Understanding the TAMU Core Curriculum Requirements

The Core Curriculum Program is a fundamental aspect of undergraduate education designed to equip students with essential knowledge and skills. This program, consisting of 42 semester hours, aims to ensure students are well-prepared for success in their academic pursuits, future careers, community involvement, and overall life. The Texas A&M Core Curriculum, aligned with the Texas Core Curriculum, lays a foundation of knowledge in human cultures, the physical and natural world, and personal and social responsibility. It also advances intellectual and practical skills crucial for all learning.

Core Objectives

Each course within the Core Curriculum is carefully evaluated and approved based on its potential to contribute to six core objectives:

Critical Thinking Skills: Fostering creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, analysis, evaluation, and synthesis of information.
Communication Skills: Developing effective development, interpretation, and expression of ideas through written, oral, and visual communication.
Empirical and Quantitative Skills: Enhancing the manipulation and analysis of numerical data or observable facts, leading to informed conclusions.
Teamwork: Cultivating the ability to consider different points of view and work effectively with others to support shared goals.
Personal Responsibility: Connecting choices, actions, and consequences to ethical decision-making.
Social Responsibility: Promoting intercultural competence, knowledge of civic responsibility, and the ability to engage effectively in regional, national, and global communities.

Foundational Component Areas

The Core Curriculum courses are organized into Foundational Component Areas. These areas ensure a broad educational experience, exposing students to various disciplines and perspectives. Texas A&M University requires students to develop and practice these skills within 42 semester credit hours assigned to eight Foundational Component Areas. Each area comprises a selection of courses that meet the definition provided by the Texas Core Curriculum.

Communication (6 SCH)

These courses focus on developing ideas and expressing them clearly, considering the effect of the message, fostering understanding, and building the skills needed to communicate persuasively. Courses involve the command of oral, aural, written, and visual literacy skills that enable people to exchange messages appropriate to the subject, occasion, and audience.

At East Texas A&M University, students must complete two semesters of English composition. Communication courses promote the Texas state Core Objectives of critical thinking, communication, teamwork, and personal responsibility. Examples include ENG 1301 (College Reading & Writing) and ENG 1302 (Written Argument/Research). ENGL 2311 may only be used to satisfy the second 3-SCH requirement of the Core Communication Component in programs housed in the School of Engineering at Texas A&M International University.

Mathematics (3 SCH)

These courses focus on quantitative literacy in logic, patterns, and relationships. Courses involve the understanding of key mathematical concepts and the application of appropriate quantitative tools to everyday experiences. Mathematics courses promote the Texas state Core Objectives of critical thinking, communication, and empirical and quantitative skills.

Students must complete a minimum of one college-level mathematics course. Math courses are often very major-specific, and students should refer to the catalog and seek the advice of a professional advisor about the appropriate math selections for their major. Examples include MATH 1314 (College Algebra), MATH 1324 (Math for Business Applications I), MATH 1325 (Mathematics for Business Applications II), MATH 1332 (Contemporary Mathematics), MATH 1342 (Elementary Statistical Methods), MATH 2312 (Pre-Calculus), and MATH 2413 (Calculus I).

Life and Physical Sciences (6 SCH)

These courses focus on describing, explaining, and predicting natural phenomena using the scientific method. Courses involve the understanding of interactions among natural phenomena and the implications of scientific principles on the physical world and on human experiences. The following skills will be addressed in the courses that comprise this area: critical thinking, communication, empirical and quantitative, and teamwork.

Students must complete six hours of life and physical science. Courses in this category promote the Texas state Core Objectives of critical thinking, communication, empirical and quantitative skills, and teamwork. Examples include ANS 1319 (Introduction to Animal Science), ASTR 120 (Life in the Universe), ASTR 260 (Archaeoastronomy), ASTR 203 (Stars and the Universe for STEM Majors), ASTR 1103 (Introductory Astronomy Lab), ASTR 1303 (Stars and the Universe), ASTR 1304 (Solar System), BIOL 1309 (Human Biology: Structure and Function), BIOL 1409 (Human Biology: Structure and Function), CHEM 1105 (Introductory Chemistry Laboratory I), CHEM 1107 (Introductory Chemistry Laboratory II), CHEM 1305 (Introductory Chemistry I), CHEM 1307 (Introductory Chemistry II), ENVS 103 (Natural Disasters), ENVS 1301 (Introduction to Environmental Science), GEOL 1303 (Physical Geology), GEOL 1304 (Historical Geology), IS 1315 (Integrated Science I), IS 1317 (Integrated Science II), PHYS 131 (Introduction to Musical Acoustics: The Science of Sound), PLS 1107 (Applied Plant Science Lab), PLS 1115 (Introduction to Horticulture Laboratory), PLS 1307 (Introduction to Plant Science & Agronomy), and PLS 1315 (Introduction to Horticulture).

Language, Philosophy, and Culture (3 SCH)

These courses focus on how ideas, values, beliefs, and other aspects of culture express and affect human experience. Language, Philosophy, and Culture courses promote the Texas state Core Objectives of critical thinking, communication, social responsibility, and personal responsibility.

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Students must complete three hours of Literature, Philosophy, and Culture. Examples include AFAM 200 (Introduction to African American Studies), COMS 1311 (Studies in Human/Communication), CID 2301 (The Human Experience), ENG 200 (Popular Literature and Culture), ENG 202 (Multiethnic Literatures), ENG 205 (Humor in the Humanities), ENG 2326 (Intro to Literature), ENG 2331 (Literature of the Western World), ENG 323 (Mythology), GDRS 200 (Introduction to Gender Studies), HIST 264 (A Changing Nation: American History), HIST 265 (A Changing World: Global History), LALS 101 (Introduction to Latin American & US Latino Studies), MMJ 1307 (Mass Communication in Society), MMJ 1335 (Studies in Electronic Communications), PHIL 1301 (Intro to Philosophy), PHIL 331 (History of Philosophy I), PHIL 332 (History of Philosophy II), PHIL 360 (General Ethics), and PHIL 362 (Aesthetics).

Creative Arts (3 SCH)

These courses focus on the appreciation and analysis of creative artifacts and works of the human imagination. Creative Arts courses promote the Texas state Core Objectives of critical thinking, communication, social responsibility, and teamwork. Creative Arts courses must be historical, appreciative, or theoretical in nature; an applied or performance course is not acceptable.

Students must complete three hours of coursework in Creative Arts. Examples include ART 1301 (Art Appreciation), ART 1303 (History of Art I), ART 1304 (History of Art II), ENG 432 (Evolution of Film Art), MUS 1308 (Introduction to Music Literature), MUS 1310 (History of Rock and Roll), MUS 1315 (World Music), PHO 1301 (Photography Appreciation), and THE 1310 (Intro to Theatre).

American History (6 SCH)

State law mandates six hours of American History survey. Courses in this category focus on the consideration of past events and ideas relative to the United States. Courses in this category promote the Texas state Core Objectives of critical thinking, communication, social responsibility, and personal responsibility.

Examples include HIST 1301 (History of the United States through Reconstruction) and HIST 1302 (History of the United States Since Reconstruction).

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Government/Political Science (6 SCH)

State law mandates six hours of US and Texas government. Courses in this category focus on consideration of the Constitution of the United States and the constitutions of the states, with special emphasis on that of Texas. Courses in this category promote the Texas state Core Objectives of critical thinking, communication, social responsibility, and personal responsibility.

At East Texas A&M University, the two-course sequence PSCI 2305/PSCI 2306 meets this requirement. All students should seek the assistance of a professional advisor when choosing political science courses to meet their Core Curriculum Requirements. Examples include PSCI 2305 (United States Government and Politics) and PSCI 2306 (Texas Government and Politics). At Texas A&M, Government and Politics include POLS 2306 (State and Local Government)

Social and Behavioral Sciences (3 SCH)

These courses focus on the application of empirical and scientific methods that contribute to the understanding of what makes us human. Social and Behavioral Science courses promote the Texas state Core Objectives of critical thinking, communication, empirical and quantitative skills, and social responsibility.

Students must complete three hours of coursework in Social and Behavioral Science. Examples include AEC 2317 (Agricultural Economics), ANTH 2351 (World Cultures: Perspectives from Anthropology), COB 1301 (Introduction to Business), ECO 1307 (Economics of Personal Finance), ECO 2301 (Prin Macro Economics), ECO 2302 (Principles of Micro Economics), HHPH 331 (Nutrition), PHIL 2303 (Logic), PSY 211 (Psychology of Individual Characteristics), PSY 2301 (Introduction to Psychology), PSY 2306 (Psychology of Sexual Behavior), PSY 2315 (Psychology of Adjustment), SOC 1301 (Introduction to Sociology), and SOC 1306 (Contemporary Ideas). At Texas A&M, Social and Behavioral Sciences include ECON 1301 (Introduction to Economics), ECON 2301 (Macroeconomics Principles), ECON 2302 (Microeconomics Principles), EDUC 1354 (Child Growth and Development), FINA 1307 (Personal Finance), POLS 2311 (Mexican American and Latinx Politics), PSYC 2301 (General Psychology), and SOCI 1301 (Introduction to Sociology).

Component Area Option (6 SCH)

The Component Area Option (CAO) provides flexibility for students to choose additional courses from the other Foundational Component Areas. Courses designated to complete the Component Area Option must meet the definition and Core Objectives specified in one of the foundational component areas outlined above. Each student must meet the number of semester credit hours (SCH) in each foundational component area; however, A&MâCentral Texas is not required to apply additional SCH beyond the number of SCH specified in a foundational component area. A course may only apply to a single foundational component area.

At East Texas A&M University, the Component Area Option consists of two elements depending on the student's admit-type. All first-time full-time freshmen will take either CID 1300 or CID 2301. All first-time full-time freshmen will also take an additional three hours in their Degree Pathway. All other students not falling under the first-time full-time admit type will take six hours in the Component Area from the Degree Pathway.

Transfer Students

Transfer students will be advised through their collegeâs academic advising center. University core curriculum requirements apply to all baccalaureate degrees and are intended to provide students with the basis for establishing broad and multiple perspectives of the individual in relation to the larger society and world in which he or she lives. The core curriculum is predicated on the belief that basic intellectual competence in reading, writing, speaking, listening and critical thinking is essential to the learning process in any discipline.

Students transferring to WTAMU from another state-supported university or community college in Texas shall receive core-curriculum credit for the component areas successfully completed in the core curriculum of the sending institution. Following receipt of credit for these courses, a student will be required to satisfy the remaining course requirements in WTAMUâs core. A student who has earned a baccalaureate degree from a Texas public institution of higher education is considered core complete.

Important Considerations

Individual degree programs may require that specific courses from the core curriculum be used to satisfy core curriculum requirements.
Students should consult their academic advisor often, at least once a semester.
Students should be aware that some majors specify particular courses to meet core-curriculum requirements when options are available.
Students completing all general education requirements as approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) at another Texas public school and then transferring to A&MâCentral Texas will generally be considered to have met the general education requirements.
The official transcript on file within the studentâs initial semester of enrollment must indicate âCore Completeâ by the deadline indicated for that semester at Texas A&M University-Texarkana. Core complete status is not retroactive. The university cannot accept core-complete status from private institutions of higher education in the state of Texas. Having an Associateâs degree does not confirm a core-complete status.

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