Nov 21, 2024  
2024-2025 Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog 
    
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2024-2025 Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog

Core Curriculum Requirement

The core curriculum is designed to expose all Texas Tech University graduates to areas of study that are traditionally regarded as basic to the intellectual development of a broadly educated person. These areas of study include: life and physical sciences; social and behavioral sciences; mathematics; language, philosophy, and culture; creative arts; American history; political science/government; and communication. The Texas Tech University core curriculum complies with Texas statutes and Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board rules.

Transfer of Core Curriculum: In accordance with Texas statutes and Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board rules concerning the transfer of core curriculum, a degree-seeking student who transfers from one Texas institution of higher education to another must receive academic credit within the core curriculum of the receiving institution for each of the courses that the student has successfully completed in the core curriculum of the sending institution. Additionally, “If a student successfully completes the 42 semester credit hour core curriculum at an institution of higher education, that block of courses may be transferred to any other institution of higher education and must be substituted for the receiving institution’s core curriculum. A student shall receive academic credit for each of the courses transferred and may not be required to take additional core curriculum courses at the receiving institution unless the board has approved a larger core curriculum at that institution.” (Section 5.402, d). However, if a TTU degree program has a major requirement typically fulfilled within the core curriculum that the student has not satisfied with their core transfer courses, the student may be required to take the course(s) to satisfy the specific degree requirements.

Students should refer to college and department degree requirements and recommendations when choosing core curriculum courses.

 

A. Communication: 9 hours

Courses in this core component area focus on developing ideas and expressing them clearly, considering the effect of the message, fostering understanding, and building the skills needed to maximize the potential for effecting change through communication. 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.

Students graduating from Texas Tech University should be able to develop ideas and express them clearly, considering the effect of the message, fostering understanding, and building the skills needed to communicate effectively.

1. Written Communication: 6 hours

2. Oral Communication: 3 hours

B. Mathematics: 6 hours

Courses in this core component area 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 experience.

Students graduating from Texas Tech University should demonstrate the ability to apply quantitative and logical skills to solve problems.

1. Mathematics: 3 hours

2. Mathematics or Logic: 3 hours

Any of the mathematics courses listed above or

Note:

MATH 1351, MATH 1352, and MATH 2350 were 3-hour calculus courses that have been replaced by 4-hour courses: MATH 1451 , MATH 1452  and MATH 2450 . Any 3-hour calculus course taken prior to fall 2012 will satisfy all calculus and prerequisite requirements that now require 4-hour courses.

Cannot receive credit for both MATH 1320  and MATH 1420 .

Cannot receive credit for both MATH 1330  and MATH 1430 .

Students may use only one of MATH 2300 , MATH 2345 , AAEC 2301 , or PSY 2400  to satisfy the mathematics and logic requirements.

C. Life and Physical Sciences: 8 hours (Two 3-hour lecture classes, each with a related 1-hour laboratory class)

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.

Students graduating from Texas Tech University should be able to explain some of the major concepts, demonstrate an understanding of scientific approaches to problem solving, including ethics, and demonstrate understanding of the effects on society and the environment.

The state of Texas requires that all students complete six credit hours in the Life and Physical Sciences area. Texas Tech University has an additional, two credit hour laboratory science requirement that is not included in the state’s requirement. Courses that fulfill this institutional requirement are indicated with a ‡ symbol. The total, eight credit hour Life and Physical Sciences requirement can be satisfied by taking two four hour combined lecture and lab science courses (for example, BIOL 1401 and 1402) or two 3-hour science lecture courses along with the accompanying laboratory courses (for example, ATMO 1300  and ATMO 1100 , GEOL 1303  and GEOL 1101 ). It is also permissible to take one 4-hour science course and one 3-hour science course along with the accompanying laboratory course (such as BIOL 1401  and ATMO 1300  with ATMO 1100 ). Credit toward the science laboratory requirement is not granted for laboratory courses that do not share the same course prefix as the lecture course taken to satisfy a portion of the life and physical sciences core requirement.

For information about how transfer students who present 3-hour science courses may complete the science laboratory requirement see “Science Laboratory Requirement ”.

D. Language, Philosophy, and Culture: 3 hours

Courses in this core component area focus on how ideas, values, beliefs, and other aspects of culture reflect 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.

Students graduating from Texas Tech University should be able to think critically and evaluate possible multiple interpretations, cultural and historical contexts, and values.

E. Creative Arts: 3 hours

Courses in this core component area 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.

Students graduating from Texas Tech University should be able to construct, present, and defend critical and aesthetic judgments of works in the creative arts.

F. Social and Behavioral Sciences: 3 hours

Courses in this core component area focus on the application of scientific methods in 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.

Students graduating from Texas Tech University should be able to demonstrate the ability to assess critically claims about social issues, human behavior, and diversity in human experiences.

G. American History: 6 hours

Courses in this core component area focus on the consideration of past events 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.

Students graduating from Texas Tech University should demonstrate an understanding of the historical origins of the United States and be able to identify and describe the importance of key individuals and events in United States and/or Texas history.

H. Government/Political Science 6 hours

Courses in this core component area focus on consideration of the Constitution of the United States and the constitutions of the states, with special emphasis on that of Texas. Students who complete their government requirement outside the State of Texas or from a Texas private institution will need to provide a transcript that verifies they have taken a course with the required Texas and United States constitution content. If verification is not provided, students may be required to complete POLS 2107 - Federal and Texas Constitutions , to ensure they have attained the required competency. Courses involve the analysis of governmental institutions, political behavior, civic engagement, and their political and philosophical foundations.

Students graduating from Texas Tech University should demonstrate an understanding of the organization and functions of the different levels of government in the United States, be able to explain the importance of the United States Constitution and those of the states, and be able to comment on the role of civic engagement in United States politics and culture.