Core Categories

I. Communication (6 hours)  and  IX. Component Area Option (3 hours)

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) has determined that courses in this category emphasize the command of oral, aural, written, and visual literacy skills that enable people to exchange messages appropriate to the subject, occasion, and audience.

The nine-hour communication area of Tarleton’s core curriculum is composed of 6 hours of Communication Foundational Component Area coursework and 3 hours of Component Area Option coursework.

Students will complete the following two courses offered by the Department of English And Languages:

• ENGL 1301 Composition I. *This course is part of Tarleton's Component Area Option
• ENGL 1302 Composition II.

Students will also complete one of the following courses offered by the Department of Communication Studies

• COMM 1311 Introduction to Speech Communication.
• COMM 1315 Public Speaking.
• COMM 2302 Business and Professional Speaking..

II. Mathematics (3 hours)

According to the THECB, courses in this category emphasize the understanding of key mathematical concepts and the application of appropriate quantitative tools to everyday experience.

Students can complete the 3 hour Mathematics Foundational Component Area of Tarleton’s core curriculum by taking any one of the following courses offered by the Department of Mathematics:

• MATH 1314 College Algebra.
• MATH 1324 Math for Business and Social Sciences.
• MATH 1332 Contemporary Mathematics.
• MATH 1342 Elementary Statistical Methods.
• MATH 2412 Precalculus.
• MATH 2413 Calculus I.

III. Life and Physical Sciences (6 hours) and IX. Component Area Option (2 hours)

According to the THECB, courses in this category emphasize the understanding of interactions among natural phenomena and the implications of scientific principles on the physical world and on human experiences.

The eight-hour life and natural sciences area of Tarleton’s core curriculum is composed of 6 hours of Life and Natural Sciences Foundational Component Area coursework and 2 hours of related class and lab based Component Area Option coursework.

Students can complete their required hours by choosing from among the following courses:

• BIOL 1406 Biology for Science Majors I.
• BIOL 1407 Biology for Science Majors II.
• BIOL 2401 Anatomy and Physiology I.
• BIOL 2402 Anatomy and Physiology II.
• CHEM 1302 Essential Elements of Chemistry. (a 3 hour course for Education majors)
• CHEM 1407 Introductory Chemistry II.
• CHEM 1411 General Chemistry I.
• CHEM 1412 General Chemistry II.
• EASC 2310 Earth Systems Science. (a 3 hour course for Education majors)
• GEOG 1451 GPS, VGI, & Cartography.
• GEOL 1403 Physical Geology.
• GEOL 1404 Historical Geology.
• GEOL 1407 Introduction to Environmental Science.
• GEOL 1408 Natural Disasters (GEOL 1408)
• PHYS 1302 Essential Elements of Physics. (a 3 hour course for Education majors)
• PHYS 1401 College Physics I.
• PHYS 1402 College Physics II.
• PHYS 1403 Stars and Galaxies.
• PHYS 1410 Great Ideas of Physics.
• PHYS 1411 Introductory Astronomy I
• PHYS 2425 University Physics I.
• PHYS 2426 University Physics II.

IV. Language, Philosophy, and Culture (3 hours)

According to the THECB, courses in this category emphasize the exploration of ideas that foster aesthetic and intellectual creation in order to understand the human condition across cultures.

Students may complete the 3 hour Language, Philosophy, and Culture Foundational Component Area of Tarleton’s core curriculum by taking any one of the following courses:

• ENGL 2310 The Short Story.
• ENGL 2320 Introduction to Literature.
• ENGL 2340 Literature and Film.
• ENGL 2350 Backgrounds of Western Literature.
• HIST 2321 World Civilizations I.
• HIST 2322 World Civilizations II.
• PHIL 1301 Introduction to Philosophy.

V. Creative Arts (3 hours)

According to the THECB, courses in this category emphasize the synthesis and interpretation of artistic expression and enable critical, creative, and innovative communication about works of art.

Students may complete the 3 hour Creative Arts Foundational Component Area of Tarleton’s core curriculum by taking any one of the following courses offered by the Department of Fine Arts:

• ARTS 1301 Art Appreciation.
• ARTS 1303 Art History I.
• ARTS 1304 Art History II.
• ARTS 3331 Art History of America.
• DRAM 1310 Introduction to the Theatre.
• DRAM 2361 History of Theatre I.
• DRAM 4304 Dramatic Theory and Criticism.
• FINA 1360 The Art of Film.
• HUMA 1315 Fine Arts Appreciation.
• MUSI 1306 Music Appreciation.
• MUSI 1310 Popular Music in America.
• MUSI 1311 Music Theory I.
• MUSI 3325 Jazz History.

VI. American History (6 hours)

According to the THECB, courses in this category emphasize 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 will complete the 6 hour American History Foundational Component Area of Tarleton’s core curriculum by taking the following two courses offered by the Department of History, Sociology, and Geography:

• HIST 1301 United States History I.
• HIST 1302 United States History II.

VII. Government and Political Science (6 hours)

According to the THECB, courses in this category emphasize the analysis of governmental institutions, political behavior, civic engagement, and their political and philosophical foundations.

Students will complete the 6 hour Government and Political Sciences Foundational Component Area of Tarleton’s core curriculum by taking the following two courses:

• GOVT 2305 Federal Government.
• GOVT 2306 Texas Government.

VIII. Social and Behavioral Sciences (3 hours)

According to the THECB, courses in this category emphasize the exploration of behavior and interactions among individuals, groups, institutions, and events, examining their impact on the individual, society, and culture.

Students may complete the 3 hour Social and Behavioral Sciences Foundational Component Area of Tarleton’s core curriculum by taking any one of the following courses:

• AGEC 2317 Introduction to Agricultural Economics.
• ANTH 2302 Introduction to Archeology.
• ANTH 2351 Cultural Anthropology.
• ECON 1301 Introduction to Economics.
• ECON 2301 Principles of Economics: Macroeconomics.
• ENGR 2303 Engineering Economy.
• GEOG 1303 World Regional Geography.
• GEOG 1320 Introduction to Human Geography.
• GEOG 2301 The Geography of Texas.
• PHIL 2303 Introduction to Logic.
• PHIL 3301 Ethics in the Professions.
• PSYC 2301 General Psychology.
• SOCI 1301 Introductory Sociology.
• SOCI 2303 Race and Ethnic Relations.

IX. Component Area Option (1 hour)

The Component Area Option as a whole comprises 6 hours of coursework. Tarleton has divided its 6 hours of Component Area Option into three components - two of which were included in the areas above.

As detailed above, 3 hours of Tarleton's Component Area Option has been assigned to the Composition I (ENGL 1301) course which is aligned above with Tarleton's Communication Foundational Component Area.

Also as detailed above, another 2 hours of Tarleton's Component Area Option is aligned above with Tarleton's Life and Natural Sciences Foundational Component Area.

Students will complete the remaining 1 hour of Tarleton's Component Area Option by taking a First Year Seminar Course. These courses are typically listed by major as [Major] 1100 although other numbers are used as well.

This course is designed to prepare the student for university life, aid in the development of skills for academic success, promote personal growth and responsibility, and encourage active involvement in the learning process.