University Core Curriculum

The Texas A&M Core Curriculum, in compliance with the Texas Core Curriculum, provides students with a foundation of knowledge of human cultures and the physical and natural world, develops principles of personal and social responsibility for living in a diverse world, and advances intellectual and practical skills that are essential for all learning. The Core Curriculum enhances the individual degree program and university graduation requirements, and all three areas must be met by every student.

Given the rapid evolution of necessary knowledge and skills and the need to take into account global, national, state, and local cultures, the core curriculum ensures that students will develop the essential knowledge and skills they need to be successful in college, in a career, in their communities, and in life. The core curriculum acts to enrich and broaden the University’s tradition of providing thorough preparation in each student’s academic major and preparing students for a lifetime of learning.

The University Core Curriculum requirements are described in the section that follows. These requirements must be met by every student entering Texas A&M University on or after the 2014 fall semester. Students entering earlier will be guided by the core curriculum in the catalog upon which they entered the university. Individual degree programs may require that specific courses from the core curriculum be used to satisfy core curriculum requirements. Please check with individual program advisors for details. Students transferring course credit to satisfy the Core Curriculum requirements should refer to the Texas Common Course Numbering System.

Texas A&M University branch campuses in Galveston and Qatar do not offer all of the courses included in the Texas A&M core curriculum.  All campuses offer courses in each Foundational Component Area so that students can complete the core curriculum at their home campus.  However, the Galveston and Qatar campuses have a limited number of courses in each Foundational Component Area.  Students should consult their academic advisors for information on core curriculum courses available at their specific campus.

The core curriculum focuses on the development of six skills that have been shown to be effective in preparing students for the job market and their role in a diverse world and democratic society.

  • Critical Thinking Skillsto include creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, and analysis, evaluation and synthesis of information.
  • Communication Skillsto include effective development, interpretation and expression of ideas through written, oral and visual communication.
  • Empirical and Quantitative Skills to include the manipulation and analysis of numerical data or observable facts resulting in informed conclusions.
  • Teamworkto include the ability to consider different points of view and to work effectively with others to support a shared purpose or goal.
  • Personal Responsibilityto include the ability to connect choices, actions and consequences to ethical decision-making.
  • Social Responsibilityto include intercultural competence, knowledge of civic responsibility, and the ability to engage effectively in regional, national, and global communities.

Students develop and practice these skills in the context of 42 semester credit hours assigned to eight Foundational Component Areas, each made up of a selection of courses that meet the definition provided by the Texas Core Curriculum. For additional information, please reference http://core.tamu.edu.

Communication - 6 SCH

COMM 203Public Speaking3
COMM 205Communication for Technical Professions3
COMM 243Argumentation and Debate3
ENGL 103Introduction to Rhetoric and Composition3
ENGL 104Composition and Rhetoric3
ENGL 203Writing about Literature3
ENGL 210Technical and Professional Writing3

Courses in this category focus on developing ideas and expressing them clearly, considering the effective 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. The following skills will be addressed in the courses that comprise this area: critical thinking, communication, team work, and personal responsibility.

Mathematics – 6 SCH1

MATH 140Mathematics for Business and Social Sciences3
MATH 142Business Calculus3
MATH 147Calculus I for Biological Sciences4
MATH 148Calculus II for Biological Sciences4
MATH 150Functions, Trigonometry and Linear Systems4
MATH 151Engineering Mathematics I4
MATH 152Engineering Mathematics II4
MATH 167Explorations in Mathematics3
MATH 168Finite Mathematics3
MATH 171Calculus I4
MATH 172Calculus II4
PHIL 240Introduction to Logic3
STAT 201Elementary Statistical Inference3

Courses in this category 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. The following skills will be addressed in the courses that comprise this area: critical thinking, communication, and empirical and quantitative.

Life and Physical Sciences – 9 SCH2

AGSM 105The World Has a Drinking Problem - Global Water Scarcity3
ANSC 107General Animal Science3
ANTH 225Introduction to Biological Anthropology3
ANTH 226Introduction to Biological Anthropology Laboratory1
ARSC 104Contemporary Issues in Science - Cosmos, Earth and Humanity3
ARSC 105/CHEM 105Contemporary Issues in Science - The Environment3
ASTR 101Basic Astronomy3
ASTR 102Observational Astronomy1
ASTR 103Introduction to Stars and Exoplanets3
ASTR 104Introduction to Galaxies and Cosmology3
ASTR 109/PHYS 109Big Bang and Black Holes3
ASTR 111Overview of Modern Astronomy4
ATMO 201Weather and Climate3
ATMO 202Weather and Climate Laboratory1
ATMO 210Climate Change3
BESC 201Introduction to Bioenvironmental Sciences3
BESC 204Molds and Mushrooms: The Impact of Fungi on Society and the Environment3
BIOL 101Botany4
BIOL 104Contemporary Issues in Science - Cosmos, Earth and Humanity3
BIOL 107Zoology4
BIOL 111Introductory Biology I4
BIOL 112Introductory Biology II4
BIOL 113Essentials in Biology3
CHEM 105/ARSC 105Contemporary Issues in Science - The Environment3
CHEM 106Molecular Science for Citizens3
CHEM 107General Chemistry for Engineering Students3
CHEM 116Molecular Science for Citizens Laboratory1
CHEM 117General Chemistry for Engineering Students Laboratory1
CHEM 119Fundamentals of Chemistry I4
CHEM 120Fundamentals of Chemistry II4
ECCB 205Fundamentals of Ecology3
ECCB 215Fundamentals of Ecology--Laboratory1
ECCB 309Forest Ecology3
ENTO 322Insects and Human Society3
FIVS 205Introduction to Forensic and Investigative Sciences3
GEOG 203Planet Earth3
GEOG 205Environmental Change3
GEOG 213Planet Earth Lab1
GEOL 101Principles of Geology3
GEOL 102Principles of Geology Laboratory1
GEOL 106Historical Geology4
GEOL 207Dinosaur World3
GEOL 208Life on a Dynamic Planet3
GEOS 110Disasters and Society3
HORT 201Horticultural Science and Practices3
HORT 202Horticultural Science and Practices Laboratory1
KINE 120The Science of Basic Health and Fitness1
KINE 223Introduction to the Science of Health and Fitness3
MARS 102Earth and Ocean Science4
NUTR 222Nutrition for Health and Health Care3
OCNG 251The Blue Planet - Our Oceans3
OCNG 252The Blue Planet - Our Oceans Laboratory1
PHYS 104Contemporary Issues in Science - Cosmos, Earth and Humanity3
PHYS 109/ASTR 109Big Bang and Black Holes3
PHYS 123Physics for Future Presidents3
PHYS 125Soft Matter Physics for Non-physicists3
PHYS 201College Physics4
PHYS 202College Physics4
PHYS 206Newtonian Mechanics for Engineering and Science3
PHYS 207Electricity and Magnetism for Engineering and Science3
PHYS 226Physics of Motion Laboratory for the Sciences1
PHYS 227Electricity and Magnetism Laboratory for the Sciences1
POSC 201General Avian Science3
SCSC 105World Food and Fiber Crops3
SCSC 301Soil Science4

Courses in this category 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 team work.

Language, Philosophy and Culture – 3 SCH

AFST 201Introduction to Africana Studies3
AFST 204/ENGL 204Introduction to African-American Literature3
ANTH 204The Prehistoric World3
ANTH 205Peoples and Cultures of the World3
ANTH 210Social and Cultural Anthropology3
ANTH 316Nautical Archaeology3
ARAB 201Intermediate Arabic I3
ARAB 202Intermediate Arabic II3
ARCH 213Sustainable Architecture3
CARC 331Field Studies in Design Philosophy3
CHIN 201Intermediate Chinese I3
CHIN 202Intermediate Chinese II3
CLAS 220History of Christianity: Origins to the Reformation3
CLAS 221Intermediate Latin I3
CLAS 250Greek and Roman Civilization3
CLAS 251/RELS 251Classical Mythology3
CLAS 261Great Books of the Classical Tradition3
CLAS 262Great Books of Christian Antiquity and the Latin Middle Ages3
CLAS 429/HIST 429The Roman Empire: Transformations3
COSC 222Social Issues in the History of the Construction Environment3
DCED 201Dance History3
ENGL 202Environmental Literature3
ENGL 204/AFST 204Introduction to African-American Literature3
ENGL 206Twenty-first Century Literature and Culture3
ENGL 207Human Thinking and Digital Culture3
ENGL 211/INTS 211Foundations in Cultural Studies3
ENGL 221/MODL 221World Literature3
ENGL 222/MODL 222World Literature3
ENGL 227American Literature: The Beginnings to Civil War3
ENGL 228American Literature: Civil War to Present3
ENGL 231Survey of English Literature I3
ENGL 232Survey of English Literature II3
ENGL 253Introduction to Cultural Studies and Popular Culture3
ENGL 262/HISP 262Introduction to Latinx Literary Studies3
ENGL 292Introduction To Literature And Medicine3
ENGL 306Transnational Literature and Culture3
ENGL 330Arthurian Literature3
ENGL 333/WGST 333Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Literatures3
ENGL 334Science Fiction Present and Past3
ENGL 335Literature of the Sea3
ENGL 338American Ethnic Literature3
ENGL 350Twentieth-Century Literature to World War II3
ENGL 352Literature, World War II to Present.3
ENGL 360Literature for Children3
ENGL 362/HISP 362Latino/a Literature3
ENGL 365/RELS 360The Bible as Literature3
ENGL 374/WGST 374Women Writers3
ENGL 376The American Novel Since 19003
ENGR 482/PHIL 482Ethics and Engineering3
FREN 201Intermediate French I3
FREN 202Intermediate French II3
FSTC 300/NUTR 300Religious and Ethnic Foods3
GEOG 202Geography of the Global Village3
GEOG 301Geography of the United States3
GEOG 305Geography of Texas3
GERM 201Intermediate German I3
GERM 202Intermediate German II3
HISP 262/ENGL 262Introduction to Latinx Literary Studies3
HISP 362/ENGL 362Latino/a Literature3
HIST 101Western Civilization to 16603
HIST 102Western Civilization Since 16603
HIST 103World History to 15003
HIST 104World History Since 15003
HIST 210Russian Civilization3
HIST 213History of England3
HIST 214History of England3
HIST 220History of Christianity: Origins to the Reformation3
HIST 221/RELS 221History of Islam3
HIST 222/RELS 222History of Christianity, Reformation to Present3
HIST 234European Military History3
HIST 240Empires of Food3
HIST 242United States Maritime History3
HIST 429/CLAS 429The Roman Empire: Transformations3
INTS 211/ENGL 211Foundations in Cultural Studies3
INTS 251Contemporary Issues in the Middle East3
ITAL 201Intermediate Italian I3
ITAL 202Intermediate Italian II3
JAPN 201Intermediate Japanese I4
JAPN 202Intermediate Japanese II4
LAND 240History of Landscape Architecture3
MAST 270Historic Seafaring and Maritime Heritage3
MODL 221/ENGL 221World Literature3
MODL 222/ENGL 222World Literature3
NUTR 300Religious and Ethnic Foods3
PERF 156Dress in World Cultures3
PERF 325Dance in World Cultures3
PHIL 111Contemporary Moral Issues3
PHIL 251Introduction to Philosophy3
PHIL 282Ethics in a Digital Age3
PHIL 482/ENGR 482Ethics and Engineering3
RELS 200Religions of the World3
RELS 202Religion in America3
RELS 209Religions of the Ancient World3
RELS 220History of Christianity: Origins to the Reformation3
RELS 221/HIST 221History of Islam3
RELS 222/HIST 222History of Christianity, Reformation to Present3
RELS 251/CLAS 251Classical Mythology3
RELS 360/ENGL 365The Bible as Literature3
RUSS 201Intermediate Russian I3
RUSS 202Intermediate Russian II3
SPAN 201Intermediate Spanish I3
SPAN 202Intermediate Spanish II3
SPMT 220Olympic Studies3
WGST 200Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies3
WGST 333/ENGL 333Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Literatures3
WGST 374/ENGL 374Women Writers3

Courses in this category focus on how ideas, values, beliefs, and other aspects of culture express and affect human experience. Courses involve the exploration of ideas that foster aesthetic and intellectual creation in order to understand the human condition across cultures. The following skills will be addressed in the courses that comprise this area: critical thinking, communication, social responsibility, and personal responsibility.

Creative Arts – 3 SCH

AFST 327/PERF 327Popular Musics in the African Diaspora3
ANTH 324/PERF 324Music in World Cultures3
ARCH 249Survey of World Architecture History I3
ARCH 250Survey of World Architecture History II3
ARCH 350History and Theory of Modern and Contemporary Architecture3
ARTS 149Art History Survey I3
ARTS 150Art History Survey II3
COMM 257/RELS 257Communication, Religion and the Arts3
COMM 340Communication and Popular Culture3
DCED 202Dance Appreciation3
ENDS 101Design Process3
ENGL 212Shakespeare3
ENGL 219Literature and the Other Arts3
ENGL 251/FILM 251Introduction to Film Analysis3
FILM 215/INTS 215Global Cinema3
FILM 251/ENGL 251Introduction to Film Analysis3
FILM 299History of Film3
FILM 425/FREN 425French Film3
FREN 425/FILM 425French Film3
HISP 204Spanish and Spanish American Literature in Translation3
HORT 203Floral Design3
INTS 215/FILM 215Global Cinema3
KINE 210The Art of Movement3
PERF 103Introduction to Devised Theatre3
PERF 200Introduction to World Theatre3
PERF 201Music and the Human Experience3
PERF 221Guitar Heroes3
PERF 222Music of the Americas3
PERF 223Aesthetics of Activism3
PERF 224History of Country and Western Music3
PERF 225History of Jazz3
PERF 226History of Rock3
PERF 228History of Electronic Music3
PERF 281History of the Theatre II3
PERF 301Performance in World Cultures3
PERF 324/ANTH 324Music in World Cultures3
PERF 327/AFST 327Popular Musics in the African Diaspora3
PERF 328Japanese Traditional Performing Arts3
PERF 386Evolution of the American Musical3
PHIL 330Philosophy of Art3
RELS 257/COMM 257Communication, Religion and the Arts3

Courses in this category focus on the appreciation and analysis of creative artifacts and works of the human imagination. Courses involve the synthesis and interpretation of artistic expression and enable critical, creative, and innovative communication about works of art. The following skills will be addressed in the courses that comprise this area: critical thinking, communication, team work, and social responsibility.

American History – 6 SCH

AFST 300/HIST 300Blacks in the United States, 1607-18773
AFST 301/HIST 301Blacks in the United States Since 18773
HIST 105History of the United States3
HIST 106History of the United States3
HIST 225Revolutionary America3
HIST 226History of Texas3
HIST 230American Military History, 1609 to Present3
HIST 232History of American Sea Power3
HIST 258American Indian History3
HIST 300/AFST 300Blacks in the United States, 1607-18773
HIST 301/AFST 301Blacks in the United States Since 18773
HIST 304Southwest Borderlands3

Courses in this category focus on the consideration of past events and ideas relative to the United States, with the option of including Texas History for a portion of this component area. Courses involve the interaction among individuals, communities, states, the nation, and the world, considering how these interactions have contributed to the development of the United States and its global role. The following skills will be addressed in the courses that comprise this area: critical thinking, communication, social responsibility, and personal responsibility.

Government/Political Science – 6 SCH

POLS 206American National Government3
POLS 207State and Local Government3

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 involve the analysis of governmental institutions, political behavior, civic engagement, and their political and philosophical foundations. The following skills will be addressed in the courses that comprise this area: critical thinking, communication, social responsibility, and personal responsibility.

Social and Behavioral Sciences – 3 SCH

AGEC 105Introduction to Agricultural Economics3
AGLS 235Foundations of Money Education3
ANTH 201Introduction to Anthropology3
ANTH 202Introduction to Archaeology3
ARCH 212Social and Behavioral Factors in Design3
COMM 315Interpersonal Communication3
COMM 335Intercultural Communication3
COMM 365/JOUR 365International Communication3
ECON 202Principles of Economics3
ECON 203Principles of Economics3
EPSY 320Child Development3
EPSY 321Adolescent Development3
GEOG 201Introduction to Human Geography3
HLTH 236Introduction to Health Disparities and Diversity3
HORT 335Sociohorticulture3
INST 210Understanding Special Populations3
INST 222Foundations of Education in a Multicultural Society3
INST 301Educational Psychology3
JOUR 102American Mass Media3
JOUR 365/COMM 365International Communication3
KINE 282Culture of Wellness3
MARS 210Marine Geography3
PBSI 107Introduction to Psychology3
SOCI 205Introduction to Sociology3
SOCI 206Global Social Trends3
SOCI 207/WGST 207Introduction to Gender and Society3
SOCI 210Sociology of Technology and Science3
SOCI 211Sociology of Deviance3
SOCI 212Sociology of Popular Culture3
SOCI 213/WGST 213Gender and Health3
SOCI 214Social Problems3
SOCI 217Introduction to Race and Ethnicity3
SOCI 304Criminology3
SOCI 312Population and Society3
SOCI 315/WGST 315The Marriage Institution3
SOCI 319/SPMT 319Sociology of Sport3
SPMT 304Sport Psychology Management and Practice3
SPMT 319/SOCI 319Sociology of Sport3
SPMT 336Diversity in Sport Organizations3
SPMT 337International Sport Business3
URPN 201The Evolving City3
URPN 202Building Better Cities3
URPN 203Smart Cities - Bit, Bots and Beyond3
URPN 361Urban Issues3
URPN 370Health Systems Planning3
WGST 207/SOCI 207Introduction to Gender and Society3
WGST 213/SOCI 213Gender and Health3
WGST 315/SOCI 315The Marriage Institution3

Courses in this category focus on the application of empirical and scientific methods that contribute to the understanding of what makes us human. Courses involve the exploration of behavior and interactions among individuals, groups, institutions, and events, examining their impact on the individual, society, and culture. The following skills will be addressed in the courses that comprise this area: critical thinking, communication, empirical and quantitative, and social responsibility.

1

Applicable courses are listed in the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board course inventory as meeting either the Mathematics or the Component Area Option Foundational Component Area.

2

Applicable courses are listed in the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board course inventory as meeting either the Life and Physical Sciences or the Component Area Option Foundational Component Area.

Undergraduate Studies’ units have modified services available to students enrolled via distance education, at branch campuses, or at other instructional locations.