University Core Curriculum

Specific Requirements

In addition to the University Core Curriculum and degree specific requirements, Texas A&M has criteria that must be met by all students in order to receive a degree, see Requirements for a Baccalaureate Degree.

  1. The ability to communicate through the use of the spoken or written word requires the development of speech and writing skills.

    Communication (6 hours)

    A course used to satisfy this requirement shall have as its primary focus the improvement of student expression in communication. This focus on student expression should be demonstrated both in course instruction and assessment. Acceptable forms of student expression may range from creative to technical. Acceptable courses may include those embedded in subject areas other than writing. This requirement must be satisfied by ENGL 104 (3 hours) and one of the following:

    AGJR 404 ENGL 210        
    COMM 203 ENGL 235        
    COMM 205 ENGL 236        
    COMM 243 ENGL 241        
    ENGL 203 ENGL 301        
  2. Without knowledge of mathematics, the language of science; and logic, the art of critical inquiry; it is not possible to understand or participate in the development of knowledge.

    Mathematics (6 hours, at least 3 of which must be in mathematics)

    To be selected from any mathematics course except:

    MATH 102
    MATH 103
    MATH 150
    MATH 365
    MATH 366

    Also may select 3 hours from:

    PHIL 240
    PHIL 341
    PHIL 342

  3. Knowledge and appreciation of science as a significant human activity, rather than merely a listing of results or collection of data, is acquired only by engaging in the activities of science.

    Natural Sciences (8 hours)

    Two or more natural sciences courses which deal with fundamental principles and in which critical evaluation and analysis of data and processes are required. A minimum of one course shall include a corresponding laboratory. Non-technical courses are specifically excluded.

    Four hours to be selected from:

    BIOL 111 GEOL 101        
    BOTN 101 PHYS 201        
    CHEM 101 PHYS 218        
    CHEM 103/113 ZOOL 107        
    CHEM 107          
  4. Remaining hours to be selected from courses listed and/or:

    AGRO 105 CHEM 106/116 GEOS 410
    AGRO 301 CHEM 222/242 HORT 201/202
    AGRO 405 ENTO 322 OCNG 251/252
    ANTH 225 FRSC 304 PHYS 202
    ATMO 201/202 GENE 301 PHYS 208
    BESC 201 GENE 310 PHYS 219
    BIOL 112 GEOG 203/213 PHYS 306/307
    CHEM 102 GEOL 106 RENR 205/215
    CHEM 104/114 GEOL 307 ZOOL 225
  5. Knowledge of our culture and its ideals makes possible both social integration and self-realization (see note 4).

    1. Humanities (3 hours)

      Courses used to satisfy this requirement shall address one of the following subject areas: history, philosophy, literature, the arts, culture or language (exclusive of courses devoted predominantly to acquiring language skills in a student’s native language). Acceptable courses are:

      AMST 300 COMM 327 ENGL 333 ENGL 394 MUSC 200
      AMST 320 COMM 425 ENGL 334 ENGL 396 MUSC 201
      ANTH 202 ENDS 149 ENGL 335 ENGL 401 MUSC 311
      ANTH 205 ENDS 150 ENGL 336 ENGL 412 MUSC 312
      ANTH 301 ENDS 250 ENGL 337 ENGL 414 MUSC 315
      ANTH 302 ENDS 329 ENGL 338 ENGL 415 MUSC 319
      ANTH 303 ENGL 203 ENGL 339 ENGL 431 MUSC 321
      ANTH 306 ENGL 212 ENGL 340 ENGL 474 MUSC 324
      ANTH 308 ENGL 221 ENGL 345 ENGL 481 PHIL (any course
      ANTH 313 ENGL 222 ENGL 346 ENGR 482 except 240,
      ANTH 315 ENGL 227 ENGL 347 GEOG 202 341, 342)
      ANTH 316 ENGL 228 ENGL 348 GEOG 301 RELS 211
      ANTH 317 ENGL 231 ENGL 350 GEOG 305 RELS 213
      ANTH 318 ENGL 232 ENGL 351 GEOG 323 RELS 303
      ANTH 324 ENGL 235 ENGL 352 HIST (any RELS 304
      ANTH 350 ENGL 236 ENGL 353 course) RELS 317
      ANTH 351 ENGL 251 ENGL 354 HORT 203 RELS 351
      ARCH 345 ENGL 308 ENGL 355 HUMA 211 RELS 360
      ARCH 430 ENGL 310 ENGL 356 HUMA 213 THAR 101
      ARCH 434 ENGL 312 ENGL 360 HUMA 303 THAR 155
      ARTS 149 ENGL 313 ENGL 361 HUMA 304 THAR 201
      ARTS 150 ENGL 314 ENGL 362 LAND 240 THAR 280
      ARTS 329 ENGL 315 ENGL 365 LAND 340 THAR 281
      ARTS 330 ENGL 316 ENGL 374 LBAR 203 WMST 200
      ARTS 335 ENGL 317 ENGL 375 LBAR 331 WMST 333
      ARTS 349 ENGL 319 ENGL 376 LBAR 332 WMST 374
      ARTS 350 ENGL 321 ENGL 377 LBAR 333 WMST 461
      ARTS 445 ENGL 322 ENGL 378 LING 307 WMST 473
      CLAS 351 ENGL 323 ENGL 385 LING 310 WMST 474
      COMM 301 ENGL 330 ENGL 390 MODL* WMST 477

      * or any 300- or 400-level course in the Department of Hispanic Studies or the Department of European and Classical Languages and Cultures.

    2. Visual and Performing Arts (3 hours)

      Acceptable courses are:

      ANTH 324 CARC 335 ENGL 412 KINE 169 MUSC 321
      ARCH 430 CLAS 352 FILM 201 KINE 170 MUSC 324
      ARCH 434 ENDS 101 FILM 301 KINE 171 PERF 301
      ARCH 437 ENDS 115 FILM 394 KINE 172 PHIL 330
      ARTS 103 ENDS 149 FREN 414 KINE 173 PHIL 375
      ARTS 111 ENDS 150 GERM 334 KINE 174 RUSS 341
      ARTS 112 ENDS 250 GERM 405 KINE 311 SPAN 410
      ARTS 149 ENDS 311 HORT 203 LAND 240 SPAN 413
      ARTS 150 ENGL 212 KINE 160 MODL 341 THAR 101
      ARTS 305 ENGL 219 KINE 161 MODL 352 THAR 110
      ARTS 312 ENGL 251 KINE 162 MUSC 200 THAR 155
      ARTS 329 ENGL 312 KINE 163 MUSC 201 THAR 201
      ARTS 330 ENGL 317 KINE 164 MUSC 302 THAR 210
      ARTS 335 ENGL 340 KINE 165 MUSC 311 THAR 280
      ARTS 349 ENGL 351 KINE 166 MUSC 312 THAR 281
      ARTS 350 ENGL 356 KINE 167 MUSC 315 THAR 407
      ARTS 445 ENGL 385 KINE 168 MUSC 319  
  6. As the human social environment becomes more complex, it is increasingly important for individuals to understand the nature and function of their social, political and economic institutions (see note 4).

    1. Social and Behavioral Sciences (3 hours)

      Courses used to satisfy this require-ment shall address one of the following subject areas: anthropology, economics, political science, geography, psychology, sociology or communication. Acceptable courses are:

      ADEV 340 ANTH 403 GEOG 201 JOUR 440 SOCI (any
      ADEV 400 ANTH 404 GEOG 304 KINE 304 course except
      ADEV 440 ANTH 410 GEOG 306 KINE 319 220, 420)
      AGEC 105 COMM 315 GEOG 311 LBAR 204 VTPB 221
      AGEC 350 COMM 320 GEOG 330 LING 209 WMST 207
      AGEC 429 COMM 325 GEOG 401 LING 311 WMST 300
      AGEC 430 COMM 335 GEOG 440 LING 402 WMST 316
      AGEC 452 ECON (any HLTH 236 MGMT 475 WMST 317
      AGEC 453 course) HORT 335 POLS (any WMST 404
      ANTH 201 ENGL 209 INST 210 course) WMST 424
      ANTH 210 ENGL 311 INST 322 PSYC (any WMST 462
      ANTH 225 ENGR 400 JOUR 102 course except ZOOL 225
      ANTH 300 EPSY 320 JOUR 301 203, 204)  
      ANTH 314 EPSY 321 JOUR 401 RELS 403  
    2. U.S. History and Political Science (12 hours, 6 hours of history and 6 hours of political science)

      To be a responsible citizen of the world it is necessary, first, to be a responsible citizen of one’s own country and community.

      POLS 206 and 207 and HIST 105 and 106 or other courses in American and Texas history, except those courses pertaining solely to Texas history may not comprise more than 3 hours.

  7. As individual and national destinies become progressively more interconnected, the ability to survive and succeed is increasingly linked to the development of a more pluralistic, diverse and globally-aware populace. Two courses from the following list are to be taken by the student. If a course listed below also satisfies another University Core Curriculum requirement, it can be used to satisfy both requirements if the student wishes to do so. For example, a course that satisfies the Social and Behavioral Sciences requirement may be used to satisfy the International and Cultural Diversity requirement if that course also appears on the list.

    International and Cultural Diversity (6 hours)

    Acceptable courses are:

    ACCT 445 ENGL 333 HIST 346 LBAR 332 RUSS 401
    ADEV 422 ENGL 336 HIST 348 LBAR 333 SOCI 316
    AGEC 452 ENGL 337 HIST 352 LING 307 SOCI 317
    AGEC 453 ENGL 338 HIST 355 LING 402 SOCI 321
    ANTH 205 ENGL 339 HIST 356 MGMT 430 SOCI 323
    ANTH 210 ENGL 340 HIST 402 MGMT 450 SOCI 324
    ANTH 300 ENGL 352 HIST 405 MGMT 452 SOCI 325
    ANTH 301 ENGL 362 HIST 407 MKTG 330 SOCI 329
    ANTH 306 ENGL 374 HIST 412 MKTG 401 SOCI 330
    ANTH 314 ENGL 378 HIST 439 MODL 222 SOCI 340
    ANTH 315 ENGL 474 HIST 440 MODL 223 SOCI 350
    ANTH 319 FINC 445 HIST 441 MODL 323 SOCI 403
    ANTH 324 FREN 301 HIST 449 MODL 341 SOCI 419
    ANTH 403 FREN 322 HIST 451 MODL 342 SOCI 424
    ANTH 404 FREN 336 HIST 455 MODL 352 SPAN 312
    ANTH 426 FREN 414 HIST 460 MODL 362 SPAN 320
    ARCH 345 FREN 418 HIST 461 MODL 363 SPAN 410
    ARTS 150 GEOG 202 HIST 464 MUSC 312 SPAN 411
    ARTS 350* GEOG 301 HIST 473 MUSC 315 SPAN 412
    CARC 301 GEOG 305 HIST 477 MUSC 319 SPAN 421
    CARC 311 GEOG 306 HLTH 236 MUSC 324 SPAN 450
    CARC 321 GEOG 311 HLTH 334 PHIL 283 TEFB 271
    CARC 331 GEOG 320 HORT 335 PHIL 416 THAR 201
    CARC 335 GEOG 321 HUMA 303 PHIL 419 THAR 281
    COMM 327 GEOG 323 HUMA 304 PLAN 415 VTPB 221
    COMM 335 GEOG 402 IBUS 401 POLS 317 WMST 300
    COMM 425 GERM 305 IBUS 445 POLS 322 WMST 316
    COSC 484* GERM 322 IBUS 446 POLS 323 WMST 317
    COSC 494* HIST 210 IBUS 450 POLS 324 WMST 333
    ECON 312 HIST 214 IBUS 452 POLS 329 WMST 374
    ECON 319 HIST 258 IBUS 455 POLS 331 WMST 404
    ECON 320 HIST 301 IBUS 456 POLS 338 WMST 407
    ECON 324 HIST 305 IBUS 457 POLS 365 WMST 424
    ECON 330 HIST 307 IBUS 458 POLS 462 WMST 430
    ENDS 101 HIST 319 IBUS 459 PSYC 300 WMST 461
    ENDS 150 HIST 324 INST 210 RELS 303 WMST 462
    ENDS 484* HIST 336 INST 322 RELS 304 WMST 473
    ENDS 494* HIST 339 JOUR 406 RELS 403 WMST 474
    ENGL 222 HIST 342 JOUR 407 RLEM 314 WMST 477
    ENGL 232 HIST 343 LAND 240 RPTS 340  
    ENGL 251 HIST 345 LBAR 331 RUSS 341  
  8. As the ancient scholars knew and as modern research has confirmed, the development of the body as well as the mind is an integral part of the educational process.

    Kinesiology requirements are to be fulfilled by completing KINE 198 Health and Fitness and any other one KINE 199 course. KINE 199 used to fulfill University Core Curriculum requirements must be taken S/U. KINE 199 courses not included in the University Core Curriculum can be taken for a grade in accordance with the student’s college policy. Transfer students with fewer than 2 hours of kinesiology credit must meet the KINE 198 requirement either by transfer of credit or by taking the course at Texas A&M.

Notes:
  1. Individual degree programs may impose more restrictive requirements in any of these areas. Students should consult the degree listing in this catalog and their academic advisors to ensure that they are satisfying all requirements of their majors.
  2. With the exception of courses satisfying the International and Cultural Diversity requirement (see section 6), no course shall be counted twice by the same student toward satisfaction of the University Core Curriculum requirements. For example, if a student elects to use ARCH 349 to satisfy the Visual and Performing Arts requirement, the student may not use the course to satisfy the Humanities requirement.
  3. Courses numbered 285 or 485 do not satisfy University Core Curriculum requirements. Individual Special Topics (289 and 489) courses may be approved for use in the Core Curriculum.
  4. No student may satisfy all 12 hours of University Core Curriculum requirements in the categories of humanities, visual and performing arts, and social and behavioral Sciences by courses having the same prefix.
  5. If courses in MODL are used to fulfill the Humanities requirement, they must be in a different language than taken in high school or, if in the same language, at the 200-level or higher. For example, if the student took Spanish in high school, then the student may not use SPAN 101 or 102 in satisfying the Humanities requirement.
  6. Students transferring course credit to satisfy the University Core Curriculum requirements should refer to the Texas Common Course Numbering System (see Appendix B) and the Transfer Course Credit Policies in this catalog.
  7. Only sections of these courses taken abroad will satisfy the international and cultural diversity requirement.