Core Curriculum
A Strong Foundation
The Core Curriculum program at A&M-Commerce embodies the characteristics and purposes of the university. With both professional and liberal arts programs, A&M-Commerce recognizes general education as a necessary component in the development of all students.
The general education which takes place in the Core Curriculum program is, therefore, not only compatible with specialization, but is the context in which specialization occurs.
Specifically, the Core Curriculum:
- Stresses breadth and provides a person with opportunities to perceive the integration of knowledge;
- Involves the study of liberal arts and science;
- Encourages understanding of our past and its importance to understanding the present as well as respect for other people's cultures;
- Develops mastery of linguistic, analytical and computational skills that are necessary for lifelong learning; and
- Fosters development of such personal qualities as appropriate acceptance of ambiguity, empathy and acceptance of others, and expanded understanding of self.
LEarning Outcomes
The Student Learning Outcomes, or SLOs, for the Undergraduate Core Curriculum are
- Critical Thinking: Students will be able to analyze, evaluate or solve problems when given a set of circumstances, data, texts or art.
- Oral/Visual Communication: Students will communicate in a manner appropriate to audience and occasion with an evident message and organizational structure.
- Empirical/Quantitative Reasoning: Students will be able to interpret, test and demonstrate principles revealed in empirical data and/or observable facts.
- Teamwork Students will be able to work together toward a shared purpose relevant to the course or discipline with a sense of shared responsibility for meeting that purpose.
- Personal Responsibility: Students will understand and practice academic honesty.
- Social Responsibility: Students will demonstrate an understanding of societal and/or civic issues.
Core Curriculum Assessment
Texas A&M University-Commerce's Core Curriculum is required to meet certain standards established by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Regular assessment and reporting of those assessment results are a requirement of THECB (Texas Administrative Code §4.30) and SACSOC (Standard 8.2.b).
The purpose of Core Curriculum Assessment is to collect data on student learning in the areas of the university core to identify areas for improvement. Courses that submit artifacts for assessment by Core Curriculum volunteers are courses that impact multiple areas of learning for many students. The assessment process is not punitive; courses, faculty and departments that are part of the Core Curriculum assessment process are not penalized based on assessment results. The purpose of assessment is to support faculty and departments in identifying areas for growth and using data to make date-based decisions and actions to improve student learning.
Schedule/Cycle
Definitions of Component Areas and core objectives can be found either in the Undergraduate Catalog or in the Texas Administrative Code.
Transfer Credit
This six hour element of the Texas Core Curriculum is called the Component Area Option. Completion of the core curriculum, either from the current block of courses offered at A&M-Commerce or through Generic Transfer Equivalent Courses transferred in must total 42 semester hours. In both cases it is essential that students recognize that individual courses are not necessarily interchangeable.
A&M-Commerce will honor core curriculum courses from other Texas public institutions and apply those toward completion of the A&M-Commerce core curriculum. Whether students are transferring or starting and finishing with A&M-Commerce, completion of the core curriculum is a graduation requirement. Students should seek the help of their success coach or professional advisor in selecting appropriate courses to meet these requirements.
Core Curriculum Committee 2023-2024
Chair
Members
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