Curriculum
Core Curriculum
The University of Texas at Dallas requires that all students complete a general education Core Curriculum of 42 semester credit hours that serves as a broad foundation for the undergraduate degree. Through the Texas Core Curriculum, students will gain a foundation of knowledge of human cultures and the physical and natural world, develop principles of personal and social responsibility for living in a diverse world, and advance intellectual and practical skills that are essential for all learning in accordance with Texas Administrative Code, chapter 4, Subchapter B, sections 4.28-4.31. These requirements must be met by every student pursuing a baccalaureate degree at The University of Texas at Dallas, regardless of their major. Specific approved courses must be used to satisfy each Core requirement listed in each category. In accordance with the Texas Education Code, Chapter 61, Subchapter S, a student who successfully completes the entirety of a Core Curriculum at another Texas public institution of higher education before matriculating at UT Dallas may transfer that block of courses to UT Dallas where it will be substituted for the UT Dallas Core Curriculum. If a student does not complete all of the Core Curriculum at another Texas public institution of higher education before matriculating at UT Dallas, the student will receive credit for the portion completed and then may be required to complete additional courses from the UT Dallas Core Curriculum.
010 Communication (6 semester credit hours)
Courses in this category focus on developing ideas and expressing them clearly, considering the effect of the message, fostering understanding, and building the skills needed to communicate persuasively. Courses involve the command of oral, aural, written, and visual literacy skills that enable people to exchange messages appropriate to the subject, occasion, and audience.
Critical Thinking (CT)-to include creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, and analysis, evaluation, and synthesis of information
Communication (COM)-to include effective development, interpretation, and expression of ideas through written, oral, and visual communication
Teamwork (TW)-to include the ability to consider different points of view and to work effectively with others to support a shared purpose or goal
Personal Responsibility (PR)-to include the ability to connect choices, actions, and consequences to ethical decision-making
Courses:
COMM 1311 Survey of Oral and Technology-based Communication*
RHET 1302 Rhetoric
ECS 3390 Professional and Technical Communication
020 Mathematics (3 semester credit hours)
Courses in this category focus on quantitative literacy in logic, patterns, and relationships. Courses involve the understanding of key mathematical concepts and the application of appropriate quantitative tools to everyday experience.
Critical Thinking (CT)-to include creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, and analysis, evaluation, and synthesis of information
Communication (COM)-to include effective development, interpretation, and expression of ideas through written, oral, and visual communication
Empirical and Quantitative Skills (EQS)-to include the manipulation and analysis of numerical data or observable facts resulting in informed conclusions
Courses:
MATH 1306 College Algebra for the Non-Scientist *
MATH 1325 Applied Calculus I *
MATH 2413 Differential Calculus *
MATH 2415 Calculus of Several Variables *
PSY 2317 Statistics for Psychology *
STAT 1342 Statistical Decision Making *
STAT 2332 Introductory Statistics for Life Sciences *
030 Life and Physical Sciences (6 semester credit hours)
Courses in this category focus on describing, explaining, and predicting natural phenomena using the scientific method. Courses involve the understanding of interactions among natural phenomena and the implications of scientific principles on the physical world and on human experiences.
Critical Thinking (CT)-to include creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, and analysis, evaluation, and synthesis of information
Communication (COM)-to include effective development, interpretation, and expression of ideas through written, oral, and visual communication
Empirical and Quantitative Skills (EQS)-to include the manipulation and analysis of numerical data or observable facts resulting in informed conclusions
Teamwork (TW)-to include the ability to consider different points of view and to work effectively with others to support a shared purpose or goal
Courses:
BIOL 1300 Body Systems with Lab *
BIOL 1318 Human Genetics *
BIOL 2311 Introduction to Modern Biology I *
BIOL 2312 Introduction to Modern Biology II *
BIOL 2350 Biological Basis of Health and Disease *
CHEM 1311 General Chemistry I *
CHEM 1312 General Chemistry II *
CHEM 1315 Honors Freshman Chemistry I *
CHEM 1316 Honors Freshman Chemistry II *
ENVR 2302 The Global Environment *
GEOG 2302 The Global Environment *
GEOS 1304 History of Earth and Life *
GEOS 2302 The Global Environment *
GEOS 2310 Environmental Geology *
GEOS 2321 Geology, Resources, and Environment of Latin America *
GEOS 2333 Introduction to Fossils *
GEOS 2409 Rocks and Minerals *
ISIS 2305 Humans: Our Place in Nature
ISIS 2308 Bones, Bodies, and Disease
ISNS 2359 Earthquakes and Volcanoes *
ISNS 2368 Weather and Climate *
NATS 1311 From the Cosmos to Earth *
NATS 2330 The Basis of Evolution *
NATS 2333 Energy, Water, and the Environment *
PHYS 1302 College Physics II *
PHYS 2125 Physics Laboratory I *
PHYS 2326 Electromagnetism and Waves *
PHYS 2421 Honors Physics I - Mechanics and Heat *
PHYS 2422 Honors Physics II - Electromagnetism and Waves *
PSY 2364 Animal Communication *
040 Language, Philosophy and Culture (3 semester credit hours)
Courses in this category focus on how ideas, values, beliefs, and other aspects of culture express and affect human experience. Courses involve the exploration of ideas that foster aesthetic and intellectual creation in order to understand the human condition across cultures.
Critical Thinking (CT)-to include creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, and analysis, evaluation, and synthesis of information
Communication (COM)-to include effective development, interpretation, and expression of ideas through written, oral, and visual communication
Social Responsibility (SR)-to include intercultural competence, knowledge of civic responsibility, and the ability to engage effectively in regional, national, and global communities
Personal Responsibility (PR)-to include the ability to connect choices, actions, and consequences to ethical decision-making
Courses:
AMS 2300 American Popular Culture
AMS 2341 American Studies for the Twenty-First Century
HUMA 1301 Exploration of the Humanities
LIT 2331 Masterpieces of World Literature
PHIL 1301 Introduction to Philosophy
PHIL 2316 History of Philosophy I
PHIL 2317 History of Philosophy II
050 Creative Arts (3 semester credit hours)
Courses in this category focus on the appreciation and analysis of creative artifacts and works of the human imagination. Courses involve the synthesis and interpretation of artistic expression and enable critical, creative, and innovative communication about works of art.
Critical Thinking (CT)-to include creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, and analysis, evaluation, and synthesis of information
Communication (COM)-to include effective development, interpretation, and expression of ideas through written, oral, and visual communication
Teamwork (TW)-to include the ability to consider different points of view and to work effectively with others to support a shared purpose or goal
Social Responsibility (SR)-to include intercultural competence, knowledge of civic responsibility, and the ability to engage effectively in regional, national, and global communities
Courses:
AHST 1303 Survey of Western Art History: Ancient to Medieval
AHST 1304 Survey of Western Art History: Renaissance to Modern
AHST 2331 Understanding Art
ARTS 1301 Exploration of the Arts
DANC 1310 Understanding Dance
DRAM 1310 Understanding Theater
FILM 2332 Understanding Film
MUSI 1306 Understanding Music
MUSI 2322 Music in Western Civilization
060 American History (6 semester credit hours)
Courses in this category focus on the consideration of past events and ideas relative to the United States, with the option of including Texas History for a portion of this component area. Courses involve 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.
Critical Thinking (CT)-to include creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, and analysis, evaluation, and synthesis of information
Communication (COM)-to include effective development, interpretation, and expression of ideas through written, oral, and visual communication
Social Responsibility (SR)-to include intercultural competence, knowledge of civic responsibility, and the ability to engage effectively in regional, national, and global communities
Personal Responsibility (PR)-to include the ability to connect choices, actions, and consequences to ethical decision-making will be able to interpret and evaluate the acceptability of historical evidence.
Courses:
HIST 1301 U.S. History Survey to Civil War
HIST 1302 U.S. History Survey from Civil War
HIST 2301 History of Texas
HIST 2330 Themes and Ideas in American History
HIST 2332 Civil War and Reconstruction
070 Government/Political Science (6 semester credit hours)
Courses in this category focus on consideration of the Constitution of the United States and the constitutions of the states, with special emphasis on that of Texas. Courses involve the analysis of governmental institutions, political behavior, civic engagement, and their political and philosophical foundations.
Critical Thinking (CT)-to include creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, and analysis, evaluation, and synthesis of information
Communication (COM)-to include effective development, interpretation, and expression of ideas through written, oral, and visual communication
Social Responsibility (SR)-to include intercultural competence, knowledge of civic responsibility, and the ability to engage effectively in regional, national, and global communities
Personal Responsibility (PR)-to include the ability to connect choices, actions, and consequences to ethical decision-making
Courses:
GOVT 2107 Federal and Texas Constitutions
GOVT 2305 American National Government
GOVT 2306 State and Local Government
080 Social and Behavioral Sciences (3 semester credit hours)
Courses in this category focus on the application of empirical and scientific methods that contribute to the understanding of what makes us human. Courses involve the exploration of behavior and interactions among individuals, groups, institutions, and events, examining their impact on the individual, society, and culture.
Critical Thinking (CT)-to include creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, and analysis, evaluation, and synthesis of information
Communication (COM)-to include effective development, interpretation, and expression of ideas through written, oral, and visual communication
Empirical and Quantitative Skills (EQS)-to include the manipulation and analysis of numerical data or observable facts resulting in informed conclusions
Social Responsibility (SR)-to include intercultural competence, knowledge of civic responsibility, and the ability to engage effectively in regional, national, and global communities
Courses:
CLDP 2314 Lifespan Development *
CRIM 1301 Introduction to Criminal Justice
CRIM 1307 Introduction to Crime and Criminology
ECON 2301 Principles of Macroeconomics *
ECON 2302 Principles of Microeconomics *
ECS 3361 Social Issues and Ethics in Computer Science and Engineering
GEOG 2303 People and Place: An Introduction to World Geographic Regions
GST 2300 Introduction to Gender Studies
PA 2325 Introduction to Public Service
PSY 2301 Introduction to Psychology *
PSY 2314 Lifespan Development *
SOC 1301 Introduction to Sociology
SOC 2300 Introduction to Gender Studies
SOC 2320 Contemporary Social Issues
090 Component Area Option (6 semester credit hours)
- A minimum of 3 semester credit hours must meet the definition and corresponding Core Objectives specified in one of the foundational component areas.
- As an option for up to 3 semester credit hours of the Component Area Option, an institution may select course(s) that:
- Meet(s) the definition specified for one or more of the foundation component areas; and
- Include(s) a minimum of three Core Objectives, including Critical Thinking Skills, Communication Skills, and one of the remaining Core Objectives.
- Critical Thinking (CT)-to include creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, and analysis, evaluation, and synthesis of information
- Communication (COM)-to include effective development, interpretation, and expression of ideas through written, oral, and visual communication
- Option of Empirical and Quantitative Skills, Teamwork, Social Responsibility, or Personal Responsibility
Courses:
ARHM 2340 Creativity
ARHM 2341 Global Media
ARHM 2342 Connections in the Arts and Humanities
ARHM 2343 Science and the Humanities
ARHM 2344 World Cultures
CHEM 1111 General Chemistry Laboratory I
EPPS 2301 Research Design in the Social and Policy Sciences
EPPS 2302 Methods of Quantitative Analysis in the Social and Policy Sciences
EPPS 2303 Descriptive and Inferential Statistics for the Social and Policy Sciences
MATH 1326 Applied Calculus II
MATH 2419 Calculus II
Additionally, courses marked with an asterisk in the various core categories listed above could be offered as Component Area Option courses.