All undergraduates at The University of Texas at El Paso are required to complete a 42-semester credit hour core curriculum before receiving a baccalaureate degree. For degree plans that terminate with a post-baccalaureate degree, without completing the baccalaureate degree, undergraduates are required to complete the core curriculum before enrolling in graduate-level courses.

C Rule

All courses used to satisfy the core curriculum must be completed with a grade of “C” or better. This also applies to courses transferred from another institution.

Transfer Students

Students who transfer without completing the core curriculum at another Texas institution of higher education, but who have completed blocks within the core, shall receive credit in UTEP's core curriculum for each of the blocks successfully (C or better) completed in the core curriculum of the sending institution. If a student has successfully (C or better) completed the 42-hour core at another Texas institution of higher education, that core shall be substituted for The University of Texas at El Paso's core curriculum. Such a transfer student shall receive credit for each block within the core curriculum and shall not be required to take additional courses to satisfy UTEP’s core curriculum. However, courses listed in UTEP’s core curriculum can be required as a prerequisite to a course or as a degree requirement for the major.

Core Blocks and Courses

The core curriculum consists of nine components, or blocks. Each block has a required minimum number of semester credit hours. The minimum number is also the maximum number of hours that can be applied toward the core requirement. Any additional hours may apply toward degree requirements. The courses that can be used to satisfy the block requirements are listed with their Texas Common Course Number (TCCN) in brackets [ ]. The core curriculum requirement does not preclude the counting of core courses toward other degree requirements. Students are advised to consult particular degree requirements for their major before selecting courses to meet core curriculum requirements.

University Core Curriculum (A program may recommend specific courses. All courses require a C or better.)

I. Communication (six hours)

Course List

Code	Title	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. Course objectives for this component are: Critical Thinking Skills, Communication Skills, Teamwork, and Personal Responsibility.
Select six hours of the following:		6
For students whose secondary education was in English:
COMM 1611	Written and Oral Communication
ENGL 1313	Writing About Literature
RWS 1301	Rhetoric & Composition I
RWS 1302	Rhetoric & Composition 2
RWS 1601	Rhetoric, Composition & Comm
For students whose secondary education was not in English:
ESOL 1311	Expos Engl Compos-Spkr Esl
ESOL 1312	Res & Crit Writng Spkr Esl
TOTAL HOURS		6

II. American History (six hours)

Course List

Code	Title	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. Course objectives for this component are: Critical Thinking Skills, Communication Skills, Social Responsibility, and Personal Responsibility.
HIST 1301	History of U.S. to 1865	3
HIST 1302	History of U.S. Since 1865	3
TOTAL HOURS		6

III. Language, Philosophy & Culture (three hours)

Course List

Code	Title	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. Course objectives for this component are: Critical Thinking Skills, Communication Skills, Social Responsibility, and Personal Responsibility.
Select one of the following:		3
AFST 2300	Intro-African Amer Studies
CHIC 2302	Latina/o Presence in the U.S.
ENGL 2311	English Literature
ENGL 2312	English Literature
ENGL 2313	Intro to American Fiction
ENGL 2314	Intro to American Drama
ENGL 2318	Intro to American Poetry
FREN 2322	Making of the "Other" Americas
HIST 2301	World History to 1500
HIST 2302	World History Since 1500
PHIL 1301	Introduction to Philosophy
PHIL 2306	Ethics
RS 1301	Introduct to Religious Studies
SPAN 2340	Seeing & Naming: Conversations
WS 2300	Introduction to Womens Studies
WS 2350	Global Feminisms
TOTAL HOURS		3

IV. Mathematics (three hours)

Course List

Code	Title	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. Course objectives for this component are: Critical Thinking Skills, Communication Skills, and Empirical & Quantitative Skills.
Select one of the following:		3
MATH 1309	College Algebra
MATH 1310	Trigonometry and Conics
MATH 1319	Math in the Modern World
MATH 1320	Math for Social Sciences I
MATH 1411	Calculus I
MATH 1508	Precalculus
MATH 2301	Math for Social Sciences II
STAT 1380	Statistical Literacy
STAT 2480	Elementary Statistical Methods
TOTAL HOURS		3

V. Life & Physical Sciences (six hours)

Course List

Code	Title	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 experiences. Course objectives for this component are: Critical Thinking Skills, Communication Skills, Empirical & Quantitative Skills, and Teamwork.
Select one of the following:
ASTR 1107	Astronomy Lab I
ASTR 1307	Elem Astronomy-Solar System
ASTR 1308	Elem Astr Stars & Galaxies
BIOL 1103	Introductory Biology Lab
BIOL 1104	Human Biology Laboratory
BIOL 1107	Topics in Study of Life I
BIOL 1108	Organismal Biology Laboratory
BIOL 1203	Introductory Biology
BIOL 1304	Human Biology
BIOL 1305	General Biology
BIOL 1306	Organismal Biology
BIOL 2111	Human Anat/Physio Lab I
BIOL 2113	Human Anat/Physio Lab II
BIOL 2311	Human Anat/Physiology I
BIOL 2313	Human Anat/Physiology II
CHEM 1105	Laboratory for CHEM 1305
CHEM 1106	Laboratory for CHEM 1306
CHEM 1107	Intro General Chemistry Lab
CHEM 1108	Intro Organic & Biochem Lab
CHEM 1305	General Chemistry
CHEM 1306	General Chemistry
CHEM 1307	Intro to General Chemistry
CHEM 1308	Intro Organic & Biochemistry
ESCI 1101	Environmental Sci. Lab
ESCI 1102	Non-major Lab for ESCI 1301
ESCI 1301	Intro to Environmental Sci
GEOG 1106	Laboratory for GEOG 1306
GEOG 1306	Physical Geography
GEOL 1103	Lab for GEOL 1313
GEOL 1104	Lab for GEOL 1314
GEOL 1111	Principles of Earth Sci - Lab
GEOL 1112	Laboratory for Geology 1212
GEOL 1211	Principles of Earth Sciences
GEOL 1212	Principles of Earth Science
GEOL 1230	The Blue Planet
GEOL 1231	Natural Hazards
GEOL 1313	Intro to Physical Geology
GEOL 1314	Intro to Historical Geol
HSCI 2302	Fundamentals of Nutrition
HSCI 2303	Wellness Dynamics
MICR 2330	Microorganisms and Disease
PHYS 1403	General Physics I
PHYS 1404	General Physics II
PHYS 2120	Laboratory for PHYS 2320
PHYS 2121	Laboratory for PHYS 2321
PHYS 2320	Introductory Mechanics
PHYS 2321	Introductory Electromagnetism
TOTAL HOURS		6

VI. Political Science (six hours)

Course List

Code	Title	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. Course objectives for this component are: Critical Thinking Skills, Communication Skills, Social Responsibility and Personal Responsibility.
Required Courses:
POLS 2310	Introduction to Politics	3
POLS 2311	American Gover & Politics	3
TOTAL HOURS		6

VII. Social & Behavioral Sciences (three hours)

Course List

Code	Title	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. Course objectives for this component are: Critical Thinking Skills, Communication Skills, Empirical & Quantitative Skills, and Social Responsibility.
Select one of the following:		3
ANTH 1301	Intro-Phys Anth/Archeolog
ANTH 1302	Intro-Cultural Anthropology
ANTH 1310	Cultural Geography
ANTH 2320	Intro to Linguistics
ASIA 2300	Asian American Studies
CE 2326	Econ for Engrs & Scientists
CHIC 2311	Intro to Chicano Studies
COMM 2350	Interpersonal Communication
COMM 2372	Mass Media and Society
ECON 2303	Principles of Macroeconomics
ECON 2304	Principles of Microeconomics
EDPC 1301	Introduction to Ed Psychology
EDU 1342	Action Research in Classrooms
ENGL 2320	Introduction to Linguistics
GEOG 1310	Cultural Geography
LEAD 2300	Leadership in Action
LING 2320	Introduction to Linguistics
LING 2340	Lang. Inside & Out: Sel Topics
PSYC 1301	Introduction to Psychology
SOCI 1301	Introduction to Sociology
SOCI 1310	Cultural Geography
TOTAL HOURS		3

VIII. Creative Arts

Course List

Code	Title	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. Course objectives for this component are: Critical Thinking Skills, Communication Skills, Teamwork, and Social Responsibility.
Select one of the following:		3
ART 1300	Art Appreciation
ARTH 1305	History of Art I
ARTH 1306	History of Art II
CHIC 1311	Chicana/o Fine Arts Appreciat
DANC 1304	Introduction to Dance
FILM 1390	Intro-Art of Motion Pict.
MUSL 1324	Music Appreciation
MUSL 1327	Jazz to Rock
MUSL 2321	Music, Culture, and Society
THEA 1313	Introduction to Theatre
TOTAL HOURS		3

IX. Component Area Option (six hours)

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
a. A minimum of 3 SCH must meet the definition and corresponding Core Objectives specified in one of the foundational component areas. b. As an option for up to 3 semester credit hours of the Component Area Option, an institution may select course(s) that: (i) Meet(s) the definition specified for one or more of the foundational component areas; and (ii) Include(s) a minimum of three Core Objectives, including Critical Thinking Skills, Communication Skills, and one of the remaining Core Objectives of the institution's choice.
BUSN 1301	Intro to Global Business
COMM 1301	Public Speaking	3
COMM 1302	Business/Profession Comm
CS 1310	Intro-Computational Thinking
CS 1320	Computer Programming Sci/Engr
EL 1301	Eng Innovation and Leadership
ENGR 1302	Engineering Design Experience
ENGR 1303	Applied Engineering Analysis
LEAD 1300	Introduction to Leadership
SCI 1301	Inquiry in Math & Science
SPLP 1312	Comm. Var. Across the Lifespan
UNIV 1301	Seminar/Critical Inquiry
TOTAL HOURS		6