University Studies, BA
Program Description
The University Studies degree at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (TAMU-CC) is a flexible undergraduate program which allows students to design a course of study that best fits their educational and career goals rather than follow a specific track of coursework prescribed by a major degree. The University Studies degree can be completed as a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or a Bachelor of Science (BS). With a University Studies degree, students will graduate with a breadth of knowledge in a range of academic disciplines, preparing them for the workforce, graduate school, or fulfilling their dreams of obtaining a degree.
In today’s marketplace, employers are looking for people who demonstrate leadership skills, who can plan and organize, set priorities and who are result oriented. The University Studies degree at TAMU-CC highlights these skills. Students work closely with an academic advisor to develop their educational path, based on their career goals, and select coursework that will best suit their individual needs.
Who should consider a University Studies degree?
- Current TAMU-CC students with over 60 hours and who are unsure about what major to pursue or whose career goals do not align with an established TAMU-CC major.
- Current TAMU-CC students with over 60 hours who need to accelerate their graduation date and are unable to do so in their stated major due to major specific requirements, course sequencing and/or gpa requirements.
- Former Islanders who would like to return to TAMU-CC to complete their degree.
Students must meet the minimum requirements to obtain a University Studies degree; they are as follows:
- Completion of the Texas core curriculum
- At least 24 hours in a primary concentration area; at least 18 of the hours must be upper division hours (3000 and 4000) and 6 may be lower division hours (1000 and 2000). Hours earned before changing majors can be used to satisfy degree requirements. Courses completed as part of the core curriculum may not be used to satisfy the concentration area requirements
- 21 hours in a secondary concentration area (or 21 additional hours in the primary concentration area); hours in the secondary concentration area may be lower or upper division hours. Hours earned before changing majors can be used to satisfy degree requirements. Courses completed as part of the core curriculum may not be used to satisfy the concentration area requirements.
- UNIV 4350 University Studies Capstone (3 sch) (Capstone)
- 45 total upper-division hours; 30 upper-division hours must be taken at TAMU-CC (Students who wish to graduate with honors must have completed at least 45 undergraduate semester hours at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.)
- 120 total hours.
- Electives – upper and lower division electives to ensure that the student completes 45 total upper division hours and 120 hours overall for the degree requirements.
- UNIV 1101 University Seminar I (1 sch) & UNIV 1102 University Seminar II (1 sch) (Students with more than 24 hours of transfer work are exempt from this requirement.)
- Foreign Language (either 2 years in high school or 2 semesters in college)
- Overall and TAMU-CC GPA of at least 2.0
You may choose your primary and/or secondary concentration areas from the following: Business, Education/Human Development, Liberal Arts, Nursing/Health Sciences, and Science/Engineering.
Please note that some departments have class, major or pre-requisite restrictions on some of the classes that may be taken. When choosing your concentration areas and coursework, it is important to keep this in mind.
All students must complete the UNIV 4350 University Studies Capstone (3 sch) course, which is the capstone course for the University Studies degree. In this course, students will demonstrate, via class projects and assignments, their ability to identify skills which can be used in community settings to assist in problem solving, customer service and the workforce.
Students will begin with an in-depth look at the five main components of solving a problem and practice the skills through a series of a structured exercises. During this process, students will discuss research, assessment of data, brainstorming and creative thinking, planning, time management, leadership and collaboration, effective communication, and evaluating results. Students will then apply the skills learned to their area of interest in a final project.
Residence Requirement
Students must take a minimum of 30 semester hours of upper-division course work from this university to complete a University Studies degree.
Advising and Degree Plans
As soon as students declare their intent to pursue a University Studies degree, they must meet with their academic advisor to discuss their concentration and possible career path.
General Requirements
| Requirements | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| Core Curriculum Program | 42 |
| First-Year Seminars (when applicable)1 | 0-2 |
| Student-Designed Concentration 1 | 24 |
| Student-Designed Concentration 2 | 21 |
| UNIV 4350 | 3 |
| Electives | 30 |
| Total Credit Hours | 120-122 |
Course Sequencing
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| UNIV 1101 | University Seminar I | 1 |
| ENGL 1301 | Writing and Rhetoric I | 3 |
| POLS 2306 | State and Local Government | 3 |
| Lower Divisional Elective | 3 | |
| Lower Divisional Elective | 3 | |
| Lower Divisional Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| UNIV 1102 | University Seminar II | 1 |
| ENGL 1302 or COMM 1311 | Writing and Rhetoric II or Foundation of Communication | 3 |
| POLS 2305 | U.S. Government and Politics | 3 |
| MATH 1332 or PHIL 2303 | Contemporary Mathematics or Introduction to Logic and Critical Thinking | 3 |
| Lower Divisional Elective | 3 | |
| Lower Divisional Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| Lower Divisional Elective | 3 | |
| Lower Divisional Elective | 3 | |
| HIST 1301 | U.S. History to 1865 | 3 |
| PSYC 2301 | General Psychology | 3 |
| Creative Arts Core Requirement | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Lower Divisional Elective | 3 | |
| Lower Divisional Elective | 3 | |
| HIST 1302 | U.S. History Since 1865 | 3 |
| Life & Physical Science Core Requirement | 3 | |
| Component Area Option Core Requirement | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| Lower Divisional Elective | 3 | |
| Lower Divisional Elective | 3 | |
| Lower Divisional Elective | 3 | |
| Language, Philosophy & Culture Core Requirement | 3 | |
| Life & Physical Science Core Requirement | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Upper Divisional Elective | 3 | |
| Upper Divisional Elective | 3 | |
| Upper Divisional Elective | 3 | |
| Upper Divisional Elective | 3 | |
| Component Area Option Core Requirement | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| Upper Divisional Elective | 3 | |
| Upper Divisional Elective | 3 | |
| Upper Divisional Elective | 3 | |
| Upper Divisional Elective | 3 | |
| Upper Divisional Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| UNIV 4350 | University Studies Capstone | 3 |
| Upper Divisional Elective | 3 | |
| Upper Divisional Elective | 3 | |
| Upper Divisional Elective | 3 | |
| Upper Divisional Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 122 | |
Courses
assists students in confirming career and educational choices based on strengths-based career assessments, research on career interests, and clarification of majors and degree options. Through in-class activities, discussions, and presentations, students will explore the variety of educational opportunities available to them at the university to support their career and academic interests. In addition, students will be introduced to decision-making and goal-setting strategies to identify and set achievable academic and career goals.
UNIV 1101 is designed to support students in their transition as new TAMU-CC Islanders. Students are encouraged to reflect on the value of a university education and challenged to adopt strategies for lifelong and integrative learning in an active learning environment with a contextualized curriculum. Required of full-time first-year students and should be taken within the first full year of enrollment at TAMU-CC.
UNIV 1102 continues to challenge students to adopt lifelong and integrative learning strategies in an active learning environment. Students are encouraged to reflect upon and refine personal and professional goals through the lens of their intended future. Required of full-time first-year students and should be taken within the first full year of enrollment at TAMU-CC.
Focused exploration of contemporary interdisciplinary issues for lower-division students. May be repeated when topics vary.
This course is an examination of the assumptions and questions underlying research methods across disciplines, with special emphasis on how methodologies from different fields (such as science and humanities) can complement each other. The course will involve experts from across the university who will address issues such as 1) the distinct qualities of quantitative and qualitative research, 2) current uses of surveys, interviews, and market research, 3) the construction of new knowledge in various disciplines, from problem to publication, 4) the critical use and evaluation of electronic and print resources, archival materials, government documents, and scholarly list serves.
A course that deals with significant contemporary issues that transcend disciplinary boundaries. May be repeated when topics vary.
This course emphasizes writing, research, professionalization, and workforce preparation. Students will be responsible for developing a reflective writing portfolio that showcases their academic specialization and preparation within the University Studies program. The course will also cover the practical skills of obtaining employment, including writing resumes, effectively interviewing, and effectively searching for available jobs.
Interdisciplinary study of specialized topics and themes transcending the boundaries of a single discipline. May be repeated when topics vary.