University College

University College (UC) oversees freshmen seminars, Reading the Globe (RTG), the University Honors & Undergraduate Research Program, the Multidisciplinary Studies Degree (MDS), and the Academic Center for Excellence (ACE), which is composed of Advising & Retention (AR) and Academic Support (AS). These areas are spread across campus in the following buildings: Sue and Radcliffe Killam Library (KLM), Senator Judith Zaffirini Student Success Center (ZSC), and Dr. Billy F. Cowart Hall (CWT). The areas housed in KLM include university seminar (First-Year Experience), Developmental Education, faculty offices, and University Honors & Undergraduate Research Program. ACE—Advising & Retention is in ZSC, and ACE—Academic Support (AS) is in CWT.

The mission of University College is to empower students to become competent, resilient, and self-determined life-long learners. Utilizing collaborative academic and support programs, we aim to enhance the skills of every student through a personal empowerment path that fosters a learning community, critical thinking, and global citizenship. Students will be equipped with a growth mindset, a meaningful purpose, and a sense of belonging as they navigate their education at TAMIU.

FIRST-YEAR EXPERIENCE (FYE) and Academic Communities

First-time freshmen must participate in TAMIU’s First-Year Experience, which includes two semesters of coursework as part of the Core Curriculum.  In the fall semester, first-year students participate in academic communities composed of a first-year seminar class (UNIV 1201) and one or more classes that may be linked to each other or a particular academic discipline area.  In the spring semester, first-year students participate in Signature Courses (UNIV 1302), where students are exposed to interdisciplinary reasoning, critical thinking, and research skills through problem-based learning. UNIV 1201 and UNIV 1302 are designed to enhance students’ self-determination through a growth mindset, which will help students transition to the college experience's rigor and challenges.  Through the Academic Center for Excellence (ACE), University College provides academic support to all TAMIU students until the day they graduate.

Developmental education

The goals of these courses are 1) to comply with the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) through an effective developmental education plan for each student based on their TSI diagnostic report; 2) to prepare students for the rigor of the college core curriculum; 3) raise the persistence rates of under-prepared students; 4) teach successful learning and studying strategies; and 5) provide learning support through the Academic Center for Excellence (ACE).

Students must attend intensive tutoring at ACE in addition to their regularly scheduled classes. Students who have yet to meet this obligation will only have their enrollment restricted to developmental courses.  A student may enroll in the same developmental course no more than three times.

Multi-Disciplinary Studies Degree (MDS)

The mission of the Multidisciplinary Studies (MDS) Program is to provide an avenue for students interested in studying more than a single discipline to develop a personalized degree. It is designed to diversify students into three concentration areas instead of a single major.  Students are encouraged to declare their major in Multidisciplinary Studies (MDS) by the end of their first year for timely graduation. This degree expands students' marketability skills, communication, and leadership for the twenty-first century.

To graduate from the MDS Program, students must maintain a minimum institutional and overall GPA of 2.0 in all areas of concentration. Each concentration consists of fifteen (15) semester credit hours (SCHs), Twelve (12) of the fifteen SCHs must be upper level courses, and six (6) of the fifteen SCHs must be taken at Texas A&M International University. For transfer students, a minimum overall grade average of “C” must also be maintained on the work attempted at this University.

AMAT 0400 Accelerated Beg & Int Algebra

This course focuses on a basic review of mathematic skills, including real numbers, geometry, linear equations, elementary algebra, mathematical reasoning, functions, graphs, linear inequalities, polynomials, rational expressions and equations and system of equations, while providing the necessary academic support. Students completing course successfully will earn University credit but not credit toward graduation.

Prerequisites: TSI placement or recommendation of TSI academic advisor.

CIRW 0330 Co-req Int Read&Write

This course focuses on sentence level structure, effective sentence combining, and cohesive paragraph structure that builds toward a coherent piece of writing of some length. In addition to grammar mechanics, and language usage, this course integrates critical reading and academic writing skills, providing the necessary support for advanced developmental students who are taking entry level freshmen courses as the co-requisite with CIRW 0330. Students who register for CIRW 0330 must co-register in a designated entry level freshmen course. Students completing this course successfully will earn University credit but not credit toward graduation.

Prerequisites: TSI placement or recommendation of TSI academic advisor.

CMAT 0314 Co-requisite Dev for MATH 1314

This course focuses on a basic review of mathematical skills, including elementary algebra, mathematical reasoning, functions, graphs, linear inequalities and system of equations, while providing the necessary academic support for advanced developmental students concurrently enrolled in MATH 1314 as the co-requisite with CMAT 0314. Students who register for CMAT 0314 must co-register in MATH 1314. Students completing CMAT 0314 successfully will earn University credit but not credit toward graduation.

Prerequisites: Successful completion of DMAT 0300, TSI placement, or recommendation of TSI academic advisor.

CMAT 0324 Co-requisite Dev for MATH 1324

This course focuses on a basic review of mathematical skills, including elementary algebra, mathematical reasoning, functions, graphs, linear inequalities, system of equations, discounts, finance, mark-ups, investments and statistics, while providing the necessary academic support for advanced developmental students concurrently enrolled in MATH 1324 as the co-requisite with CMAT 0324. Students who register for CMAT 0324 must co-register in MATH 1324. Students completing CMAT 0324 successfully will earn University credit but not credit toward graduation.

Prerequisites: Successful completion of DMAT 0300, TSI placement, or recommendation of TSI academic advisor.

CMAT 0332 Co-requisite Dev for MATH 1332

This course focuses on a basic review of mathematical skills, including number concepts, computation, elementary algebra, mathematical and logical reasoning, while providing the necessary academic support for advanced developmental students concurrently enrolled in MATH 1332 as the co-requisite with CMAT 0332. Students who register for CMAT 0332 must co-register in MATH 1332. Students completing CMAT 0332 successfully will earn University credit but not credit toward graduation.

Prerequisites: Successful completion of DMAT 0300, TSI placement, or recommendation of TSI academic advisor.

CMAT 0342 Co-requisite Dev for MATH 1342

This course focuses on a basic review of mathematical skills, including elementary algebra, mathematical reasoning, statistics, probability, and standard deviation, while providing the necessary academic support for advanced developmental students concurrently enrolled in MATH 1342 as the co-requisite with CMAT 0342. Students who register for CMAT 0342 must co-register in MATH 1342. Students completing CMAT 0342 successfully will earn University credit but not credit toward graduation.

Prerequisites: Successful completion of DMAT 0300, TSI placement, or recommendation of TSI academic advisor.

DMAT 0300 Beginning Algebra

A study of real numbers, equations, linear inequalities, graphing linear equations, polynomials, and Euclidean geometry. Students completing course successfully will earn University credit but not credit toward graduation.

Prerequisites: Successful completion of DMAT 0010 or test placement

DMAT 0301 Intermediate Algebra

A study of real numbers, linear equations, graphs of polynomials, polynomial equations, rational expressions and equations, radical expressions and equations, and functions. Students completing course successfully will earn University credit but not credit toward graduation.

Prerequisites: Successful completion of DMAT 0300 or test placement.

DMAT 0314 Accelerated Inter Algebra

This course is paired with MATH 1314 and is designed to review mathematics skills, including number concepts, computation, elementary algebra, geometry and mathematical reasoning. It provides the necessary academic support for advanced developmental students concurrently enrolled in MATH 1314. Students completing the course successfully will earn University credit but not credit toward graduation.

Prerequisites: Successful completion of DMAT 0300, test placement, or recommendation of TSI academic advisor.

UNIV 1102 Learn a Global Context II

Class focuses on information literacy, memory, communication and the role these topics play in successful academic progress. Writing and discussion groups promote academic success through core curriculum-focused assignments. An introduction to academic and student life resources through peer and faculty mentoring and awareness of university resources is also included, particularly as they apply to career choice through self-assessment and goal setting. Departmental Approval required.

UNIV 1201 Learn a Global Context I

This course focuses on building connections, with peers, mentors, advisors, professors, and other campus resources to encourage growth as successful college learners. To help prepare students as global citizens, they will explore connections with other cultures within the context of an international common read, known as Reading the Globe (RTG). Students will also learn ways to develop the attributes of a growth mindset, such as seeking help, trying new strategies, and flipping failures into opportunities for growth. To foster empowerment, students will practice taking charge of their learning and self-advocating by making informed decisions about their academic and career path in relation to their goals.

UNIV 1302 Signature Course

This course builds on UNIV 1201 by expanding student focus from self-awareness to global awareness. Designed to introduce undergraduates to in-depth analysis from an interdisciplinary perspective, students will explore community issues through a problem-based approach. This course will foster community engagement by integrating University and other relevant resources.

Prerequisites: Successful completion or concurrent enrollment in UNIV 1201.

UNIV 3320 Directed Studies in MDS

This course provides students the opportunity to understand complex social, political, and civil issues as they relate to their areas of concentration. The course will develop and foster foundational and marketable skills such as research, critical thinking, and communication. Additionally, students will begin to develop career-related goals with respect to their areas of concentration. Students will develop multidisciplinary research and critical thinking skills, examine their own academic interests, and explore their identities as multidisciplinary students, scholars, and researchers. This course is required for the B.A. in Multidisciplinary Studies program.

UNIV 4390 Capstone Experience-WIN

The Capstone Experience course is required for all students enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts in Multidisciplinary Studies (MDS) and is designed to integrate student’s three areas of concentration. This course reinforces professional writing and communication skills through presentations and projects. Additionally, students will develop career-oriented skills by creating a portfolio that contains a personal mission statement, objective, a narrative, and a study of professional ethics.

Prerequisites: UNIV 3320

UNIV 4399 Special Topics Course

This course examines selected contemporary issues in order for individuals, or small groups of students, to gain particular and/or additional knowledge in a given area of focus. Students demonstrate competence in the course through sustained critical investigation and evaluation of a chosen topic. May be repeated once when the topic changes.

Prerequisites: UNIV 1402 or consent from instructor.