Texas Core Curriculum for 2nd Degree?

[JordanN713]

Okay, so I'm from Michigan and I already have my bachelor's in psychology but I am planning on applying to accelerated bsn programs in Texas. When I look at schools in other states, they just require the normal prerequisites like Anatomy, physiology, micro, etc and a bachelor's degree. But Texas lists government and history as well, and I guess I'm just wondering if I'm required to take these as well before I can get into a program. It will set me back if I have to take these, so I'm just trying to figure everything out. Please help!

[TXcatcher]

You could try to take them online at a junior college. I know for TWU, you don't have to have the government or history requirements completed to apply. You just have to complete them before beginning the program.

I would contact the potential schools where you want to apply, and ask them about those requirements.

[bluebird12]

Yep. You are required to take History and Texas Government for all schools in Texas. It's the law!

[JordanN713]

Do you know if the history classes are specific or if they can just be any general history? I guess the only class I can't take while I'm in Michigan is Texas government, and maybe they do have that online at a community college there?

[bluebird12]

I believe it's just general history. I would check with the nursing programs you're looking at. They will have detailed information on which classes should work.

[SerenePeach]

I'm not sure about this, but I think the History classes need to be US History. It's usually divided into History until 1877 (or some other year) and History Since 1877. Other history classes may be transferable. I think your best bet is to check with the school itself.

[Samian Q]

See, the "Texas Core Curriculum" is the one thing that turned me off to all the Accelerated BSN programs in Texas. I'm actually a Texas resident, yet I did my Bachelor's of Arts degree at an out-of-state private university (Tulane).

So now, I find out that for all the Accelerated BSN programs I'm interested in, they are asking not just for the basic pre-requisites (A&P I, Nutrition, Microbiology, etc.), but also for the Core courses which include "Texas History", "Philosophy" and "Texas Government".

It's simply not worth it to practically re-do half my B.A.-level courses just for an Accelerated BSN program in Texas. The course requirements are way too onerous, and I don't think a Texas History course is going to help me be a better nurse ya know

[AnonEmus]

Yep. You are required to take History and Texas Government for all schools in Texas. It's the law!

That is not true for private universities. It is true to graduate from a public college or university. If you graduate from, for example, SMU, Rice, or ACU, you don't have to take the Texas academic core curriculum.

[AnonEmus]

Here is the link to the official Texas Academic Core Curriculum: http://statecore.its.txstate.edu/

There are some interesting aspects to it. Once you fullfill the core curriculum and obtain a degree from a Texas college or university, all other Texas colleges and universties are compelled to accept it. For example, let's say you use a specific course to fulfill your core graduation requirement at Houston Community College and you want to get a BSN from another Texas school that doesn't have an equivalent course. The BSN school cannot make you take another course to replace it. They have to accept the course HCC said was used to fulfill the core.

It is common for graduates of private universities to not have fulfilled the Texas academic core curriculum. You can use CLEP tests for the core. I recently passed the sociology CLEP exam to get credit for SOCI 1301 and satisfy part of the core. Next I will take the American history CLEP tests to finished the core.

By the way, CLEP sociology and psychology tests are very easy. If you just need some hours, CLEP marketing is even easier, but very few schools accept the CLEP marketing test.