications

Communication principles and practice in the preparation and delivery of public speeches.

Written Communications

Taken the first semester at the university or immediately following ENG 100E. Stresses clear, effective writing with special attention to syntactical and organizational skills.

Prerequisite(s): ENG 101. Refines compositional skills and stresses additional rhetorical and research methods.

Mathematics

Prerequisite(s): ACT Math subscore = 17 or C or higher in MAT 99. Corequisite(s): Concurrent enrollment in MAT 100L waives the prerequisite. Logic, probability, finance. Satisfies no prerequisite for any other mathematics course.

Prerequisite(s): Math ACT = 20 or a grade of C or better in MAT 99 or MAT 101L. Corequisite(s): Concurrent enrollment in MAT 101L waives the prerequisite. Functions and graphs, linear equations and inequalities, non-linear equations, including exponential and logarithmic equations.

Social Science

Surveys the five major subdisciplines of anthropology (physical anthropology, archaeology, linguistics, social/cultural anthropology and applied anthropology) to provide the student with a holistic understanding of humanity’s social and biological diversity.

Principles of microeconomics and macroeconomics applied to current social issues for understanding of policy proposals

Introduction to descriptive and analytical principles of geographical analysis through consideration of regional themes.

This course traces the rise of human societies throughout the world, from the dawn of civilizations until around 1500 C.E. It stresses the interrelations of past cultures, comparing and contrasting the experiences of peoples and civilizations with one another.

*If admitted to the University of Southern Mississippi this course falls under Humanities

This course traces the development of human societies into the “modern world,” from around 1500 C.E. to the present day. It stresses the interrelations of past cultures, comparing and contrasting the experiences of peoples and civilizations with one another.

*If admitted to the University of Southern Mississippi this course falls under Humanities

An introduction to American national government and politics.

An introduction to the scientific study of human behavior and experience.

Designed to give a general overview of the perspectives, concepts and methodology of sociology.

Humanities

An introductory survey of visual arts themes, forms, and history for understanding and enjoyment of the medium

*If admitted to the University of Southern Mississippi this course falls under Aesthetic Values

A survey of dance as a worldwide phenomenon of human behavior and its function in human society, past and present

*If admitted to the University of Southern Mississippi this course falls under Aesthetic Values

Acquaints students with a range of world literature representing a diversity of geography, historical period and genre.

Study of the basic elements of music necessary for intelligent listening and appreciation

*If admitted to the University of Southern Mississippi this course falls under Aesthetic Values

An introduction to the methods and major themes of philosophy.

The study of religion as an aspect of human culture with attention to both Christian and non-Christian religions.

Academic Information -

Visit - https://www.usm.edu/business-services/general-tuition-fees.php

Visit - https://www.usm.edu/registrar/summer-2025-academic-calendar.php

How to Apply at Southern Miss - Visit the Admissions website

Interested in viewing the course schedule? Click here

Point of Contact - Questions concerning the GEM Program?

Telephone - 601.266.8387 or 228.214.3244, Email -%20VAFREEMississippi

Online Academic Support - Visit the Resources for Online Learners website or call 601.266.5518

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