| (a) An institution may adopt 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 §4.28(b) of this title (relating to Core Curriculum) (excluding additional credit in the Institutionally Designated Option) and are approved by the institution's governing board. (b) No institution may adopt a core curriculum of more than 42 semester credit hours without approval by the Board if the courses in excess of 42 semester credit hours are selected from component areas other than the first five component areas of Chart II of §4.28(b) of this title (relating to Transfer of Credit, Core Curriculum and Field of Study Curricula). The Board may approve a core curriculum under this section if: (1) It has been previously approved by the institution's governing board; (2) The institution has provided to the Board a narrative justification of the need and appropriateness of a larger core curriculum that is consistent with its role and mission; and (3) 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." |
