2002-2003 Edition
Texas A&M University Undergraduate CatalogTexas A&M University Undergraduate Catalog
Catalog Contents
Academic Calendar
Board of Regents and System Administrative Officers
TAMU Administrative Officers
General Information
International Programs for Students
University Honors Program
Environmental Program
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
College of Architecture
Lowry Mays College and Graduate School of Business
College of Education
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
Graduate Studies
Course Descriptions
Faculty
Appendices


University Core Curriculum

The University Core Curriculum at Texas A&M University assures that all undergraduate programs provide for breadth of understanding. The Core Curriculum emphasizes competence in the process of learning, the capacity to engage in rigorous and analytical inquiry, and the ability to communicate clearly and effectively. It supports the development of extensive knowledge about and appreciation for our cultural heritage, our social and moral responsibilities, and our interactions with the economies and cultures of the international community. The University Core Curriculum acts to enrich and broaden the University's tradition of providing thorough preparation in each student's academic major.

University Core Curriculum requirements are described in the sections that follow. These requirements must be met by every student pursuing a baccalaureate degree program at Texas A&M University, regardless of his or her major. Individual degree programs may require that specific courses from the general University list be used to satisfy University Core Curriculum requirements. Please check with individual program advisors for details (see notes 1, 2, 3 and 6).

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 .

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 ENGL 236 ENGL 301 COMM 205
ENGL 203 ENGL 235 ENGL 241 COMM 203 COMM 243

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:

Also may select 3 hours from:

MATH 102 MATH 365   PHIL 240  
MATH 103 MATH 366   PHIL 341  
MATH 150     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:

 

Remaining hours to be selected from courses listed and/or:

 
BIOL 111   AGRO 105 CHEM 106/116 GEOS 410
BOTN 101   AGRO 301 CHEM 222/242 HORT 201/202
CHEM 101   AGRO 405 ENTO 222 OCNG 251/252
CHEM 103/113   ANTH 225 FRSC 304 PHYS 202
CHEM 107   ATMO 201/202 GENE 301 PHYS 208
GEOL 101   BESC 201 GENE 310 PHYS 219
PHYS 201   BIOL 112 GEOG 203/213 PHYS 306/307
PHYS 218   CHEM 102 GEOL 106 RENR 205/215
ZOOL 107   CHEM 104/114 GEOL 307 ZOOL 225

4. Knowledge of our culture and its ideals makes possible both social integration and self-realization (see note 4).

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

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

 

B. Visual and Performing Arts (3 hours) Acceptable courses are:

ANTH 324 CLAS 352 ENGL 412 KINE 169 MUSC 319
ARCH 430 ENDS 101 FILM 201 KINE 170 MUSC 321
ARCH 434 ENDS 115 FILM 301 KINE 171 MUSC 324
ARCH 437 ENDS 149 FILM 394 KINE 172 PERF 301
ARTS 103 ENDS 150 FREN 414 KINE 173 PHIL 330
ARTS 111 ENDS 250 GERM 334 KINE 174 PHIL 375
ARTS 112 ENDS 311 HORT 203 KINE 311 RUSS 341
ARTS 149 ENGL 212 KINE 160 LAND 240 SPAN 410
ARTS 150 ENGL 219 KINE 161 MODL 341 THAR 101
ARTS 305 ENGL 251 KINE 162 MODL 352 THAR 110
ARTS 312 ENGL 312 KINE 163 MUSC 200 THAR 155
ARTS 329 ENGL 317 KINE 164 MUSC 201 THAR 201
ARTS 330 ENGL 340 KINE 165 MUSC 302 THAR 210
ARTS 335 ENGL 351 KINE 166 MUSC 311 THAR 280
ARTS 349 ENGL 356 KINE 167 MUSC 312 THAR 281
ARTS 350 ENGL 385 KINE 168 MUSC 315 THAR 407
CARC 335        

5. 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).

A. Social and Behavioral Sciences (3 hours) Courses used to satisfy this requirement shall address one of the following subject areas: anthropology, economics, political science, geography, psychology, sociology or communication. Acceptable courses are:

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

B. 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.

6. 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 below.

International and Cultural Diversity (6 hours) Acceptable courses are:

ACCT 445 ENGL 251 HIST 342 LBAR 332 RUSS 401
AGEC 452 ENGL 333 HIST 343 LBAR 333 SOCI 316
AGED 422 ENGL 336 HIST 345 LING 307 SOCI 317
AGRO 489 ENGL 337 HIST 346 LING 402 SOCI 321
ANTH 205 ENGL 338 HIST 348 MGMT 430 SOCI 323
ANTH 210 ENGL 339 HIST 352 MGMT 450 SOCI 324
ANTH 300 ENGL 340 HIST 355 MGMT 452 SOCI 325
ANTH 301 ENGL 352 HIST 356 MKTG 330 SOCI 329
ANTH 306 ENGL 362 HIST 402 MKTG 401 SOCI 330
ANTH 314 ENGL 374 HIST 405 MODL 222 SOCI 340
ANTH 315 ENGL 378 HIST 407 MODL 341 SOCI 350
ANTH 319 ENGL 474 HIST 412 MODL 342 SOCI 403
ANTH 324 FINC 445 HIST 439 MODL 352 SOCI 419
ANTH 403 FREN 301 HIST 440 MODL 362 SOCI 424
ANTH 404 FREN 322 HIST 441 MUSC 312 SPAN 312
ANTH 426 FREN 336 HIST 449 MUSC 315 SPAN 320
ARCH 345 FREN 414 HIST 451 MUSC 319 SPAN 410
ARTS 150 FREN 418 HIST 455 MUSC 324 SPAN 411
ARTS 350* GEOG 202 HIST 460 PHIL 283 SPAN 412
CARC 301 GEOG 301 HIST 461 PHIL 416 SPAN 421
CARC 311 GEOG 305 HIST 464 PHIL 419 SPAN 450
CARC 321 GEOG 306 HIST 473 PLAN 415 TEFB 271
CARC 331 GEOG 311 HIST 477 POLS 317 THAR 201
CARC 335 GEOG 320 HLTH 236 POLS 322 THAR 281
COMM 327 GEOG 321 HLTH 334 POLS 323 VTPB 221
COMM 335 GEOG 323 HORT 335 POLS 324 WMST 300
COMM 425 GEOG 402 HUMA 303 POLS 329 WMST 316
COSC 484* GERM 305 HUMA 304 POLS 331 WMST 317
COSC 494* GERM 322 IBUS 401 POLS 338 WMST 333
ECON 312 HIST 210 IBUS 445 POLS 365 WMST 374
ECON 319 HIST 214 IBUS 446 POLS 366 WMST 404
ECON 320 HIST 258 IBUS 450 POLS 462 WMST 407
ECON 324 HIST 301 IBUS 452 PSYC 300 WMST 424
ECON 330 HIST 305 INST 210 RELS 303 WMST 430
ENDS 150 HIST 307 INST 322 RELS 304 WMST 461
ENDS 484* HIST 319 JOUR 406 RELS 403 WMST 462
ENDS 494* HIST 324 JOUR 407 RLEM 314 WMST 473
ENGL 222 HIST 336 LAND 240 RPTS 340 WMST 474
ENGL 232 HIST 339 LBAR 331 RUSS 341 WMST 477
* See note 7.

7. 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, 289, 484, 485 or 489 do not satisfy University Core Curriculum requirements.

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.