TITLE education

Part I. Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board

Chapter 5. Program Development

Subchapter S. Transfer of Lower Division Course Credit

19 TAC §§5.391, 5.401-5.403

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board adopts emergency amendments to Chapter 5, Subchapter S, §§5.391, 5.401-5.403, concerning Core Curriculum Transfer and Field of Study Curricula. The amendments to the rule are to be adopted on an emergency basis pursuant to §2001.034 of the Texas Government Code, which allows a state agency to adopt an emergency rule if a requirement of state or federal law requires adoption of the rule on less than 30 days notice. The rules are being proposed for emergency action to carry out the provisions of Senate Bill 148 of the 75th Legislature, directing the Coordinating Board to develop a recommended core curriculum of at least 42 semester credit hours, including a statement of the content, component areas, and objectives of the core curriculum.

The amendments to the rules are proposed under Texas Education Code, Subchapter S, Section 61.822.

§5.391. Requirements and Limitations.

(a)-(c)

(No change.)

(d)

Each institution shall be required to accept in transfer into a baccalaureate degree the number of lower division credit hours in a major which are allowed for their non-transfer students in that major; however,

(1)-(2)

(No change.)

(3)

A university may deny the transfer of credit in courses with a grade of "D" as applicable to the student's field of study courses, core curriculum courses, or major.

(e)-(f)

(No change.)

§5.401.General Provisions.

(a)-(b)

(No change.)

(c)

This subchapter applies specifically to academic courses and degree programs, and does not apply to technical courses or degree programs.

§5.402.Core Curriculum.

(a)

In accordance with Texas Education Code, Chapter 61, Subchapter S, each general academic institution and community/technical college shall design and implement a core curriculum[ , including specific courses comprising the curriculum, ] of no less than 42 lower-division semester credit hours. [ No institution may require a core curriculum of more than 42 semester credit hours without Board approval. ]

(b)-(j)

(No change.)

§5.403.Core Curricula Larger than 42 Semester Credit Hours.

(a)

An institution may adopt, without Board approval, a core curriculum under this subchapter in excess of 42 semester credit hours, but no more than 48 semester credit hours, if the courses in excess of 42 semester credit hours are selected from the first five component areas of Chart II of Section 5.402 (excluding the Institutionally Designated Option) and are approved by the institution's governing board. [ The board will consider approval of a core curriculum from a general academic institution, community college, or technical college if it has been previously approved by the institution's Board of Regents or Board of Directors and is consistent with the following: ]

(b)

The Board will consider approval of a core curriculum in excess of 48 semester credit hours, or a core curriculum of more than 42 semester credit hours but not greater than 48 semester credit hours with courses selected from component areas other than the first five component areas of Chart II of Section 5.402 if:

(1)

It has been previously approved by the institution's governing board;

(2)

[ (1) ] The institution has provided to the Board [ must provide ] a narrative justification of the need and appropriateness of a larger core curriculum that is consistent with its role and mission ; and

(3)

[ (2) ] No proposed upper-division core course is substantially comparable in content or depth of study to a lower-division course listed in the "Texas Common Course Numbering System."

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State,on November 13, 1998.

TRD-9817517

James McWhorter

Assistant Commissioner for Administration

Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board

Effective date: November 13, 1998

Expiration date: March 13, 1999

For further information, please call: (512) 483-6162