Page 75 Academic Programs Charles Gongre, Dean, Madison Monroe Building, Room 121 The Academic Programs Division offers an Associate of Arts degree and an Associate of Arts in Teaching for students who do not wish to pursue a baccalaureate degree, or as an interim goal for students who intend to transfer to a fouryear school. These degree plans are designed to parallel the first two years of most baccalaureate degree plans at senior institutions and to facilitate the student s transition to those institutions. State law requires each state-supported college and university in Texas to adopt a core curriculum of up to 48 semester hours. This makes the transfer of courses between institutions more efficient and eliminates unnecessary course duplication. Lamar State College-Port Arthur has a core curriculum of 48 semester hours. A student who completes the entire Core Curriculum and then transfers usually will not be required to take courses in the core curriculum of the institution to which the student transfers (receiving institution). The exception will be if an individual department at the receiving institution has a departmental requirement it expects students to meet by taking certain courses as part of its institutional core curriculum. Therefore, a student should become familiar with the departmental requirements of the receiving institution, and should consult with an advisor prior to each registration. Core Curriculum In accordance with Texas Education Code, Chapter 61, each state-supported college and university in Texas is required to design and implement a Core Curriculum, with the courses comprising the curriculum totaling no more than 48 semester hours. Each Core Curriculum must be consistent with the Texas Common Course Numbering System, and must be consistent with the framework identified in Charts I and II in this section. Chart I specifies the minimum number of semester credit hours required in each of the five major component areas that, by law, a Core Curriculum must include. Chart II shows the options available to students for the remaining 12 semester hours required for completion of the Lamar State College-Port Arthur s Core Curriculum. A student successfully completing the Core Curriculum at Lamar State College-Port Arthur may transfer that block of courses to any other state-supported institution. When transferred, the receiving institution must substitute the block of courses for its Core Curriculum. A transferring student shall receive academic credit for each of the courses transferred and may not be required to take additional Core Curriculum courses at the receiving institution. A student who transfers from Lamar State College-Port Arthur to another institution without completing the Core Curriculum receives academic credit within the core curriculum of the receiving institution for each applicable course transferred. Following receipt of credit for these courses, the student probably will be required to satisfy the remaining course requirements in the core curriculum of the receiving institution. To eliminate the possibility of being required to take additional core curriculum courses at the receiving institution, students are strongly encourages completing the entire Core Curriculum before transferring. A student concurrently enrolled at more than one institution of higher education must follow the Core Curriculum requirements in effect for the institution at which the student is classified as a degree-seeking student. Completion of the Core Curriculum is a requirement for earning an Associate of Arts or an Associate of Arts in Teaching degree at Lamar State College-Port Arthur. The regulations pertaining to it apply to students preparing for those degrees and/or a bachelor s degree. Students pursuing an Associate of Applied Science degree are exempt from the Core Curriculum requirements explained in this section.
Page 76 Lamar State College-Port Arthur Core Curriculum Chart I: Students must select 36 semester credit hours of the core curriculum from the components described below: Component Area Required Credit Hours LSCPA Courses Communication 6 ENGL 1301 and 1302 (English rhetoric/composition) Mathematics 3 MATH 1314, 1324, 1332 Natural Sciences 6 Any combination of two laboratory science courses selected from: BIOL 1406, 1407, 2401 or 2402; CHEM 1405, 1406, 1407, 1408, 1411 or 1412; GEOL 1403 or 1404; PHYS 1401, 1402, 1405, 1407, 1411, 1412, 1415, 1417, 2425, or 2426 Humanities 3 ENGL 2321, 2326, 2331 or 2341 Visual or Performing Arts 3 Selected from: ARTS 1301, 1311 or 1316 DRAM 1310, 1320, 1321, 1351 or 1352 Social or Behavioral Sciences U.S. History 6 HIST 1301, 1302, 2301* Political Science 6 GOVT 2301 and 2302 Social or Behavioral Science 3 ECON 2301 or 2302; GOVT 2304; HIST 1301, 1302, 2301, 2321 or 2322; PSYC 2301, 2314 or 2317 SOCI 1301, 1306 or 2301 Total for Chart I 36 semester hours * If a student chooses to use HIST 2301 for one of the two required courses in U.S. History, then he/she may not use that course to also meet the 3 semester credit hour requirement in Social/Behavioral Sciences. Chart II: Students select from the courses listed for the 12 additional semester credit hours required: Component Area Required Credit Hours LSCPA Courses Communication 3 SPCH 1315 or SPCH 2335 Mathematics 0 Natural Sciences 2 Science Labs Humanities or Visual or Performing Arts 3 Selected from: ARTS 1301, 1303, 1304, 1311 or 1316 DRAM 1310, 1320, 1321, 1351, 1352, 2336, 2351 or 2361 ENGL 2321, 2326, 2331 or 2341; HUMA 1315; MUSI 1306 or 1310; PHIL 1301, 1304, 1316, 1317 or 2303 Social or Behavioral Sciences 0 Institutionally-Designated Option 3 COSC 1301 or BCIS 1305 1 Physical activity course Total for Chart II 12 semester hours Total Core Curriculum -- 48 semester hours
Page 77 Dat Dinh AA Academic Studies 2010 Graduate Port Arthur Memorial HS I attend Lamar State College - Port Arthur because it offers classes that are within my major. The school's location is very convenient for me because it's only five minutes away from my house. The school's staff is friendly and very helpful. I know that attending this school will help further my education as a dental hygienist.
Page 78 Academic Programs Division Degree Plans Associate of Arts Degree Students as Lamar State College-Port Arthur who wish to take courses in an academic transfer field of study may choose to pursue an Associate of Arts Degree. This degree provides a Core Curriculum that will transfer to four-year institutions and parallels the first two years of most baccalaureate degree plans. Upon completion of the core curriculum, students may choose from several areas of emphasis to fulfill the remaining degree requirements. These areas of emphasis include Academic Studies, Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Drama, Kinesiology and Studio Art. Emphasis in Academic Studies This curriculum is designed for students who plan to pursue a baccalaureate degree but are undecided about a specific major. The degree plan provides a Core Curriculum that will transfer to any state-supported college or university in Texas. It includes the general education requirements for almost any baccalaureate degree. Electives beyond the Core Curriculum allow students to explore various disciplines in order to determine a major. Core Curriculum... 48 semester hours Electives*... 15 semester hours Total: 63 semester hours * Students should consult with an advisor to determine the appropriate electives. Electives must be academic transfer courses. Physical Activity courses (PHED) may not be used to satisfy the elective requirement. Emphasis in Business Administration This curriculum is designed for students who plan to pursue a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. The curriculum parallels the first two years of study in business administration at state-supported colleges and universities in Texas and follows the field of study curriculum prescribed by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Core Curriculum*... 48 semester hours ACCT 2301, 2302... 6 semester hours BUSI 1301... 3 semester hours ECON 2301, 2302... 6 semester hours MATH 1325... 3 semester hours Total: 66 semester hours * To fulfill Core Curriculum requirements, students should take MATH 1324 to satisfy the mathematics component. BCIS 1305 should be taken to meet the Institutionally-Designated Option for Computer Science in the Core Curriculum. Emphasis in Criminal Justice This curriculum is designed for students who plan to pursue a bachelor s degree in Criminal Justice. The curriculum requires coursework in basic criminal justice principles and concepts and allows students to complete the degree plan with various criminal justice electives to suit their educational or career goals. The degree plan follows the field-of-study curriculum prescribed by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Core Curriculum*... 48 semester hours CRIJ 1301, 1306, 1310... 9 semester hours Criminal Justice electives... 6 semester hours Elective... 3 semester hours Total: 66 semester hours * Students are advised to take ECON 2301 or 2302 to meet the Social and Behavioral Science requirement of the Core Curriculum. Electives must be academic transfer courses. Physical Activity courses (PHED) may not be used to satisfy the elective requirement. Emphasis in Drama This curriculum is designed for students who plan to pursue a baccalaureate degree with a major in theater or a preprofessional degree in law. The degree plan provides a Core Curriculum that will transfer to any state-supported college
Page 79 or university in Texas. It includes the general education requirements for almost any baccalaureate degree. The electives beyond the Core Curriculum allow students to explore various aspects of the performing arts. *Core Curriculum... 48 semester hours DRAM 1310 or 1352, and DRAM 1330, 1351 and 2336... 12 semester hours DRAM Practicum electives... 3 semester hours Total: 63 semester hours * To fulfill Core Curriculum requirement, students should take DRAM 1320 to satisfy the Visual or Performing Arts component in Chart I. DRAM 1321 should be taken to meet the Humanities or Visual or Performing Arts component in chart II. Emphasis in Kinesiology This curriculum parallels the first two years of study of baccalaureate programs at state colleges and universities in Texas. The associate degree requires 48 semester credit hours of courses from the LSC-PA Core Curriculum, plus 15 semester credit hours of Kinesiology. Core Curriculum Courses... 48 semester hours 15 semester hours to be selected from: KINE 1238 Physical Fitness and Sports Intern (2 hour) KINE 1301 Introduction to Physical Education KINE 1304 Health and Wellness KINE 1306 First Aid KINE 1321 Traditional Games KINE 1322 Racquet Sports/Golf KINE 1336 Indoor/Outdoor Games KINE 1337 Non-Traditional Games KINE 1338 Applied Fitness Concepts KINE 2156 Taping and Bandaging (1hour course) 15 semester hours Total: 63 semester hours * Students are advised to take BIOL 2401 and BIOL 2402, Human Anatomy and Physiology I and II, to meet the science requirements of the Core Curriculum. Physical Activity courses (PHED) may not be used to satisfy the elective requirement. Emphasis in Studio Art The curriculum is designed for students who plan to work toward a traditional Bachelor of Arts degree or a professional Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. It also is recommended for students who are undecided about majoring in art, but who would like to explore their artistic abilities. Core Curriculum... 48 semester hours ARTS... 18 semester hours Total: 66 semester hours *Students should consult an advisor to determine the appropriate electives. Associate of Arts Degree in Teaching Upon completion of the Core Curriculum, Students interested in teaching as a career may choose to complete the Associate of Arts Degree in Teaching by selecting a teaching area of emphasis, such as EC-8, EC-12 Art, EC-12 Theater Arts, EC-12 Music or EC-12 Physical Education. Emphasis in Teaching (EC-8) This degree curriculum is designed for students who plan to pursue a baccalaureate degree in education in order to become certified to teach at some level from early childhood/kindergarten through grade 8 (excluding Early Childhood specialization). Core Curriculum courses... 48 semester hours MATH 1350... 3 semester hours Laboratory Science in addition to Core Curriculum... 4 semester hours Total: 61 semester hours
Page 80 *Students should consult an advisor to determine the appropriate electives. Emphasis in EC-12 Art This curriculum is designed for students who plan to pursue a baccalaureate degree in education to be certified to teach art classes at some level from early childhood/kindergarten through grade 12. Core Curriculum courses... 48 semester hours ARTS courses... 6 semester hours Emphasis in EC-12 Theater Arts This curriculum is designed for students who plan to pursue a bachelor s degree in education to be certified to teach drama classes at some level from early childhood/kindergarten to grade 12. Core Curriculum Courses... 48 semester hours DRAM courses... 6 semester hours Emphasis in EC-12 Music This curriculum is the first two years of a track designed for students who plan to complete a bachelor s degree and be certified to teach music in the public schools. The degree was developed by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and serves as a guide for colleges and universities in structuring the first two years of a curriculum for music education majors. Core Curriculum... 48 semester hours MUSI courses... 6 semester hours Emphasis in EC-12 Physical Education This curriculum is designed for students who plan to pursue a baccalaureate degree in education to be certified to teach physical education classes at some level from early childhood kindergarten through grade 12. Core Curriculum Courses... 48 semester hours 6 semester hours to be selected from: KINE 1238, 1301, 1304, 1306, 1321, 1322, 1336, 1337, 1338, or 2156... 6 semester hours * Students are advised to take BIOL 2401 and 2402, Human Anatomy and Physiology I and II, to meet the science requirements of the Core Curriculum. Physical Activity courses (PHED) may not be used to satisfy the elective requirement.
Page 81 Dylan Good AA Drama 2009 Graduate Nederland HS I am so proud to have been a part of LSC-PA's growing Drama Department. I have seen more talent in this school than in larger universities! Our department is like a family with a desire to give each student knowledge, confidence, and the skills to put on a powerful performance onstage.