2. Academic Courses
B.2.01 Academic Courses:
Academic course offerings are based on the Coordinating Board's Academic Course Guide Manual (ACGM). Courses not available in the ACGM may be offered according to the Unique Needs guidelines.
B.2.02 Core Curriculum Defined:
"Core Curriculum" means the curriculum in liberal arts, humanities, natural sciences, and political and social sciences that all undergraduate students of an institution of higher education are required to complete before receiving an academic undergraduate degree.
B.2.03 Adoption of Core Curriculum:
The System shall adopt a core curriculum of not less than 42 semester credit hours, including specific courses comprising the curriculum. The core curriculum shall be consistent with the common course numbering system and with the statements, recommendations, and rules issued by the Coordinating Board. The System may have a core curriculum of other than 42 semester credit hours, only if approved by the Coordinating Board.
B.2.04 Parameters for Core Curriculum:
The System's core curriculum shall be designed to satisfy the exemplary educational objectives specified for the component areas of the "Core Curriculum: Assumptions and Defining Characteristics" adopted by the Coordinating Board. All lower-division courses included in the core curriculum must be consistent with the "Texas Common Course Numbering System" ("TCCNS"); and with the framework identified in Charts I and II on the Coordinating Board website.
B.2.05 Chart One - Basic Core Curriculum of 36 hours:
Chart I below specifies the minimum number of semester credit hours required in each of five major component areas that a core curriculum must include. The System shall select 36 semester credit hours of the core curriculum, according to the parameters described in Chart I on the Coordinating Board website.
B.2.06 Additional 6 Core Curriculum hours - total 42:
Chart II below specifies options available to colleges for the remaining six (6) semester credit hours. To complete the required core curriculum of 42 semester credit hours, the System shall select an additional six (6) semester credit hours from one or more of the offerings on Chart II identified on the Coordinating Board website.
Core Curriculum Component Areas - Required 36 Semester Credit Hours
THECB - Chart 1 - Institutions must select 36 semester credit hours of the core according to the parameters described below:
Component Area | Required Semester Credit Hours (THECB) | Required Semester Credit Hours (LSCS) |
Communication (English rhetoric/
composition)
| 6 | 6 |
| Mathematics (logic, college-level algebra equivalent, or above) | 3 | 3 |
| Natural Sciences | 6 | 6
(2 courses will be taken - 3 semester cr. hrs. of each course will apply to chart I and 1 semester cr. hr. of each course will apply to Chart II) |
Humanities & Visual and Performing Arts
Must include:
Visual/Performing Arts
Other (literature, philosophy, modern or classical language/literature and cultural studies*:
| 6
(3)
(3)
| 3 in Humanities 3 in Visual & Performing Arts |
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Must include:
U.S. History (legislatively mandated)
Political Science (legislatively mandated) Social/Behavioral Science | 15 (6)
(3)
(3)
| 15 (6)
(3)
(3) |
| Total Minimum Requirements | 36 | Meet all 36 |
LSCS core requirements are located in the current LSCS Catalog.
Chart II - To complete the required 42 semester credit hour institutions shall select an additional 6 semester credit hours from one of the following:
Component Area | Possible Add'l Semester Cr. Hrs. THECB
(6 total) | Required Semester Credit Hours (LSCS) |
Communication (composition speech modern language communication skills*)
| Up to 6 | 3 hrs. of Speech |
Mathematics (finite math, statistics, calculus, or above)
| Up to 3 | |
| Natural Sciences | Up to 3 | 2
(2 courses will be taken - 1 semester cr. hr. of each course will apply to chart II and 3 semester cr. hrs. of each course will apply to Chart I) |
Humanities & Visual and Performing Arts (literature, philosophy, modern or classical language/literature and cultural studies**)
| Up to 3 | |
Social and Behavioral Sciences
| Up to 3 | |
Institutionally Designated Option (may include add'l semester credit hours in the categories listed above, computer literacy, health/wellness, kinesiology, capstone or interdisciplinary courses, etc.
| Up to 3 | 1
KINE course |
| Total Additional Hours | 6 | 6 |
LSCS Core requirements are located in the current LSCS catalog.
B.2.07 Core Curriculum in Excess of 42 Hours - Maximum 48 Hours:
The System may adopt a core curriculum in excess of 42 semester credit hours, but no more than 48 semester credit hours, if the courses in excess of 42 semester credit hours are selected from the first five (5) component areas of Chart II (excluding the Institutionally Designated Option) and are approved by the Board.
B.2.08 Evaluation of Core Curricula:
The System shall review and evaluate its core curriculum and applicable field of study curricula at intervals specified by the Coordinating Board, and shall report the results of that review to the Coordinating Board. The evaluation criteria are specified by the Coordinating Board. The System must submit a Core Curricula Evaluation Report according to the timelines and criteria established by the Coordinating Board.B.2.09 Field of Study Curriculum:
The Coordinating Board, with the assistance of the advisory committee, shall develop field of study curricula.
B.2.10 Field of Study Curriculum defined:
"Field of Study Curriculum" means a set of courses that will satisfy the lower division requirements for a bachelor's degree in a specific academic area at a general academic teaching institution.
B.2.11 Evaluation of Field of Study Curricula:
The System shall review and evaluate the applicable field of study curricula at intervals specified by the Coordinating Board, and shall report the results of that review to the Coordinating Board.
LSCS Policy Manual Section adopted by the Board of Trustees on August 7, 2008
LSCS Policy Manual Section adopted by the Board of Trustees on August 7, 2008