Fall 2014 Core Curriculum Approved Courses

American History (6 hrs)

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

Communication (6 hrs)

Courses in this category focus on developing ideas and expressing them clearly, considering the effect 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.

Choose one of the following:

Creative Arts (3 hrs)

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.

Government and Political Science (6 hrs)

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.

Language, Philosophy and Culture (3 hrs)

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.

Life and Physical Sciences (6 hrs + 2 hrs in Institutional Option)

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.

Mathematics (3 hrs)

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 experience.

Social and Behavioral Sciences (3 hrs)

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.

Component Area Option (6 hrs)