Texas A&M University Undergraduate Catalog

• Academic Calendar
• Board of Regents
  & System Adminstrative
  Officers
• TAMU Administrative
  Officers
• General Information
• International Programs
  for Students
• University Honors Program
• Environmental Program
• College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
• College of Architecture
• Mays Business School
• College of Education and Human Development
• Dwight Look College of Engineering
• College of Geosciences
• College of Liberal Arts
• College of Science
• College of Veterinary Medicine
• General Academic Programs
• School of Military Sciences
• Texas A&M University at Galveston
• Graduate Studies
• Course Descriptions
• Faculty
• Appendices

General Academic Programs

The General Studies Major

Many freshmen prefer to postpone choosing a major until they have an opportunity to experience a variety of courses at Texas A&M University.  Other students are admitted to the university as General Studies majors and must meet grade and course requirements to change majors into a desired major. 

Individualized attention is the hallmark of the services provided for General Studies majors.  Advisors work with each student to select courses that fulfill basic requirements in the Core Curriculum and entry-level requirements for majors.  They also assist students who were originally admitted to various majors but wish to change to another degree-granting department.

The keynote of General Studies is flexibility.  There are over a hundred bachelor’s degrees at Texas A&M, and there are many options and minors available within the majors.  The academic advisors can help students become familiar with the options so they can explore potential majors.  When General Studies majors make the decision to declare a major, it is an informed decision.  General Studies majors must declare a major as soon as they have passed 60 hours and are classified as juniors.

Because the interests of individual students vary, only a suggested first year curriculum is shown below. Courses for following semesters are selected in consultation with a member of the advisory staff in the General Studies Program.

First Semester	(Th-Pr)	Cr		Second Semester	(Th-Pr)	Cr
ENGL 104 Comp. and Rhetoric	(3-0)	3		American or Texas history	(3-0)	3
HIST 105 History of the U.S.	(3-0)	3		Behavioral science		3
POLS 206 American Natl. Govt.	(3-0)	3		Humanities		3
Behavioral science or science 1		3-4		Mathematics or science		3-4
Mathematics 1		3-4		Course for possible major		3
Course for possible major		3		* Military, air or naval science
* Military, air or naval science				** KINE 199 Required Physical Activity	(0-2)	1
** KINE 198 Health and Fitness Activity	(0-2)	1				12-192
		12-192

NOTES:

1. To be selected in consultation with an advisor on the basis of the student's background, interests and goals.
2. The total number of credit hours may vary from 12-19 depending on the advisor's consultation with the student. Most first semester students are encouraged to take 12-15 hours.

* See Requirement in Political Science (Government) and History.

** See University Core Curriculum, item 7.