Core Curriculum

Associate of Arts and Associate of Science (AA/AS) Degree Requirements and Transfer Plans

WCJC awards the Associate of Arts (AA) and Associate of Science (AS) degree for students planning to pursue four-year degrees. The purpose of the AA/AS degree is to provide programs in university-parallel and pre-professional areas that enable students to enter four-year institutions as juniors. Applicants for the Associate of Arts/Science degree must:

1. Satisfy all conditions for admission.
2. Successfully complete at least 60 semester credit hours (SCH) of college-level courses.
3. Successfully complete 42 (SCH) of core curriculum requirements included as part of the total 60 SCH. (see Associate of Arts/Science Core Curriculum List for course selection)
4. Only academic transfer courses may be used; courses are marked “Type: ACAD” in the Course Description section of the catalog.
5. Meet Texas State Initiative (TSI) as prescribed by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB).
6. Earn an institutional grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.0.
7. Complete at least 25% of semester hours at WCJC.
8. Meet all financial obligations to the college.
9. Fill out application for graduation by the deadline of:
   • July 15 for August graduation
   • November 1 for December graduation
   • April 1 for May graduation

To aid students in planning their educational journey at WCJC, the college provides SUGGESTED academic maps. Students should identify the institution to which they intend to transfer as early as possible to ascertain the specific freshman and sophomore courses necessary for the degree they wish to pursue. Students should verify course applicability to degree requirements of the senior institution via their advisors, college catalog and the Texas Common Course Numbering System Online Matrix.

All programs, and courses within programs, are subject to change or deletion without notice by administrative authorities of WCJC. Program additions or deletions require action from the Board of Trustees of Wharton County Junior College.

Associate of Arts/Science Core Curriculum

Given the rapid evolution of necessary knowledge and skills and the need to take into account global, national, state, and local cultures, the core curriculum must ensure that students will develop the essential knowledge and skills they need to be successful in college, in a career, in their communities, and in life. The core curriculum is required of every student who is seeking an Associate of Arts or an Associate of Science degree in publicly funded higher education in Texas. In accordance with Texas Education Code, §61.821 - 61.832, each institution of higher education that offers an undergraduate academic degree program shall design and implement a core curriculum, including specific courses composing the curriculum, of no less than 42 lower-division semester credit hours. The Texas Administrative Code** outlines the core curriculum requirements. WCJC’s completed core curriculum is fully transferable and will fully substitute for the core curriculum at any other public institution of higher education in Texas.

WCJC currently offers the Associate of Arts/Science degree. In adherence to the directive of the state, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), and toward offering the best education possible to its students, WCJC requires all students seeking an AA/AS degree to complete the core curriculum. The WCJC core curriculum provides students the opportunity to attain the content knowledge and six core objective skills that Texas deems essential to the learning process and the success of an educated individual.

The objectives listed for the various courses in the core establish a foundation for assessing student performance and the effectiveness of the WCJC core curriculum as a whole.

**Texas Administrative Code Title 19 Part 1 Chapter 4 Subchapter B: Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Core Curriculum.

Core Objectives in WCJC Core Curriculum

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. The Core Objectives form the foundation of WCJC’s General Education Core Curriculum. These objectives are integrated into the instruction methods of the courses within the core curriculum at WCJC. Each Foundational Component Area emphasizes the specific objectives required while possibly utilizing the optional core objectives.

Foundational Component Areas

CORE 010: COMMUNICATION (6 semester credit hours)

• Communication focuses 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 skills that enable people to exchange messages appropriate to the subject, occasion, and audience.
• The core objectives of critical thinking, communication skills, teamwork, and personal responsibility are addressed by each course in this component area.

CORE 020: MATHEMATICS (3 semester credit hours)

• Mathematics focuses on quantitative literacy in logic, patterns, and relationships.
• Courses involve the understanding of key mathematical concepts and the application of appropriate mathematical tools to the everyday experience.
• The core objectives of critical thinking, communication skills, and empirical and quantitative skills are addressed by each course in this component area.

CORE 030: LIFE & PHYSICAL SCIENCES (6 semester credit hours)

• Life and Physical Sciences 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 human experiences.
• The Core Objectives of critical thinking, communication skills, empirical and quantitative analysis, and teamwork are addressed by each course in this component area.

CORE 040: LANGUAGE, PHILOSOPHY, & CULTURE (3 semester credit hours)

• Language, Philosophy, and Culture focuses 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.
• The Core Objectives of critical thinking, communication skills, personal responsibility, and social responsibility are addressed by each course in this component area.

CORE 050: CREATIVE ARTS (3 semester credit hours)

• Creative Arts 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.
• The Core Objectives of critical thinking, communication skills, teamwork, and social responsibility are addressed by each course in this component area.

CORE 060: AMERICAN HISTORY (6 semester credit hours)

• American History focuses on the consideration of past events 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.
• The Core Objectives of critical thinking, communication skills, social responsibility, and personal responsibility are addressed by each course in this component area.

CORE 070: GOVERNMENT/POLITICAL SCIENCE (6 semester credit hours)

• Government/Political Science focuses 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.
• The Core Objectives of critical thinking, communication skills, social responsibility, and personal responsibility are addressed by each course in this component area.

CORE 080: SOCIAL & BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE (3 semester credit hours)

• Social/Behavioral Science focuses 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 society and culture.
• The Core Objectives of critical thinking, communication skills, empirical and quantitative analysis, and social responsibility are addressed by each course in this component area.

CORE 090: COMPONENT AREA OPTION (6 semester credit hours)

• Must meet the definition and corresponding Core Objectives specified in one of the foundational component areas.

General Education Core Curriculum Course List  

Field of Study Curriculum

Texas Education Code Chapter 61, Section 823, directs the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to develop Field of Study Curriculum (FOSC) to facilitate student transfer.

If a student successfully completes a Field of Study (FOS) for an established degree program, the student may transfer that block of courses for full academic credit. The transferred FOS courses must be substituted for that institution’s lower-division requirements for the discipline degree program into which the student transfers. If a student completes only part of the FOS, then the credit for those courses must also apply toward the major.

If a student successfully completes the FOSC and the designated core curriculum courses, for a total of 60 semester credit hours, the student will earn an Associate of Arts/Science degree.

Associate of Arts/Science (AA/AS) Academic Maps

Academic Maps are suggested lists of courses for students who plan to major in a specific degree plan at a university. Courses that must be taken in order to satisfy AA/AS degree requirements are listed with the corresponding WCJC Core Curriculum Component as listed above.

Courses that are listed as electives will contribute to AA/AS degree requirements; however, different electives may be chosen but must be selected from academic rather than technical courses as indicated in the course descriptions.

Students who intend to transfer to a four-year university are encouraged to seek degree advising from their transfer institution.

WCJC’s AA/AS degree requires 60 hours; 42 SCH of core courses, up to 12 SCH of Discipline Foundation, and a minimum of 6 SCH of Directed Electives.

For AA/AS Completion, check all graduation requirements in the college catalog.

Associate of Applied Science (AAS) Degrees, Certificates, and Occupational Skills Award

WCJC offers numerous specialized areas of academic/technical study (programs) in which a certificate or AAS degree may be offered.

Certificate Programs

WCJC’s certificates and certification programs are designed to prepare completers with specific occupational skills that enable them to enter the workforce in a short period of time. Some certificate programs provide a direct pathway into an AAS degree.

A level one certificate can be completed in one calendar year or less. It must consist of at least 15 semester credit hour (SCH) and no more than 42 SCH. Students in level one certificate programs are not required to take the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) or any other assessment exam prior to entering the program.

Level one certificates will not be awarded unless the minimum standard of work (2.0 GPA) is achieved in all coursework required to complete the certificate.

A level two certificate is defined as any certificate for which a student must meet certain eligibility requirements prior to entry into the program. Level two programs may consist of 30 to 51 SCH. Students enrolling in a level two certificate program must meet the requirements of the TSI and may be subject to other eligibility requirements as determined by WCJC.

The minimum acceptable standard of satisfactory progress is an institutional average of at least a 2.0 grade point average (GPA) on attempted semester credit hours. Level two certificates will not be awarded unless the minimum standard of work (2.0 GPA) is achieved in all coursework required to complete the certificate.

Courses required in a certificate program may be transferred from equivalent courses taken at another accredited institution for up to 25% of the total certificate program hours, with approval of the Division Chair.

Associate of Applied Science Degrees

The Associate of Applied Science is an occupationally oriented degree. Its primary purpose is to prepare students for entry into a particular occupation upon completion of the degree. While a graduate of an AAS degree is career-ready upon graduation, many AAS programs also have pathways into baccalaureate programs.

Applicants for the AAS degree must:

1. Satisfy all conditions for admission.
2. Meet Texas State Initiative (TSI) requirements as prescribed by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB).
3. Successfully complete all coursework according to the degree program’s deadlines.
4. Complete at least 25% of semester credit hours at WCJC.
5. Meet all financial obligations to the college.

Descriptions of WCJC’s AAS degrees, along with required degree plans are listed alphabetically. All AAS degree programs are comprised of a minimum of 60 semester credit hours and contain both technical and academic general education courses. The general education courses address the six core objectives - critical thinking skills, communication skills, empirical and quantitative skills, teamwork, personal responsibility, and social responsibility - that the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) has deemed essential to the learning process. All AAS degree plans must contain a minimum of 15 semester credit hours of general education courses, including one course from each of the three areas in the chart below. The remaining general education courses must be academic transfer courses of collegiate level and general in nature, not geared to a specific occupation.

AAS General Education Course List