Common Core Requirements

Students in all UH-Downtown undergraduate degree programs must complete a common core of courses consisting of 42 semester credit hours, based on requirements established by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. The following table lists the Foundational Component Areas of the core, the number of semester credit hours (SCHs) required in each area, and the UH-Downtown courses that may be used to fulfill these requirements. Departments often suggest certain courses that their majors should take to fulfill some of the core requirements, so students should carefully study the degree plans that interest them and consult with their academic success coordinator. Degree plans may be found in the sections of this catalog describing the departments’ programs and on UHD’s degree plans website.

A student transferring to UHD who has completed the common core requirements at another Texas institution of higher education will receive credit for each of the core courses transferred and will be considered to have fully satisfied all of UHD’s common core requirements.

A student transferring to UHD who has completed some, but not all, of the common core requirements at another Texas institution of higher education will receive credit for each of the core courses transferred per UHD review and articulation procedures and will be considered to have fully satisfied the corresponding common core requirements at UHD. The student must still satisfy any remaining UHD common core requirements. Please see our transfer website for more information on specific degree plan requirements for transfer students.

Students concurrently enrolled at more than one institution of higher education should follow the core curriculum requirements in effect for the institution where they are classified as degree-seeking students.

Foundational Component Areas

Communication UHD Course Options - 010 (6 Hours)

Mathematics UHD Course Options - 020 (3 Hours)

MATH 1301 - College Algebra
MATH 1310 - Contemporary Mathematics
MATH 1324 - Mathematics for Business and Social Sciences
STAT 1312 - Statistical Literacy
or
Any course for which one of these courses is a prerequisite

Life and Physical Sciences UHD Course Options - 030 (6 Hours)

Language, Philosophy and Culture UHD Course Options - 040 (3 Hours)

Creative Arts UHD Course Options - 050 (3 Hours)

American History UHD Course Options - 060 (6 Hours)

Government/Political Science UHD Course Options - 070 (6 Hours)

Social and Behavioral Sciences UHD Course Options - 080 (3 Hours)

Component Area Option UHD Course Options - 090 (6 Hours Total)

Oral Communication (3 Hours)

New Student Seminar* (3 Hours)

Total Hours: 42

*In the first semester of attendance at UHD, if a student has not completed the 6 hours of the Component Area option requirement at a Texas college or university, the student will take either a course numbered UHD 1301-1308 or a course numbered UHD 2301-2308.

UHD 1301-1308 is intended for students who have:

earned fewer than 30 SCHs of college work or
not passed ENG 1301 , regardless of the number of SCHs earned.

UHD 2301-2308 is intended for students who have:

earned at least 30 SCHs of college work and
passed ENG 1301 .

Time Frame for Completing Common Core Requirements

The common core of the general education program is designed to provide students with the academic skills and knowledge that constitute the foundation of a baccalaureate education. The specialized course work taken in the major field of study builds upon this foundation, so it is necessary for students to complete core requirements early in their course of study.

Writing and computational skills are especially critical for future academic success. Therefore, in the first semester in which they are eligible to do so, students should enroll in a course that will satisfy the Communication requirement (ENG 1301 or ENG 1302 ), and a course that will satisfy the Mathematics requirement (MATH 1301 , MATH 1310 or STAT 1312 ), and students should continue to enroll in these courses until they have completed the core’s Communication and Mathematics requirements.

Students are encouraged to complete all other common core requirements before enrolling in any upper-division (3000-level and 4000-level) courses.