Administrative Officers

General Statement

College of Liberal Arts	Baccalaureate	Masters	Doctorate
Interdepartmental Degree Programs
American Studies	BA
Comparative Literature and Culture		MA
International Studies	BA
Science and Technology Journalism		MS
Department of Anthropology
Anthropology	BA	MA	PhD
Archaeology			X*
Cultural Anthropology			X*
Physical Anthropology			X*
Department of Communication
Speech Communication	BA	MA	PhD
Telecommunication Media Studies	BA, BS
Department of Economics
Economics	BA, BS	MS	PhD
Department of English
English	BA	MA	PhD
Department of History
History	BA	MA	PhD
Department of European and Classical
Languages and Cultures**
French	BA
German	BA
Russian	BA
Department of Hispanic Studies**
Hispanic Studies			PhD***
Modern Languages		MA
Spanish		X
Spanish	BA	MA
Department of Performance Studies
Music	BA
Theatre Arts	BA
Department of Philosophy and Humanities
Philosophy	BA	MA	PhD
Department of Political Science
Political Science	BA, BS	MA	PhD
American Politics			X
Comparative Politics			X
International Relations			X
Political Theory			X
Public Administration/Public Policy			X
Department of Psychology
Psychology	BA, BS	MS	PhD
Community/Clinical			X
Industrial/Organizational			X
Department of Sociology
Sociology	BA, BS	MS	PhD

X Indicates option in major shown above.

* Being phased out.

** Pending approval by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

*** Step 1 Doctoral Program with Texas A&M International University, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, and Texas A&M University-Kingsville.

Degree requirements for Liberal Arts majors are organized into: (1) General Requirements, including University Core Curriculum requirements and College of Liberal Arts requirements; (2) Requirements of the major field of study; (3) Requirements of the Minor Field of Study; and (4) Electives. A minimum of 128 acceptable hours of course work is required for the baccalaureate degree. All courses are to be selected with the approval of the student's academic advisor. A minimum of 36 hours of 300- or 400-level course work must be completed at Texas A&M University.

I. General Requirements. The areas listed below include University Core Curriculum requirements and College of Liberal Arts requirements. The completion of requisite hours in these areas will thus satisfy both University Core Curriculum and college requirements.

A. Communication (6 hours)

1. ENGL 104

2. English Proficiency Qualifications

Students must demonstrate the ability to express themselves in acceptable written English. The College requirement is satisfied if a student earns a grade of C or better in ENGL 104.

Students who do not meet this standard must repeat the course prior to completing 60 hours and earn a grade of C or better or must immediately arrange with the director of the writing laboratory to be certified as competent in writing.

3. One course chosen from: ENGL 203, 210, 235, 236, 241 or 301; COMM 203 or 243.

B. Literature and Language

1. Literature in English (6 hours)

To be selected from ENGL 203, 212, 221, 222, 227, 228, 231, 232 or courses for which one of these listed courses is a prerequisite. 1

2. Foreign Language (6 hours, through course work or examination, at the intermediate level or equivalent).

a. Every student whose major leads to the Bachelor of Arts degree must successfully complete a two-course sequence at the intermediate level of a foreign language (201 and 202). Students who have not previously studied the language will normally complete one of the sequences of four courses listed below. Students who intend to enroll for the first time in a college Spanish, French, German, Russian, or Latin course, who have had knowledge of the language, however acquired, and who have no college credit in the language must take a placement test to determine the appropriate course for their level of ability. The foreign language placement test also serves as a basis for credit by examination. The test will be offered on the first day of the freshman conferences and during the semester for students who will be enrolling in the course after the fall semester. Students who have taken the Advanced Placement (AP) test or the Reading Achievement test in their foreign language of choice may substitute these test results for the placement exam.

i. FREN 101, 102, 201, 202

ii. GERM 101, 102, 201, 202

iii. RUSS 101, 102, 201, 202

iv. SPAN 101, 102, 201, 202

v. CLAS 121, 122, 221, 321

vi. CLAS 101, 102, 201, 301

vii. ITAL 101, 102, 201, 202

viii. JAPN 101, 102, 201, 202

b. Students seeking a Bachelor of Science degree will substitute for the 6 hours of a language at the intermediate level additional work in computing science, mathematics, science or statistics as prescribed by their major department.

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

To be selected from any MATH course (excluding 102, 103, 104, 130, 150)

D. Natural Sciences (8 hours, including at least one laboratory) 2

To be selected from science courses approved for the University Core Curriculum.

E. Humanities and Visual and Performing Arts (9 hours) 2

To be selected from humanities and Visual and Performing Arts courses approved for the University Core Curriculum with a minimum of 3 hours and a maximum of 6 hours of arts courses. 3

F. Social and Behavioral Sciences (6 hours) 2

To be selected from social and behavioral science courses approved for the University Core Curriculum. 3

G. U.S. History and Political Science (12 hours, 6 hours of POLS and 6 hours of HIST) 4

1. Political Science (6 hours)

POLS 206 and 207

2. U.S. History (6 hours)

Two courses in American history

H. International Cultures (3 hours) 5

To be selected from lists of approved courses. May also satisfy any other requirement.

I. Kinesiology (2 hours) 6

II. Major Field of Study. To achieve depth as well as breadth, all students are required to select a major field of study. Each department sets its own requirements for the major, including no fewer than 27 hours of course work and no more than 33 hours. At least 12 semester hours in the major must be completed in advanced courses (300- and 400-level), and at least 12 semester hours in the major field must be completed in residence at Texas A&M. A grade of C or higher is required in a course to be counted toward the major.

III. Minor Field of Study. Completion of a minor is not a requirement of the College of Liberal Arts; however, individual departments may require their majors to have a minor. Students should consult with an advisor in their major department to determine if a minor is required. The minor program should provide either a concentration of prescribed courses that focus on a single content area or an interdisciplinary and/or comparative perspective on more than one area. The minor program comprises 15-18 hours with a minimum of 6 hours in residence at the 300- to 400-level. The minor program is (or minor programs are) recognized on the transcript after graduation, but not on the diploma. A grade of C or higher is required if a course is to be counted toward the minor field. Each student who is required to complete a minor, or who chooses to do so, should contact the department that offers the minor to determine which specific courses are mandated. The student's college and/or major department determines the number of minor programs a student may seek and shall be responsible for advising after the student receives signed approval from the department, program, or college granting the minor program.

IV. Electives. To enhance the traditionally broad background of the liberal arts graduate, undergraduate students are allowed to include in their degree program a minimum of 9 semester hours of free elective courses. These courses may be chosen from any field within the University except from a student's major field. (See section on "Requirements for a Baccalaureate Degree" in this catalog.) All other elective hours must be selected with the approval of the student's advisor and dean. CAEN 101, 102 and 289 may only be taken on an S/U basis. No more than 13 hours combined of KINE 199 and military training may be used as electives. Any undergraduate student may take up to four credit hours of KINE 199 on an S/U basis. In the College of Liberal Arts, students who have less than a 2.0 GPR and who enroll in KINE 199 must enroll in the course on an S/U basis. Juniors and seniors in the College of Liberal Arts whose cumulative GPR is 2.50 or above may take up to twelve credit hours of "free electives" on an S/U basis. Transfer students must take at least 12 credit hours of regular course work at Texas A&M before enrolling in a course on an S/U basis. Courses offered only on an S/U basis may be taken by freshmen and sophomores. These courses count toward the 12 hour limit.

NOTES: 1. ENGL 203 will count toward the Communication requirement or the Literature in English requirement, but not both.

2. No course used to fulfill this requirement may fulfill any other college or University requirement except in the minor field of study.

3. Acceptable humanities, visual and performing arts and social and behavioral sciences courses must be selected from the University Core Curriculum.

4. Courses in military, air or naval science may not be substituted for required history or political science courses.

5. The list of approved courses is available in the degree audit for each major.

6. One hour of KINE 198 Health and Fitness credit and any other one KINE 199 Required Physical Activity courses. See Kinesiology requirements.

International and Intercultural Experiences. The International Cultures Require-ment encourages all students to learn about attitudes and cultures different from their own. All students are required to select from a list of approved courses that foster greater awareness of our interdependent and diverse world.

Students also may select, as free electives, courses which address cultural diversity issues in the United States. Courses in this area encourage students to focus on issues of race, ethnicity and gender and to develop a broader understanding of the diverse cultures and traditions in the United States.

Further opportunity to increase international and national intercultural awareness can be accomplished through our study abroad and internship programs. More information on these programs is available through the Undergraduate Student Services Office in the College of Liberal Arts.

LBAR Honors PLAN. The College of Liberal Arts encourages qualified majors to participate in its Honors Plan, which is designed for academically talented high school graduates who have distinguished secondary school records (top 10%) and high scores on achievement tests (1250 SAT or 28 ACT). Students accepted into the LBAR PLAN take courses that foster an interdisciplinary outlook characteristic of the Liberal Arts and that synthesize knowledge from other courses. Participants work in small classes with some of the most distinguished faculty at Texas A&M University. Students develop their own interests and eventually write an honors thesis under the direct supervision of a professor with whom they have chosen to work. Requirements are 18 hours in other honors courses (half at the 300- or 400- level) including 1 credit in LBAR 181, Freshman Honors Seminar (a one-hour seminar on a focused subject that introduces students to honors work); 6 credits in LBAR 203-204, Foundations of the Liberal Arts (a team-taught, interdisciplinary exploration of the humanities and social sciences through classic texts in the various disciplines). Note: LBAR 203 counts toward the University Core Curriculum humanities requirement; LBAR 204 counts towards the University Core Curriculum social and behavioral sciences requirement; 3 credits in LBAR 381, The Junior Seminar (an interdisciplinary special topics course that places emphasis on developing the critical skills necessary for sustained original research). For more information on the LBAR PLAN and current course offerings, see the website clla.tamu.edu; under `Academics' select the Honors Plan link. For information about Texas A&M Honors Program and Fellows Program (i.e., the senior thesis), see the website honors.tamu.edu.

B.A. in American Studies. The B.A. in American Studies is an interdisciplinary degree administered by the College of Liberal Arts. Its principal education objectives are: (1) to introduce students to the theories and methods of the well-established and vibrant field of American Studies; (2) to develop in students a sophisticated knowledge and appreciation of the rich diversity and complexity of United States culture, past and present; (3) to explore the interrelationships between United States culture and other national cultures; and (4) to provide students the opportunity and intellectual tools to explore in depth a particular aspect or aspects of American culture from an interdisciplinary perspective.

The B.A. in American Studies requires the completion of 33 hours (at least 12 advanced) in the major, including 15 hours of core courses and 18 hours of directed electives from four broad areas of interest: Arts and Culture, Ethnicity, Science and Technology, and Society and Government. Students are also required to complete a 15-18 hour minor. For more information, contact the Undergraduate Student Services Office in the College of Liberal Arts.

B.A. in International Studies. The B.A. in International Studies is an interdisciplinary degree administered by the College of Liberal Arts. Its principal objectives are: (1) to provide an international perspective on such issues as economics, political science, and history and to allow more concentrated course work in subjects and geographical regions aligned with a student's interest; (2) to assure minimal competency in a foreign language appropriate for an International Studies degree; (3) to offer an integrated study experience at an international site; and (4) to develop an understanding of the important and complex human, social, political, and economic issues at work in international affairs.

The B.A. in International Studies thus requires: (1) a minimum of 23 credit hours in a foreign language at the college level; (2) at least one long semester or one 14 week summer approved experience in a study abroad or other international program; (3) the completion of 36 hours (at least 12 advanced) in the major, including 18 hours of Core courses including an introductory course and a senior seminar; 3) 24 hours in one of five tracks or topic areas: International Politics and Diplomacy, International Commerce, International Environmental Studies, International Communication and Media, and International Arts and Culture; 4) 12 hours of area studies in courses related to Latin America, Europe, Africa and the Middle East or Asia. For more information, contact the Director of the International Studies Degree Program, College of Liberal Arts, 111 Harrington Tower.

Certificate in European Union Politics. The Certificate in European Union Politics is an initiative of the European Union Center and the Department of Political Science. Both interdisciplinary and international in its orientation, the Certificate program offers students seeking a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree at Texas A&M University the opportunity to combine courses, intermediate level foreign language skills, other relevant experiences on campus, and a study abroad.

Certificate requirements include 18 semester hours of course work including an approved study abroad program. The 18 semester hours of course work can be accommodated within the regular undergraduate curriculum. Students are encouraged to begin planning as freshmen to avoid the addition of extra hours to the degree plan. Certificate requirements are specified in a current brochure available in the Department of Political Science's Undergraduate Program Office, Bush Academic Building, room 2024.

Interdisciplinary Minors. Formally organized interdisciplinary minors are offered in Classical Studies, Comparative Cultural Studies, Comparative Literature, Film Studies, Hispanic Studies, Journalism, Religious Studies, Women's Studies and Africana Studies. Specific course requirements and options are available from each interdisciplinary program director.

Requirements for the minor in Classical Studies include 18 hours to be taken as follows: (1) two semesters of either Greek or Latin language at the college level; (2) a minimum of four courses in classical civilization from an approved list; (3) a designated "exit course" that offers a synthesizing experience near the end of the minor course work.

Requirements for the minor in Comparative Cultural Studies total 18 hours, including: (1) a foundation course (3 hours) in a national or international focus; (2) a "capstone course" (3 hours) chosen in consultation with the program coordinator; (3) and four courses (12 hours) from program areas with no more than three courses (9 hours) from any one area. At least 9 hours in the minor must be at the 300- or 400-level.

Requirements for the minor in Comparative Literature total 18 hours, including: (1) a foundation course (ENGL/MODL 221 or 222); (2) one 300- or 400-level literature course in each of two different languages (one of which may be English); (3) two courses in specialized studies of literary forms and genres, or one course in specialized studies of literary forms and genres and one MODL literature in translation course; (4) ENGL 401; and (5) an "exit paper" to be written at the conclusion of the curriculum, which serves to synthesize the student's course work and interests.

Requirements for the minor in Film Studies total 18 hours including: (1) a foundation course which is FILM 201 or (with approval of the program coordinator) ENGL 251; (2) ENGL 481; (3) FILM 301; (4) three additional FILM courses (9 hours). Courses that are primarily concerned with film and which are offered in any department within the College may be credited for the minor with the approval of the program coordinator.

Requirements for the minor in Hispanic studies total 18 hours including (1) two courses (6 hours) in upper-level Spanish language courses: SPAN 301, Hispanic Culture and Civilization; SPAN 302, Contrastive Grammar; SPAN 303, Composition and Conversation; SPAN 304, Advanced Grammar for Native Speakers; or SPAN 350, Phonetics; (2) three courses (9 hours) in Hispanic topics and issues, to be selected from a list of recommended courses, with no more than two courses from any area; and (3) one "capstone" or "exit course" (3 hours) selected in consultation with the program coordinator.

Requirements for the minor in Religious Studies total 18 hours, including: (1) 6 hours of World Religious Traditions taken as RELS 303 and 304; (2) 3 hours in Religious Texts selected from RELS 201, 211, 213, 351, 360, 368 or 392; (3) 3 hours in Religion in History selected from RELS 317, 365 or 366; (4) 3 hours in Religion in Psychology and the Social Sciences selected from RELS 326, 403 or 405; and (5) RELS 331, Philosophy of Religion. (Religious Studies courses are listed under Liberal Arts in the course description section of this catalog.)

Requirements for the minor in Women's Studies total 18 hours, including at least 6 hours at the upper-level, as follows: WMST 200, WMST 481, 3 hours in humanities women's studies courses, 3 hours in social science women's studies courses, and additional women's studies courses as approved by the coordinator of women's studies and the dean's office. (Women's Studies courses are listed under the College of Liberal Arts in the course description section of this catalog.)

Requirements for the minor in Africana Studies totals 18 hours including: (1) 6 hours in residence at 300/400 level taken as AFST 302, AFST 481, (2) a total of 12 hours from the following three-hour courses: AFST 201, ANTH 315, ENGL 205, ENGL 393, HIST 300, HIST 301, HIST 344, HIST 345, HIST 346, COMM 425, SOCI 317 or SOCI 323.

Departmental Minors. Departmental Minors are offered by all departments and some academic programs within the College of Liberal Arts (see Undergraduate Minors). Requirements total 15-18 hours of courses specified by the department; courses in the minor may also meet other degree requirements, but not in the major. At least 6 hours (9 hours for 18 hour minor) must be at the 300- or 400- level. Grades of C or better are required in each course.

Requirements for the minor in Music total 18 hours including (1) a total of 3 hours chosen from MUSC 200 Topics in Music or MUSC 201 Music and the Human Experience; (2) MUSC 204 Theory and Musicianship I; (3) a total of 3 hours of Individual/Ensemble Performance chosen from MUSC 250 Individual Performance--Piano I, MUSC 280 Ensemble Performance--Symphonic Band, MUSC 286 Ensemble Performance--Symphony Orchestra, or MUSC 290 Ensemble Performance--Choir; (4) elective courses: 9 additional credits in MUSC at the upper-level (300- or 400-level course). No more than 9 credits of the minor may be at the lower-level (100- or 200-level course). Students must earn grades of C or better in their minor course work.

Combined Degree Plan (Double Degree). Students may pursue a five-year program to qualify for two bachelor's degrees, either a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science degree from different departments, or two Bachelor of Arts or two Bachelor of Science degrees, with the second degree from another college. Students must declare the double degree no later than the semester in which they will complete 95 hours. Students must have and maintain at least a 2.5 GPR cumulative and in the majors (or the minimum departmental GPR requirement in the major, whichever is higher), with at least a 2.5 GPR in at least 9 hours in the second field of study at the time of declaration. Transfer students who enter with a junior classification must file for the double degree no later than the end of their second semester in attendance. Before declaring the double degree, students should consult with the appropriate advisors and deans to formulate the combined degree plan.

Candidates for a double bachelor's degree must have been in residence at least two academic years and must complete all essential work of the second curriculum not covered in the first. To qualify for the double degree, the student must complete a minimum of 30 semester hours more than the higher of credit hours required for either degree.

Double Major. Instead of a major and a minor field, students in the College of Liberal Arts may elect to have two major fields of study. Both majors may be within the college, or one major may be outside the college, provided both majors lead to the same baccalaureate degree. Students must declare a double major no later than the semester in which they will complete 95 credit hours. Students must have and maintain at least a 2.5 GPR cumulative and in the majors (or the minimum departmental GPR requirement in the major, whichever is higher) with at least a 2.5 GPR in at least 9 hours in the second field of study at the time of declaration. Transfer students who enter with junior classification must file for the double major no later than the end of their second semester in attendance. The following requirements must be met: the student must (1) satisfy all University and college requirements; (2) complete all required courses in each major, if both majors are in the College of Liberal Arts (i.e., take all courses which are specifically listed in each regular degree program); and (3) in cases where one major is in the College of Liberal Arts and the other major is in another college, the student shall take in his or her liberal arts major field of study the same number of credit hours required of regular majors in that field and also satisfy whatever conditions are set by the other college for its major field.

For further information, contact the Undergraduate Student Services Office in the College of Liberal Arts.

Law. Most law school admissions committees require a student to have a four-year college program leading to a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, or Bachelor of Business Administration degree, or equivalent, as well as an acceptable score on the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT). In general, law schools prefer that a student seek a liberal college education rather than one which is narrowly specialized. They favor thorough learning in some broad cultural field of a student's choice, such as history, economics, political science, philosophy, mathematics, science, literature, or the classics. Admissions committees rarely favor concentration in specialized, technical curricula unless such study is adequately supplemented by advanced work in the social sciences and humanities. The Law School Admissions Test Council and the Council of the Section on Legal Education and Admissions of the American Bar Association both advise against the taking of satisfactory/unsatisfactory courses by students intending to go to law school.

Normally students will register for one of the regular degree programs of their choice. It is advisable to include among the elective hours some of the following courses: ACCT209, 210; ECON 202, 203; ENGL 210, 301, 341; HIST 213; HIST 447, 448, or POLS 210, 353, 354, 355, 357; PHIL 240, 483; PSYC 107; and COMM 203, 243. Students should avoid an excessive number of courses titled "law" in favor of those of a general educational nature, although exposure to "law" courses should help in the decision of whether to apply to law school.

Advising for pre-law students regardless of major, including application forms for taking the Law School Admissions Test, may be obtained from the Office of Professional School Advising, Room 205 Academic Building, (979)847-8938.

Medicine. Liberal arts majors interested in applying to medical school should meet with an advisor in the Office of Professional School Advising as early as possible. Out-of-state medical schools vary in the courses they require, but the following courses are the prerequisites for the Texas medical schools:

BIOL 113, 114, 123, 124 and two semesters of upper-level biology course work;

CHEM 101, 113, 102, 114, 227, 237, 228 and 238;

ENGL 104 and a literature course;

MATH 131, 151 or 171;

PHYS 201 and 202.

Advising for all pre-health students, including medical and dental students, may be obtained from the Office of Professional School Advising, Room 205 Academic Building, (979) 847-8938. Students are urged to stop by the office to pick up information on professional schools and talk with an advisor very early and often during their collegiate career.

Theology. The American Association of Theological Schools recommends that students planning to enter a theological seminary include in their undergraduate curriculum the following subjects.

English (6 semesters)

History (3 semesters)

Philosophy (3 semesters)

Natural science (2 semesters)

Social science (6 semesters)

Foreign language (4 semesters): Latin, German or French

Religion (3 semesters). Courses taught at Texas A&M in religion include:

ENGL 365, HUMA 211, 213, 303, 304, PHIL 331 and SOCI 326

For additional information see the Coordinator of the Religious Studies Program in the college.