University Core Curriculum Requirements

These requirements must be met by every student pursuing a baccalaureate degree at the University of North Texas, regardless of his or her major. A specific course may be used to satisfy only one core requirement. Individual academic programs may require courses contained in parts of the University Core Curriculum to satisfy particular degree requirements. Students may be required to take extra courses if they fail to select these courses.

In accordance with Texas Education Code, Chapter 61, Subchapter S, each Texas public general academic institution and community/technical college was required to design and implement a core curriculum, including specific courses. Institutions were required to implement the core curriculum requirement by Fall 1999.

Requirements

Students should check with their school or college to insure that courses selected for the University Core will also satisfy any overlapping school, college, department or degree requirements.

1. English Composition and Rhetoric (6 hours): Addresses the ability to access information and write clearly, coherently and correctly. This requirement may be satisfied by credit in ENGL 1310-1320, 1311-1321*, 1312-1322**, 1313-1323 or 1315-1325. ENGL 2700 may be substituted for ENGL 1320 and ENGL
2702** may be substituted for 1322 upon approval of the school/college. Note: A grade of C or better is required on courses applied toward this requirement. Upon successful completion of the Student Use of English (SUE) Examination, courses with a grade of D may apply. See your adviser for assistance.

2. Mathematics (3 hours): The ability to apply mathematical techniques to the analysis and solution of problems is common to all academic programs. This requirement may be satisfied by at least 3 semester hours credit in any mathematics course at the level of college algebra or higher that meets the student's degree program requirements. The student may choose from the following courses: MATH 1100, 1190, 1350***, 1351***, 1400, 1650, 1680, 1710, 1720.

3. Natural Sciences (8 hours): Enables the student to understand, construct and evaluate relationships in the natural sciences, and to understand the bases for building and testing theories. This requirement may be satisfied by earning 8 semester hours in two laboratory sciences that meet the science requirement of the student's degree program. The student may choose from the following courses: ARCH 2800; ANTH/BIOL 2700; BIOL 1080/1081***, 1110/1115, 1120/1125, 1130/1135, 1710/1730, 1711/1730, 1720/1740, 1722/1740, 2381/2382, 2401, 2402; CHEM 1351/1352, 1410/1430, 1412*/1430, 1413/1430, 1420/1440, 1422*/1440, 1423/1440; GEOG 1710; GEOL 1610; PHYS 1050/1051, 1060/1061, 1210/1220***, 1251/1271, 1311/1331, 1312/1332*, 1410/1430, 1420/1440, 1510/1530, 1520/1540, 1710/1730, 2220/2240.

4. U.S. History (6 hours): Texas state law requires that the university may not award a baccalaureate degree or a lesser degree or academic certificate unless the student has credit for 6 semester hours in American History. A student is entitled to submit as much as 3 hours of credit, or its equivalent, in Texas History in partial satisfaction of this requirement. The university may determine that a student has met the requirement by work transferred from another accredited college or upon successful completion of an advanced standing examination. The student may satisfy the entire 6-hour American/Texas history requirement by advanced standing examination. This requirement may be satisfied by credit in HIST 2610 and 2620 (United States History) or HIST 2675* and 2685* (Honors United States History). Advanced U.S. History courses may be used to satisfy the 6-hour U.S. History legislative mandates. Texas History (HIST 4700) may substitute for 3 hours of U.S. History.

5. Political Science (6 hours): Texas state law requires the university may not award a baccalaureate degree or a lesser degree or academic certificate unless the student has completed 6 hours of credit in American Government to include consideration of the constitution of the United States and Texas. The university may determine that a student has met the requirement in whole or in part on the basis of credit transferred from another accredited college or upon successful completion of an advanced standing examination. The university may grant as much as 3 hours of credit toward satisfaction of this requirement for substantially equivalent work in an approved senior ROTC unit. The student may satisfy the entire 6-hour political science requirement by advanced standing examination. Specific courses required are PSCI 1040 (American Government) and PSCI 1050 or 1060 (American Government); or PSCI 1041* and 1051* (Honors American Government); or PSCI 1085* (The American Political and Economic Experience); 3 advanced hours in American Government may be substituted for PSCI 1050.

6. Wellness (3 hours): Develops lifetime wellness skills and habits that enhance both the quality and quantity of life. This requirement may be satisfied by 3 hours credit in any of the following:

7. Visual and Performing Arts (3 hours): Promotes awareness of the scope and variety of works in the arts, critical analysis and formation of aesthetic judgments, and appreciation of the arts as fundamental to the health and survival of any society. This requirement may be satisfied by 3 hours credit in any of the following:

8. Humanities (3 hours): Addresses knowledge of the human condition and human cultures, especially in relation to behaviors, ideas and values expressed in works of human imagination and thought. This requirement may be satisfied by 3 hours credit in any of the following:

9. Social and Behavioral Sciences (3 hours): Addresses knowledge of how social and behavioral scientists discover, describe and explain the behaviors and interactions among individuals, groups, institutions, events and ideas. This requirement may be satisfied by 3 hours credit in any of the following:

10. Communication (3 hours): Includes composition, speech, modern languages and communication skills; emphasizes effective communication appropriate to the subject, occasion and audience. This requirement may be satisfied by 3 hours credit in any of the following:

11. Cross-cultural, Diversity and Global Studies (3 hours): Promotes knowledge and appreciation of national and international cultural diversity. This requirement may be satisfied by 3 hours credit in any of the following:

Transfer of the Core Curriculum

A student who successfully completes a 42- to 48-semester-credit-hour common core curriculum at a state-assisted institution of higher education in Texas may transfer that block of courses to UNT. The student will receive academic credit for each of the courses transferred. The student will need to work with an academic adviser in the appropriate college/school to determine if additional requirements will be necessary to satisfy the 47-hour UNT core. A student transferring to UNT who has not completed the common core curriculum will be required to complete his or her common core curriculum as specified by UNT. See also the UNT Core Curriculum Transfer Articulation web page at (essc.unt.edu/registrar/articulation/) for more information.

College or School Requirements

Students must satisfactorily complete all degree requirements specified by the school or college in which the degree is offered. In many instances, the college/school/department academic program requirements may exceed the university core requirements.

Individual academic programs may require courses contained in part of the University Core Curriculum to satisfy specific degree requirements. Students may be required to take additional courses if they fail to select these courses.

Degree Requirement Modifications Based on a Disability

In accordance with university policies, state and federal regulations [especially Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act] the University of North Texas endeavors to make reasonable academic adjustments for qualified students with disabilities who require accommodation in order to fulfill the requirements for a degree. Modification of degree requirements may be considered in instances where:

All requests for modification must be initiated in the office of the dean of the college or school in which the student is enrolled and must be filed early in the student's degree program. The dean has sole authority to make decisions for modifying college degree requirements, but no modification that compromises the integrity of the degree will be granted. Modifications of certification requirements cannot be considered by UNT and should be directed to the applicable agency.

Top | UNT Undergraduate Catalog Shortcuts | Additional Undergraduate Literature | Graduate Catalog Shortcuts | Additional Graduate Literature | UNT home