Undergraduate Degree Pathway
Major
A major is a structured group of courses that constitutes a student’s primary area of academic focus. At the undergraduate level, a major must include a minimum of 24 upper-division credit hours. Completion of a major is noted on the student’s official transcript.
Minor
A minor is a secondary field of academic study that is distinct from the student’s major. For undergraduate students, a minor must include at least 12 credit hours with a grad or “C” or better in all courses. Individual departments may choose to limit the number of credit hours that can count simultaneously towards both the student’s major and the minor. Approval is required from both the major department and the minor department, and the minor must be completed prior to or with the graduation date associated with the student’s major. Completion of a minor is recorded on the student’s transcript.
Minor as Part of an Interdisciplinary Degree
Interdisciplinary degrees consist of multiple distinct fields of specialization. Any approved academic minor may serve as a specialization field within an interdisciplinary degree. In addition to existing minors, students may propose a self-designed specialization, subject to approval by the academic departments offering the courses included in the proposed field. All interdisciplinary curricula must follow approved guidelines.
Documented on the transcript. Any interdisciplinary degree program may submit a request to the Office of the Provost to have the titles of the fields of specialization printed on the diploma. The form for the request is available under Faculty Resources on the Provost’s webpage.
Graduate Degree Pathway
Track
A track is a defined set of courses representing a formal distinction within a major at the professional master’s or doctoral level. Tracks are documented on the student’s official transcript. Academic programs may request to have one or more tracks printed on the diploma by submitting a formal request to the Office of the Provost.
Concentration
A concentration is a group of courses that provides focused study within a major, available at the undergraduate level and in Master of Arts (MA), Master of Science (MS), and Master of Education (MEd) degree programs. A concentration allows students to demonstrate proficiency in a defined area of focus within the major. Concentrations are documented on the transcript, and programs may request inclusion on the diploma via the Office of the Provost.
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Undergraduate Concentrations
Must include at least 12 semester credit hours, with at least 12 upper-division credit hours. A concentration typically should not exceed 50% of the total credit hours required for the major.
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Graduate Concentrations (MA/MS/MEd)
Must align with one of the following structures:
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A group of at least 6 semester credit hours within the major. These credits count toward the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB)-mandated minimum of 18 credit hours in the major.
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A group of at least 6 semester credit hours taken in addition to the major, which may not be completed independently of the major. That is, students must be enrolled in the home major to complete the concentration.
In both cases, concentrations do not alter the total number of credit hours required for the degree, which are determined by the major alone. Concentrations are available only to students enrolled in the corresponding major.
Specialization
A specialization is a further distinction within a concentration, representing a more specific area of academic focus defined by a coordinated group of courses. Specializations are used to emphasize expertise within a concentration.
Documented on the transcript as an additional concentration.
Professional Certificate Pathway
Certificate: verificaiton of completing a specific group of courses that can be completed with or without an accompanying degree. Certification is not a replacement for an degree but instead demonstrates a complement or completion. In some instances, a certificate is desired for obtaining licensure in a state or association. For degree-seeking students: Certificate will be awarded at the time degree is awarded: documented on the transcript.
For non-degree-seeking students: Certificate will be awarded when coursework is complete: documented on the transcript.
Endorsements
Endorsement: title given for completing courses in a specific area. Generally used by Education majors to indicate specific training in a topic (i.e. reading, math, science, or social studies) and often are viewed as an “add-on” to an existing degree or license.
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