Undergraduate Programs

On This Page

This section focuses on the general requirements for the baccalaureate degree and on academic policies and regulations that apply specifically to undergraduate students. For information on core curriculum requirements, see “Core Curriculum Program” section in the catalog. For information on the Texas Success Initiative, see “Texas Success Initiative (TSI)” section in the catalog. For information on specific majors and on college/school baccalaureate requirements, please refer to the chapters on specific colleges/school.

Bachelor’s Degrees

The University offers the following undergraduate degrees: Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences, Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Business Administration, and Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

Degree Requirements

University Minimum Requirements

General University requirements for baccalaureate degrees are:

Total Hours

A minimum of 120 semester hours of credit must be completed successfully. Students must satisfactorily complete all degree requirements specified by the academic college/school in which the degree is offered. Some academic programs require more hours and a longer length of time for degree completion. Please see each academic college/school section for specific information on program hours and length.

Upper-division Hours

A minimum of 45 semester hours of upper-division credit (courses numbered in the 3000 and 4000 series) is required.

Grade Point Average

A minimum grade point average of 2.0 (C) on a 4 point scale in all work taken and a minimum grade point average of 2.0 in the major field of study at the University are required. Specific academic programs may require a higher grade point average in the major.

Residence Requirement

A minimum of 30 hours of upper-division course work required for graduation must be successfully completed in residence at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi to obtain a baccalaureate degree. A minimum of 12 hours of these 30 hours must be in the major. Hours earned through credit by examination may not be used to fulfill the residence requirement. Hours earned through credit by examination at another institution will likewise not affect the residence requirement calculation.

General Education Requirement

To fulfill the general education requirement, a student must successfully complete the University core curriculum (or the equivalent as described below) and meet the foreign language requirements. In addition, all students who enter the University as full-time, first-year students must complete the First-Year Seminar requirement.

Core Curriculum Program

The 42-hour Core Curriculum Program, described in the “Core Curriculum Program” section, includes courses that satisfy the state statutory requirements for core curricula and the state statutory requirements in history and in government or political science. (To receive a bachelor’s degree, a student must have successfully completed 6 semester hours in government or political science, including consideration of the U.S. Constitution and state constitutions, with special emphasis on that of Texas. Additionally, the student must have credit for 6 semester hours in American history, of which up to 3 hours may be in Texas history.)

Undergraduate transfer students have several means of fulfilling the core curriculum requirement.

  1. A student may satisfy specific core curriculum requirements by taking the approved core curriculum transfer courses that are listed in Appendix B. Courses equivalent to A&M-Corpus Christi’s Core Curriculum Program courses are identified by their common course numbers.
  2. If a student successfully completes a core curriculum of 42 or more semester credit hours at another regionally accredited public institution of higher education in Texas, and that core curriculum meets the specified “Foundational Component Area” requirements below, that block of courses may be transferred to the University and satisfy the core curriculum here. The student will not be required to take any additional core curriculum courses at this institution. The State of Texas has specified the following Foundational Component Area requirements:
    • 6 Credit Hours  Communication
    • 3 Credit Hours  Mathematics
    • 6 Credit Hours  Life and Physical Sciences
    • 3 Credit Hours  Language, Philosophy, and Culture
    • 3 Credit Hours  Creative Arts
    • 6 Credit Hours  American History
    • 6 Credit Hours  Political Science
    • 3 Credit Hours  Social and Behavioral Science
    • 6 Credit Hours  Component Area Option
  3. If a student transfers from another regionally accredited public institution in Texas without having completed a 42 or more semester credit hour core curriculum, A&M-Corpus Christi will accept approved core curriculum courses from the transferring schools’ core curricula as fulfillment of the equivalent requirement here.
  4. A student who transfers from a regionally accredited private or out-of-state institution will receive academic credit for each of the acceptable courses that the student has successfully completed in the core curriculum of the sending institution as long as these courses meet the state of Texas criteria for core curricula. Following receipt of credit for these courses, the Office of Admissions will determine the equivalency of those courses to the courses in A&M-Corpus Christi’s core curriculum. Core curricula completed at regionally accredited private or out-of-state institutions will be evaluated on a case by case basis.

For further clarification see “Transfer Credit Policies” in the “General Academic Policies and Regulations” section of the catalog.

First-Year Seminar Requirement

All students who enter the University as full-time first-year students are required to register for First-Year Seminar, UNIV 1101 University Seminar I (1 sch) and UNIV 1102 University Seminar II (1 sch), as part of a learning community during their first two semesters. (See the “First-Year Learning Communities Program” section of the catalog.) Those who fail to complete this requirement during the first year will be required to fulfill the requirement prior to graduation.

Foreign Language Requirement

At least two high school credits in one foreign language or American Sign Language OR two semesters of study with passing grades in a single foreign language or American Sign Language at the college level are required for graduation from TAMU-CC. This requirement may be met by earning a CLEP, AP, or ACTFL score equivalent to one year of college-level foreign language study. If students decide to meet this requirement by taking two semesters at the University, an assessment test must be taken prior to registering in order to be placed in the appropriate language course. Information regarding the assessment tests and the foreign language courses that satisfy the university Foreign Language Requirement can be obtained from the College of Liberal Arts “Baccalaureate Degree Requirements” section of the university undergraduate catalog.

Spanish Placement Test

If students decide to meet this requirement by taking two semesters in Spanish at this university, they must take the Spanish Placement test prior to registering in order to enroll in the appropriate language course. The test will be used to determine whether the student should register for Spanish 1311, 1312, 2311, 2313 or any upper Spanish division classes. This test does not give you university credits, nor does it provide a waiver for the requirement. The test is free of charge to registered TAMU-CC students and can be taken from any computer with network access to Canvas. After taking the test, students will be contacted--via Canvas, My Grades. Soon after taking and submitting the test, students will be contacted with information about the most appropriate class for them based on their test results.

Students who score 1-40 will be automatically placed in SPAN 1311. Those who score 41-60 will be automatically placed in SPAN 1312. Finally, students with scores 61 and above will be evaluated by Spanish faculty, who will contact students with further information about appropriate course placement and registration.

Further information about the Spanish Placement Test can be obtained from the Spanish Program in the College of Liberal Arts or by visiting its web site under Spanish Placement Test.

International students may also complete the Foreign Language requirement the following ways:

  • International students who have successfully passed the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a score of 550 or higher, scored a 6.5 or higher on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or have successfully completed the English as a Second Language International (ESLI) course of study may elect to choose English as their second language to meet the above requirement.
  • International and naturalized students who have provided proof of completion of high school in a foreign language (their native language) and who have successfully completed the Communication core component requirements of the University Core Curriculum Program may choose English as their second language. English is considered to be the first language for all other students.
  • International and naturalized students who have provided proof of completion of the International Pathway Program and who have successfully completed the Communication core component requirements of the University Core Curriculum Program may choose English as their second language. English is considered to be the first language for all other students.

I-Know Program

The goal of the I-Know digital information literacy program is to prepare students to find, evaluate, create, and communicate knowledge using digital technologies so that they can successfully and responsibly navigate the increasingly complex modern information landscape as global citizens. The I-Know program is designed to scaffold digital information literacy concepts and values throughout the academic careers of every undergraduate students at TAMU-CC. The program is implemented within existing courses, starting with the First-Year Seminar course, progressing to a designated pre-requisite course within each major, and culminating in a designated capstone or research course within each major. Each step of the program will build upon itself working through three levels of learning objectives:

  1. Identify and pursue effective digital approaches for accessing information (such as keyword searching and citation following) as well as assess the quantity, quality, and relevance of search results. (First-Year Seminar)
  2. Evaluate a source’s credibility and suitability in the context of their information needs. (designated pre-requisite courses)
  3. Create effective research questions based on curiosity and gaps in the information or data available. (designated capstone/research courses)
  4. Use appropriate technology (such as shared documents and digital presentation software) for creating knowledge, collaborating with peers, and contributing to scholarly conversations. (designated capstone/research courses)

College/School Degree Requirements

In addition to the University requirements, a student must meet the specific requirements as determined by the college/school in which the degree will be awarded. Such requirements are outlined in the college/school sections of the catalog.

Second Bachelor’s Degree

Students wishing to earn a second bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi must complete a minimum of 144 semester hours of credit, or 24 hours more than those counted toward the bachelor’s degree that requires the higher number of credit hours. All university, college/school, and major requirements must be met for each degree (see the information on degree requirements in this chapter and in the sections for the relevant college/school and major). Students must complete all degree requirements under a particular catalog (see “Graduation Under a Particular Catalog” in the “Academic Policies” section of the catalog).

As for any student intending to have a degree conferred, students seeking multiple degrees who plan to participate in a graduation exercise and/or receive a diploma must notify the Office of the University Registrar by the deadline date indicated in the Class Schedule for the semester in which they plan to have the degree or degrees awarded.

For students who have already completed a first bachelor’s degree at an accredited college or university, with the approval of the Provost’s Office, the core curriculum requirements for that degree may be accepted in lieu of the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi core curriculum. However, requirements associated with particular degrees, e.g., completion of the modern language requirement for a Bachelor of Arts degree, or Legislative requirements, e.g., history and government course requirements, must be included in an approved program for a second bachelor’s degree.

A student receiving a subsequent bachelor’s (post baccalaureate) degree must complete 30 hours in residence above and beyond the minimum number of hours required to receive the first bachelor’s degree.

Academic Major

A minimum of 24 semester hours in a defined course of study must be completed for a major. Specific majors may require completion of additional hours. See the college/school sections of the catalog for the specific requirements of particular majors.

Double Major

Colleges may provide the opportunity for a student to earn a double major while working toward his or her first undergraduate degree. Both majors must lead to the same baccalaureate degree (e.g., BA, BS, or BBA). A student who completes the requirements for a degree with a double major will be awarded ONE degree (with both majors indicated) and will receive ONE diploma. Because only one degree is granted for the double major, students must have completed the requirements for both majors before the degree can be awarded. Students wishing to pursue a double major must satisfy the following conditions:

  • Meet all university and college/school requirements for each major,

  • Successfully complete departmental requirements in each major (if the majors are in the same college/school) or successfully meet the major field of study requirements for each program as determined by each college/school (if the majors are in different colleges/school).

Academic Minor

To earn an academic minor, a student must meet the requirements mandated by the college/school offering the minor. At least 18 semester hours will be required in the area of the minor (excluding prerequisites); the maximum number of hours will be limited to 23. At least 6 hours of upper-level courses will be included. At least 9 semester credit hours in the area of the minor must be completed in residence at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. The student must complete all prerequisites for required courses and must maintain a grade point average of at least 2.00 on a 4-point scale. Colleges may set higher GPA requirements.

The following rules apply regarding graduation with a minor:

  1. A student may count the same course for both major and minor requirements.

  2. After applying for graduation, if a student fails to complete the requirements for the minor but meets the requirements for graduation, the student will be graduated without the minor.

  3. A student may graduate with more than one minor if the student meets all the requirements.

A student who holds a bachelor’s degree from the University and who wishes to complete requirements for a minor may do so by completing all course work in the minor and by fulfilling any other requirements mandated by the college/school offering the minor within five years of graduation. A notation indicating that all requirements for each minor have been completed will be added to the Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi transcript; the transcript will not state that a minor has been awarded. If the requirements for a minor are satisfied following degree conferral, credits earned during the satisfaction of the minor have no effect on the GPA of the previously awarded degree.

Addition of a Major

A student who holds a bachelor’s degree from the University and who wishes to complete requirements for an additional major within the same degree may do so by completing all course work in the major field with a minimum GPA of 2.00 on a 4-point scale, and by fulfilling any other requirements mandated by the college/school offering the major.

A notation indicating that all requirements for each major have been completed will be added to the student’s transcript. The transcript will not state that a major has been awarded.

Academic Policies and Regulations

Recency of Credit

No restriction on recency of credit is made for undergraduate work. Lower-division and transfer hours applied toward the baccalaureate degree should provide those competencies necessary for entry into the upper-division level.

Correspondence and Extension Credit

No more than 15 semester hours of extension-center and correspondence study credit may be applied toward a bachelor’s degree. Not more than 6 semester hours of this 15 may be in correspondence study. No more than 6 semester hours of upper-division extension and correspondence credit may be applied toward a degree. All work transferred is subject to approval, as suitable for the student’s degree plan, by the student’s college dean/school director or designee.

Placement Process

New undergraduates and transfer students are placed into mathematics classes on the basis of their scores on standardized tests (SAT, ACT, STAAR, etc), their high school record, or their previous college level mathematics credits. Consult the placement link on http://math.tamucc.edu for details. Students not designated as College Ready in mathematics, must take the TSI Assessment. Students who are College Ready in mathematics, but don’t have test scores or math grades in their records, or those hoping for a higher mathematics placement may take a challenge exam offered regularly by the Department of Mathematics and Statistics. Call 361-825-3754 for details and to schedule taking the exam.

For brief information on the foreign language placement test, see “Foreign Language Requirement” earlier in this chapter.

Maximum Course Load

An undergraduate student may not register for more than 18 hours of course work in a regular semester, or more than 6 hours of course work in a single session of summer school, without the approval of the appropriate administrator:

  1. For a student with 30 or more semester credit hours and a declared major, the request must be approved by the dean/director of the college/school in which the student is majoring.
  2. For a student with fewer than 30 semester credit hours, or for a student with 30-59 semester hours but without a declared major, the request must be approved by the college/school which the student is undeclared . Also, a student who is required to pass the THEA or approved alternative examination, and who has not yet done so, must have the approval of the college/school to register for more than the maximum course load.

Repetition of a Course

Undergraduate students may repeat courses at the University under the following circumstances:

  1. Courses specifically designated as repeatable for credit in the Undergraduate Catalog (such as variable topic courses) are calculated in the grade point average in the same manner as separate courses.
  2. Undergraduate students may also repeat any undergraduate course at the University in order to replace a grade. Only the highest grade will count to calculate the Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi grade point average. This procedure will be used in the calculation of GPA from this point forward for all students. A notation will be placed on the transcript after the course to indicate that it has been repeated. In the case of repeats, grades are included in computing the A&M-Corpus Christi hours attempted and all attempts and grades will appear on the official transcript. Repeated course grades are not removed from the transcript. The repeated grade and grade points will be excluded from the cumulative grade point average only. Except as noted above in #1, a student may not receive credit for any given course more than once. The Office of the University Registrar conducts audits of student records as needed and prior to graduation. When repeating a course more than once, the student should seek advice from his or her faculty mentor, or academic advisor, as appropriate, prior to registering for the course. Students may be charged an additional fee for each course taken for the third or more times. (See “Tuition and Fees” for details.)
  3. Once a student has been awarded a degree at the University, the student may not repeat a course for the purpose of changing the grade on the official transcript of any course taken as part of that degree.

A course taken at another institution will not replace a grade received at TAMUCC, this includes the grade of “F”. The transferred work will not affect the grade point average (GPA) on the student’s transcript.

Scholastic Probation, Suspension, Dismissal

For undergraduate students, a minimum GPA of 2.0 (C) on a 4.0 scale in all work taken and a minimum grade point average of 2.0 in your major field of study are required. Specific academic programs may require a higher grade point average in the major. 

Scholastic Probation 1 and Removal from Probation 

Undergraduate students whose cumulative Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (TAMU-CC) grade point average (GPA) falls below 2.0 after being in good standing are placed on Scholastic Probation 1. A student on Scholastic Probation 1 may enroll in no more than 16 semester hours of coursework in a long semester and must participate in the Academic Collegiate Excellence Program through the Center for Academic Student Achievement.

Students are removed from Scholastic Probation 1 after completing a semester at TAMU-CC during which a TAMU-CC cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or greater is achieved. Students whose TAMU-CC cumulative GPA is below 2.0 at the end of their semester on Scholastic Probation 1 will be placed on Scholastic Probation 2 as continued probation.

Scholastic Probation 2 and Removal from Probation 2 for Undergraduates 

Undergraduate students whose semester GPA and/or TAMU-CC cumulative GPA is below a 2.0 while on Scholastic Probation 1 is placed on Scholastic Probation 2. Students are removed from Scholastic Probation 2 after completing a semester at TAMU-CC during which a TAMU-CC cumulative GPA of 2.0 or greater is achieved. 

Students who earn a 2.0 semester GPA, but whose TAMU-CC cumulative GPA is not above a 2.0, will be allowed to continue Scholastic Probation 2 in the subsequent semester. Students on Scholastic Probation 2 may enroll in no more than 16 semester hours of coursework in a long semester and must participate in the Academic Collegiate Excellence Program through the Center for Academic Student Achievement. 

Academic Suspension 1 and 2

Undergraduate students on Scholastic Probation 2 who earn less than a 2.0 semester GPA and TAMU-CC cumulative GPA will be placed on Academic Suspension 1 and suspended for one long semester. Students on Academic Suspension 1 who do not attain a 2.0 TAMU-CC semester and TAMU-CC cumulative GPA are placed on Academic Suspension 2. Students suspended for the second time will be placed on Academic Suspension 2 and suspended for two long semesters and any intervening summer semesters. Students who experience extenuating circumstances may appeal using the academic reinstatement appeal procedures and can be reinstated by the Scholastic Standing Appeals and Reinstatement Committee. If no appeal is granted, enrollment for the subsequent semester will be administratively dropped. For questions regarding the appeals and reinstatement process and procedures, please visit: http://casa.tamucc.edu/appeal.html.  

After a first or second suspension, students who re-enroll will be placed on Scholastic Probation 2 after sitting out the appropriate length of time, as denoted by the suspension status. Students must achieve a minimum semester GPA of 2.0 for that and all subsequent semesters until a minimum TAMU-CC cumulative GPA of 2.0 is attained. Students will remain on Scholastic Probation 2 until a cumulative TAMU-CC 2.0 GPA is attained.

Academic Dismissal

A third suspension results in dismissal from the University. In most cases, a student who is dismissed is not re-admitted to TAMU-CC. Students may petition for a review of their dismissal case after a period of four long semesters and intervening summer semesters. Re-admission is permitted only in exceptional circumstances. Students may appeal using the academic reinstatement appeal procedures and must be authorized by the dean/director of the college/school to which admission is sought. If students do not attain the required GPA (as described above) after such re-admittance, the student is dismissed and may not petition for re-admission for a period of a minimum of five calendar years. 

Note: Any student who has not been enrolled at TAMU-CC for one academic year, must re-apply for re-admission to the university. Please visit the Office of Admission for more information (http://admissions.tamucc.edu/former/index.html).

Academic Progress of Students on “Probationary Admission” Status

If a first-time, first-year student is admitted on “Probationary Admission” status, certain conditions will apply. While on probationary admission status, the student must remain a part-time student, taking no more than 2 courses each semester. The student’s progress will be monitored at the end of each term, with a GPA of 2.0 or better required for continued enrollment each semester while on probationary status. In addition, the student may not earn a grade of D or F in any remedial course attempted while on probationary status.

The courses the student will attempt while on probationary status will be determined by A&M-Corpus Christi placement results, THEA scores (or scores on an accepted alternative examination), and the recommendation of the assigned academic advisor. All course work while a student is on probationary status will be chosen from remedial offerings and the core curriculum. After completing 12 semester credit hours of non-remedial coursework with a GPA of 2.0 or better, and having earned no grade of D or F in any remedial course attempted, the student will become a regularly admitted student, with all the rights and responsibilities of that status.

Graduation with Honors

To be eligible to graduate with honors, a student must have completed at least 45 undergraduate semester hours at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. If students have not yet completed 45 undergraduate semester hours at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi they must be enrolled in enough hours to fulfill the 45-hour requirement by the end of the term. The cumulative A&M-Corpus Christi grade point average is used to determine honors status. The cumulative grade point average is calculated on all courses taken at A&M-Corpus Christi, excluding courses taken pass/no pass or credit/no credit. A student may graduate summa cum laude with a grade point average of 3.9 or above. A student may graduate magna cum laude with a grade point average of 3.70 through 3.899. A student may graduate cum laude with a grade point average of 3.5 through 3.699. To be recognized at one of these levels at the Commencement Ceremony, students must have earned the appropriate grade point average and completed 45 undergraduate semester hours at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi by the end of the semester immediately preceding the one in which they will graduate. This honor designation will be used in the commencement ceremony and will be recalculated once all grades are received and processed.

The Islander Impact Initiative

The Islander Impact Initiative is an effort by the University to expose students to a minimum number of high impact practices (two for transfer students and four for first-time-in-college students) during their career at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.  The American Association of Colleges & Universities (AAC&U) has identified a set of “effective educational practices” that research has found have a positive effect on students. These practices have been termed “high impact practices” and include: first-year seminars and experiences, common intellectual experiences, learning communities, writing-intensive courses, undergraduate research, collaborative assignments and projects, and global learning, service learning and community-based learning, internships, and capstone courses and projects (AAC&U, 2008). The initiative will ensure that students are provided with a challenging, learning-centered environment that promotes innovation, creativity, and discovery.

Dean’s/Director's List

All undergraduate degree-seeking students registered for a minimum of 12 semester hours at the University (excluding hours where standard letter grades are not used) who complete all work registered for and who have a 3.65 grade point average or above for a regular semester will be placed on the Dean’s/Director's List.

Graduate Study by Undergraduates

  1. Reservation of Work for Graduate Credit
    A senior student in the last term of undergraduate work may enroll in graduate work and reserve the course work for graduate credit provided that
    1. the student has a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better,
    2. the dean/director of the college/school in which the work is offered has granted written approval, and
    3. the graduate work is not used to fulfill undergraduate degree requirements, unless enrolled in a 3+2 program.
  2. Graduate Work for Undergraduate Credit
    A senior student in the last semester or summer session of undergraduate work may enroll in graduate work to be applied toward the baccalaureate degree provided that
    1. the student has a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better,
    2. the dean/director of the college/school in which the work is offered has granted written approval,
    3. the chair of the student’s major department and the dean/director of the student’s undergraduate college/school have granted written approval, and
    4. the student has not reserved the course work for graduate credit, unless enrolled in a 3+2 program.

Graduate credit hours used to meet the requirements of a baccalaureate degree may not be used to meet the requirements for a graduate degree.

Any exceptions to the above must be approved by the Office of the University Registrar and the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Catalog Subject to Change

The catalog was prepared well in advance of its effective date. While every effort has been made to provide complete and accurate information regarding undergraduate programs, changes may occur at any time, without notice, in academic requirements or policies.