Texas Southern University General Education Core Curriculum Mission, Goals, and Objectives

The Core Curriculum is central to the intellectual mission of Texas Southern University. It is designed to equip students in each major field or concentration with a broad knowledge base and a set of college-level competencies to support lifelong learning and the attainment of their academic and career goals. Texas Southern University’s undergraduate degree programs comply with the mandates of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, which requires all students to complete a General Education Core Curriculum. Texas Southern University requires students to complete 44 credit hours in communication, mathematics, natural sciences, humanities, visual and performing arts, social and behavioral sciences, and technology. The goals of the Core Curriculum at Texas Southern University are to prepare students to examine their values; to become aware of the values, perspectives, and contributions of other individuals, groups, and cultures; to integrate knowledge; and to understand the interrelations of the scholarly disciplines. Students will accomplish these goals through intensive reading, careful analysis, computational and laboratory experiences, active discussion, and frequent writing. The general education core curriculum at TSU has the following specific objectives:

1. To develop basic competencies in reading, writing, speaking, listening, and critical thinking
2. To develop knowledge of the principles and proficiency in the use of mathematics, logical reasoning, and problem solving
3. To develop an understanding of the scientific method and of the role of the natural sciences in the health and well being of the individual and of the natural world
4. To develop an appreciation for and an understanding of the significant ideas and creative achievements in literature, philosophy, art, music, media, and the performing arts
5. To develop an understanding of the diversity of the human experience through the study of social, cultural, historical, economic, and political systems
6. To develop an appreciation for and skill in the use of computer-based technology for communication, information retrieval, research, and problem solving.
   

ORGANIZATION FOR INSTRUCTION

The University is organized for academic instruction as ten colleges and schools. The names of these instructional units appear below:

The Jesse H. Jones School of Business
The College of Education
The Thurgood Marshall School of Law
The Tavis Smiley School of Communication
The College of Liberal Arts and Behavioral Sciences
The Barbara Jordan - Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs
The College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
The College of Science and Technology
The Graduate School
The College of Continuing Education

Supporting the Jesse H. Jones School of Business, the College of Education, the Tavis Smiley School of Communication, the College of Liberal Arts and Behavioral Sciences, the Barbara Jordan - Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs, the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, and the College of Science and Technology is the General University Academic Center (or GUAC). This center, along with its purpose and the services that it provides to undergraduate students entering Texas Southern University for the fi rst time, is described in detail below.

The Thurgood Marshall School of Law and the Graduate School offer professional level and graduate level degrees respectively. Further information about these units may be obtained by telephoning (713)-313-4455 and (713)-313-7233, respectively.

ACCREDITED PROGRAMS

The University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (1866 Southern Lane; Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097; telephone number: 404-679-4501) to award the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees. The College of Education is accredited by the Texas Education Agency, the Texas Workforce Commission, and the Texas Association of Colleges. It also holds membership in the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and is a member of the Association of Colleges for Teacher Education. The College of Education holds membership in the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. The Thurgood Marshall School of Law is approved by the State Board of Law Examiners, is accredited by the American Bar Association, and holds membership in the American Association of Law Libraries. The College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is accredited by the American Council of Pharmaceutical Education and is a member of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy.

In the College of Liberal Arts and Behavioral Sciences, the Social Work Program is accredited by the Council of Social Work Education and the Dietetics Program is accredited by the American Dietetic Association.

Four of the programs in the College of Science and Technology hold special certifi cation and/or accreditation: the chemistry program is certifi ed by the American Chemical Society, the electronics engineering technology program is accredited by the Technology Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (TAC of ABET), and the industrial technology and airway science programs are accredited by the National Association of Industrial Technology (NAIT).