Institutional Requirements for the Associate Degree

  1. Completion of a minimum of 60 semester hours of course credit, with a minimum GPA of 2.0. Academic Literacy courses (developmental or ESL, orientation, etc.) will not count toward this requirement. Some degree programs require more than 60 semester hours of credit.
  2. Completion of a minimum of 30 semester hours of course work at the University of the Incarnate Word.
  3. Completion of 24 of the last 30 semester hours for the degree at the University of the Incarnate Word.
  4. Completion of at least 18 hours of coursework selected from approved institutional Core Curriculum options, and specified in each degree plan, including:
    1. six credit hours of English Composition I and II (ENGL 1311 or ENGL 1311L and ENGL 1312),
    2. one three credit hour course in religious studies,
    3. one three credit hour course in humanities or fine arts,
    4. one three credit hour course in social or behavioral sciences, and
    5. one three credit hour mathematics course (from any approved Core mathematics course option, at the level of MATH 1304, College Algebra, or higher). 
  5. Some degree programs require a grade of C or higher for Core Curriculum courses that are required for those programs. A minimum grade of C is required in ENGL 1311, ENGL 1311L and ENGL 1312, regardless of the program.
  6. Completion of a major and any related requirements, as determined by the program. Specific requirements for each major will be found in the Undergraduate Program section of this Bulletin. A minimum grade of C is required in all courses needed to fulfill the major, concentration, specialization, minor, and support work, where required.
  7. Completion of sufficient elective courses to fulfill the total number of hours required for graduation (60).
  8. Completion of 22 clock hours (non-credit) of Community Service is required for the associate degree. Community Service hours must be completed and documented in the Registrar’s Office by first week of final semester.
  9. Payment of all outstanding bills and return of University equipment and library books.

Associate Degree Core Coursework

Rhetoric: 6 semester hours

ENGL 1311Composition I

3

or

ENGL 1311LComposition I

3

 

ENGL 1312Composition II

3

or

ENGL 1312HComposition II Honors

3

These courses must be completed with a minimum grade of C.

Religious Studies in the Core Curriculum: 3 semester hours

The required course must be chosen from among the following courses.

First course options:

RELS 1305Introduction to Theology and Ethics

3

RELS 1315Origins of Christianity

3

 

RELS 1325The Religious Quest

3

or

RELS 1335Spirituality and Prayer

3

Humanities or Fine Arts: 3 semester hours

Any three-hour Performance or History course in Visual Art, Dance, Music, or Theatre (Computer Graphic Arts courses will not satisfy this requirement).  Students may also complete ENGL 2375, Introduction to Creative Writing, ENGL 3375, Creative Writing, or ENGL 4375, Advanced Creative Writing, to satisfy the Fine Arts requirement.

Mathematics: 3 semester hours

Students may choose one of the following courses based on their degree requirements:

MATH 1304College Algebra

3

MATH 1306College Geometry

3

MATH 1308Foundations of Practical Mathematics

3

MATH 2303Introduction to Probability and Statistics

3

or

MATH
An appropriate higher level math course

Before a student can enroll in MATH 1304, MATH 1304L, MATH 1306, MATH 1308, or MATH 2303, any requirements for developmental courses in mathematics or for mathematics placement must be completed successfully with a grade of C or better. Students are encouraged to complete the mathematics requirement during the first year of study. Refer to your major program of study information, later in this catalog, for specific information related to the mathematics requirements for your major.

Natural Sciences: 4 semester hours

Students may choose one of the following:
BIOL 1401Diversity of Life and Laboratory

4

BIOL 1402General Biology I for Majors and Laboratory

4

BIOL 2321Anatomy and Physiology I

3

BIOL 2121Anatomy and Physiology I Lab

1

CHEM 1301Chemical Principles I

3

CHEM 1101Chemical Principles I Lab

1

CHEM 1308Science of Art

3

CHEM 1108Science of Art Laboratory

1

CHEM 1405Science in Everyday Life

4

ENSC 1410Introduction to Environmental Science

4

ENSC 3420HHuman Dominated Ecosystems

4

GEOL 1401Physical Geology

4

GEOL 1402Historical Geology

4

GEOL 1415Astronomy

4

GEOL 1420Oceanography

4

METR 1430Meteorology

4

NUTR 2400Environmental Nutrition

4

PHYS 1301General Physics I

3

PHYS 2305Physics I

3

PHYS 2105Physics I Lab

1

PHYS 2308Physical Science

3

PHYS 2108Physical Science Laboratory

1

ENSC 3420H: Honors Students only

Social Science: 3 semester hours

Students may choose one of the following:
ANTH 1311Cultural Anthropology

3

CLST 2315Introduction to Cultural Studies

3

CRIJ 1301Introduction to Criminal Justice

3

CRJU 1311Introduction to Criminal Justice

3

ECON 2301Principles of Macroeconomics

3

ECN 2301Macroeconomics

3

POLS 1315American Politics

3

POLS 1316State and Local Politics

3

GOVT 4310H/PHIL 4310H/SOCI 4310HSocial and Political Thought

3

PSYC 1301Introduction to Psychology

3

PSYC 1301HIntroduction to Psychology

3

SOCI 1311Introduction to Sociology

3

SOCI 4310H/GOVT 4310H/PHIL 4310HSocial and Political Thought

3

PSYC 1301H, SOCI 4310H, GOVT 4310H: Honors Students Only