AA, AS, AAT
The General Degree requirements for all transfer degrees at Del Mar College are prescribed by the core curriculum guidelines set forth by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Texas law requires that each public college and university identify and requires a core curriculum of 42 credits for its degrees designed to transfer. In addition, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has prescribed eight (8) Foundational Component Areas and a Component Area Option, with a specified number of credits for each.
A student who completes 42-hour core curriculum at Del Mar College may transfer the block of courses to any other Texas public college. That college must count it for their core curriculum. Students who do not complete the entire 42-hour core, but complete the requirements for one or more Foundational Component Areas, may transfer those courses and will receive credit for each of the courses transferred. Students should consult with their advisors to ensure that the core curriculum courses they take are correct for their degree plan and for the major at the college or university to which they intend to transfer.
The core curriculum supports the General Education Competencies of Del Mar College as it is structured to develop competencies in critical thinking, communication, empirical and quantitative skills, teamwork, personal responsibility and social responsibility. The core curriculum is further designed to give students breadth of knowledge in the Liberal Arts (Multidisciplinary Studies) and to promote critical thinking skills that are fundamental to higher education.
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.
NOTE: Core courses that have a four digit course number beginning with a number “2” are sophomore-level courses.
Core Curriculum Course Requirements (42 Credit Hours)
Communications Foundational Component Area (6 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.
Mathematics Foundational Component Area (3 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.
Life and Physical Sciences Foundational Component Area (6 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.
Language, Philosophy and Culture Foundational Component Area (3 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.
Creative Arts Foundational Component Area (3 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.
American History Foundational Component Area (6 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.
HIST 1301 | United States History I | 3 |
HIST 1302 | United States History II | 3 |
HIST 2301 | Texas History | 3 |
HIST 2327 | Mexican American History I (To the United States-Mexico War Era) | 3 |
HIST 2328 | Mexican American History II (from the United States-Mexico War Era) | 3 |
Government/Political Science Foundational Component Area (6 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.
GOVT 2305 | Federal Government: Federal Constitution and Topics | 3 |
GOVT 2306 | Texas Government: Texas Constitution and Topics | 3 |
Social and Behavioral Sciences Foundational Component Area (3 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.
Component Area Option (6 Credit Hours)
NOTE: At least 3 credits of Component Area Option must be chosen from the 8 Foundational Component Areas. Up to 3 credits may be chosen from Component Area Option list. Courses may count for Foundational Component Area hours or Component Area Option hours, but not both.
BIOL 1108 | Fundamentals of Cell Biology Laboratory I | 1 |
BIOL 1109 | Diversity and Environment Laboratory II | 1 |
CHEM 1105 | Introductory Chemistry I Laboratory | 1 |
CHEM 1107 | Introductory Chemistry II Laboratory | 1 |
KINE 1164 | Introduction to Physical Fitness and Wellness | 1 |
KINE 1238 | Introduction to Physical Fitness and Sport | 2 |
GEOL 1103 | Physical Geology Laboratory | 1 |
GEOL 1104 | Earth History Laboratory | 1 |
Core Objectives. Through the Texas Core Curriculum, students will prepare for contemporary challenges by developing and demonstrating the following core objectives:
Critical Thinking Skills: |
To include creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, and analysis, evaluation and synthesis of information |
Aspect 1: |
Creative Thinking - Be able to generate/demonstrate original ideas |
Aspect 2: |
Innovation - Be able to apply information in a novel way |
Aspect 3: |
Inquiry - Be able to ask relevant questions |
Aspect 4: |
Analysis - Be able to list/describe the components of information |
Aspect 5: |
Evaluation - Be able to judge the relevance of the components of information |
Aspect 6: |
Synthesis - Be able to integrate/organize information in its functional context |
|
Communication Skills: |
To include effective development, interpretation and expression of ideas through written, oral and visual communication |
Aspect 1: |
Written - Be able to develop, interpret and express ideas effectively through written communication |
Aspect 2: |
Oral - Be able to develop, interpret and express ideas effectively through oral communication |
Aspect 3: |
Visual - Be able to develop, interpret and express ideas effectively through visual communication |
|
Empirical and Quantitative Skills: |
To include the manipulation and analysis of numerical data or observable facts resulting in informed conclusions |
Aspect 1: |
Data Collection -Be able to collect data |
Aspect 2: |
Data Manipulation -Be able to manipulate data |
Aspect 3: |
Analysis -Be able to analyze data to draw informed conclusions |
|
Teamwork: |
To include the ability to consider different points of view and to work effectively with others to support a shared purpose or goal |
Aspect 1: |
Points of View - Be able to consider different points of view to support a shared purpose or goal |
Aspect 2: |
Work with others - Be able to work effectively with others to support a shared purpose or goal |
|
Personal Responsibility: |
To include the ability to connect choices, actions and consequences to ethical decision-making |
Aspect 1: |
Be able to connect choices, actions and consequences to ethical decision-making |
|
Social Responsibility: |
To include intercultural competence, knowledge of civic responsibility and the ability to engage effectively in regional, national and global communities |
Aspect 1: |
Intercultural Competence -Be able to demonstrate intercultural competence |
Aspect 2: |
Civic Responsibility -Be able to demonstrate knowledge of civic responsibility |
Aspect 3: |
Engagement - Be able to engage effectively in regional, national, and/or global communities |