All undergraduates at The University of Texas at El Paso are required to complete a 42-semester credit hour core curriculum before receiving a baccalaureate degree. For degree plans that terminate with a post-baccalaureate degree, without completing the baccalaureate degree, undergraduates are required to complete the core curriculum before enrolling in graduate-level courses.

 

The core curriculum consists of nine components, or blocks. Each block has a required minimum number of semester credit hours. The minimum number is also the maximum number of hours that may be applied toward the core requirement. Any additional hours may apply toward degree requirements. The courses that may be used to satisfy the block requirements are listed with their Texas Common Course Number (TCCN) in brackets. The core curriculum requirement does not preclude the counting of core courses toward other degree requirements. Students are advised to consult particular degree requirements for their major before selecting courses to meet core curriculum requirements.

 

I.       Communication (nine hours) The objective of the communication component is to enable the student to communicate effectively in clear and correct prose or orally in a style appropriate to the subject, occasion, and audience.

A. English Composition (six hours):

1. For students whose secondary education was in English:

a.  ENGL 1311 Expository English Composition [ENGL 1301] and

     ENGL 1312 Research and Critical Writing [ENGL 1302] or

b.  ENGL 1311 Expository English Composition [ENGL1301] and

     ENGL 1313 Writing About Literature or

c.  ENGL/COMM 1611¹  Written and Oral Communication and

     ENGL 1312 Research and Critical Writing [ENGL 1302]

2. For students whose secondary education was not in English:

ESOL 1311 Expository English Composition for Speakers of ESL

[ENGL 1306] and

ESOL 1312 Research and Critical Writing for Speakers of ESL

[ENGL 1307]

B. Speech (three hours):

COMM 1301¹ Public Speaking [SPCH 1315] or

COMM 1302 Business and Professional Communication [SPCH 1321]

_______

¹  COMM/ENGL 1611 may be used to satisfy both the ENGL 1311 and COMM 1301 requirements.

 

II.      Mathematics (three hours) The objective of the mathematics component is to develop a quantitatively literate college graduate. Every college graduate should be able to apply basic mathematical tools in the solution of real‑world problems.

Select one course from the following (only three hours apply toward the required 42):

MATH 1319 Math in the Modern World [MATH 1333] or

MATH 1320 Mathematics for the Social Sciences I [MATH 1324] or

MATH 1508¹ Precalculus [MATH 2412²]

_______

¹  A higher level course in the calculus sequence may be substituted.

²  TCCN MATH 1314 will also satisfy this requirement.

 

III.     Natural Sciences (six hours, a minimum of two semesters of lecture and one semester of laboratory) The objective of the study of the natural sciences is to enable the student to understand, construct, and evaluate relationships in the natural sciences, and to enable the student to understand the bases for building and testing theories. The courses listed are for non-majors; the major courses in the discipline may be substituted for the non-major sequence.

Select one sequence from the following (only six hours apply toward the required 42):

1. ASTR 1307 Elementary Astronomy of the Solar System [PHYS 1311] and

ASTR 1308 Elementary Astronomy of Stars and Galaxies [PHYS 1312] and

a. ASTR 1107   Astronomy Laboratory I [PHYS 1111] or

b. ASTR 1108 Astronomy Laboratory II [PHYS 1112]

2. a. BIOL 1303 Introductory Biology [BIOL 1308] and

BIOL 1304 Human Biology and

(1) BIOL 1103 Introductory Biology Laboratory [BIOL 1108] or

(2) BIOL 1104 Human Biology Laboratory (nonmajor-track) or

b. BIOL 1305 General Biology [BIOL 1306] and

BIOL 1107 Topics in Study of life I [BIOL 1106] and

(1) BIOL 1306 Organismal Biology [BIOL 1307] and

BIOL 1108 Organismal Biology Laboratory [BIOL 1107] or

(2) BIOL 2311 Human Anatomy and Physiology I [BIOL 2301] and

BIOL 2111 Human Anatomy and Physiology Lab I [BIOL 2101] or

(3) BIOL 2313 Human Anatomy and Physiology II [BIOL 2302] and

BIOL 2113 Human Anatomy and Physiology Lab II [BIOL 2102]

3. a. CHEM 1407 Introductory Chemistry [CHEM 1406] and

CHEM 1408 Introductory Chemistry [CHEM 1408] (nonmajor-track) or

b. CHEM 1305 General Chemistry [CHEM 1311] and

CHEM 1105 Laboratory for CHEM 1305 [CHEM 1111] and

CHEM 1306 General Chemistry [CHEM 1312] and

CHEM 1106 Laboratory for CHEM 1306 [CHEM 1112]

4. ESCI 1301 Introduction to Environmental Science [ENVR 1301] and

ESCI 1101 Environmental Science Laboratory [ENVR 1101] and

a. BIOL 1306 Organismal Biology [BIOL 1307] and

BIOL 1108  Organismal Biology Laboratory [BIOL 1107] or

b. BIOL 1303 Introductory Biology [BIOL 1308] and

BIOL 1103 Introductory Biology Laboratory [BIOL 1108] (nonmajor-track) or

c.  GEOL 1313 Introduction to Physical Geology [GEOL 1303] and

GEOL 1103 Laboratory for GEOL 1313 [GEOL 1103] or

d. GEOL 1311 Principles of Earth Sciences [GEOL 1301] (nonmajor-track) or

e. GEOG 1306 Physical Geography [GEOG 1301] and

GEOG 1106 Laboratory for Geography 1306

5. a. GEOL 1311 Principles of Earth Sciences [GEOL 1301] and

GEOL 1312 Principles of Earth Sciences [GEOL 1302] or

b. GEOL 1311 Principles of Earth Sciences [GEOL 1301] and

GEOG 1306 Physical Geography [GEOG 1301] and

GEOG 1106 Laboratory for Geography 1306 or

c.  GEOL 1312 Principles of Earth Sciences [GEOL 1302] and

GEOG 1306 Physical Geography [GEOG 1301] and

GEOG 1106 Laboratory for Geography 1306 or

d. GEOL 1313 Introduction to Physical Geology [GEOL 1303] and

GEOL 1103 Laboratory for GEOL 1313 [GEOL 1103] and

GEOG 1306 Physical Geography [GEOG 1301] and

GEOG 1106 Laboratory for Geography 1306 or

e. GEOL 1313 Introduction to Physical Geology [GEOL 1303] and

GEOL 1103 Laboratory for GEOL 1313 [GEOL 1101] and

GEOL 1314 Introduction to Historical Geology [GEOL 1304} and

GEOL 1104 Laboratory for GEOL 1314 {GEOL 1104}

6. a. PHYS 1403 General Physics I [PHYS 1401] and

PHYS 1404   General Physics II [PHYS 1402] or

b. PHYS 2420 Introductory Mechanics [PHYS 2425] and

PHYS 2421 Fields and Waves [PHYS 2426]

 

IV.    Humanities (three hours) The objective of the humanities component is to expand students' knowledge of the human condition and human cultures, especially in relation to behaviors, ideas, and values expressed in works of human imagination and thought. Through study in disciplines such as literature and philosophy, students will engage in critical analysis and develop an appreciation of the humanities as fundamental to the health and survival of any society.

Select one course from the following:

1. ENGL 2311 English Literature [ENGL 2322]

2. ENGL 2312 English Literature [ENGL 2323]

3. ENGL 2313 Introduction to American Fiction [ENGL 2342]

4. ENGL 2314 Introduction to American Drama [ENGL 2343]

5. ENGL 2318 Introduction to American Poetry [TCCN applied for]

6. HIST 2301 World History to 1500 [HIST 2321]

7. HIST 2302 World History since 1500 [HIST 2322]

8. PHIL 1301 Introduction to Philosophy [PHIL 1301]

9. PHIL 2306 Ethics: Philosophical Perspective on Human Conduct and Values [PHIL 2306]

 

V.     Visual and Performing Arts (three hours) The objective of the visual and performing arts component is to expand students' knowledge of the human condition and human cultures, especially in relation to behaviors, ideas, and values expressed in works of human imagination. Through study in disciplines of the visual and performing arts, students will form aesthetic judgments and develop an appreciation of the arts as fundamental to the health and survival of any society.

Select one of the following:

1. ART 1300 Art Appreciation [ARTS 1301]

2. ARTH 1305 History of World Art I [ARTS 1303]

3. ARTH 1306 History of World Art II [ARTS 1304]

4. DANC 1304 Dance Appreciation [DANC 2303]

5. MUSL 1321 Introduction to Music History

6. MUSL 1324 Music in Western Societies [MUSI 1306]

7. MUSL 1327 Jazz to Rock [MUSI 1310]

8. THEA 1313 Introduction to Theatre [DRAM 1310]

9. FILM 1390 Introduction to the Art of the Motion Picture [DRAM 2366]

 

VI.    United States History (six hours) The objectives of the history component are to expand students’ knowledge of the origin and history of the U.S., their comprehension of the past and current role of the U.S. in the world, and their ability to critically evaluate and analyze historical evidence. U.S. history courses (three hours must be Texas history):

1. HIST 1301 History of the U.S. to 1865 [HIST 1301] and

2. HIST 1302 History of the U.S. since 1865 [HIST 1302]

 

VII.   Political Science (six hours) The objectives of the political science component are to expand students’ knowledge of the origin and evolution of the U.S. and Texas political systems, focusing on the growth of political institutions, and on the constitutions of Texas and the United States; and to enhance their understanding of federalism, states rights, and individual civil liberties, rights, and responsibilities.

1. POLS 2310 Introduction to Politics [GOVT 2305] and

2. POLS 2311 American Government and Politics [GOVT 2306]

 

VIII. Social and Behavioral Sciences (three hours) The objective of the social and behavioral science component is to increase students' knowledge of how social and behavioral scientists discover, describe, and explain the behaviors and interactions among individuals, groups, institutions, events, and ideas. Such knowledge will better equip students to understand themselves and the roles they play in addressing the issues facing humanity.

Select one course from the following:

1. ANTH 1301 Introduction to Physical Anthropology and Archeology

[ANTH 2301]

2. ANTH 1302 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology [ANTH 2351]

3. ECON 1301 Basic Issues in Economics [ECON 1301] or

ECON 2303 Principles of Economics [ECON 2301] or

ECON 2304 Principles of Economics [ECON 2302]

4. GEOG 1310 Cultural Geography [GEOG 1302]

5. LING/ANTH/ENGL 2320 Introduction to Linguistics [TCCN applied for]

6. PSYC 1301 Introduction to Psychology [PSYC 2301]

7. SOCI 1301 Introduction to Sociology [SOCI 1301]

 

IX.    Institutionally Designated Option (three hours) The objective of the institutionally designated option component is to develop the critical thinking skills and academic tools required to be an effective learner. Special emphasis is placed on the use of technology in problem solving, communications, and knowledge acquisition.

UNIV 1301 Seminar in Critical Inquiry [EDUC 1300] or

UNIV 2350 Interdisciplinary Technology and Society [TCCN applied for].

 

All courses used to satisfy the core curriculum must be completed with a grade of “C” or better. This also applies to courses transferred from another institution.

 

Students who transfer without completing the core curriculum at another Texas institution of higher education, but who have completed blocks within the core, shall receive credit in UTEP's core curriculum for each of the blocks successfully (“C” or better) completed in the core curriculum of the sending institution. If a student has successfully (“C” or better) completed the 42-hour core at another Texas institution of higher education, that core shall be substituted for The University of Texas at El Paso's core curriculum. Such a transfer student shall receive credit for each block within the core curriculum and shall not be required to take additional courses to satisfy UTEP’s core curriculum. However, courses listed in UTEP’s core curriculum may be required as a prerequisite to a course or as a degree requirement for the major.