Texas Lutheran University is a community of learning and a community of faith. As a community of learning, the university stresses the liberating potential of the disciplined pursuit of academic excellence within the context of academic freedom. Its faculty and staff seek to engage each student in a process of self-education which will assist him or her to develop as an informed and resourceful person in today’s rapidly changing world. It provides an academic program based upon the tradition of the liberal arts and designed to serve a diversified community.

As a community of faith, the university celebrates the liberating power of gospel as applied to the whole of human life. The biblical vision of the world as created, judged, redeemed and fulfilled by God in Christ is rich in significance for the work and hopes of persons today. It is the unique privilege and responsibility of the Christian university to explore these implications freely and boldly. Thus it leads the church to face the challenge of new insights and to formulate fresh means of creative service.

As an institution of the church, the university provides an education in the arts and sciences which is given perspective by the Christian faith. This function is carried out through an undergraduate curriculum leading to the bachelor’s degree, a diverse continuing education program, and a variety of co-curricular programs.

The university encourages students to participate in service work tied to reflective discussions about its place in their lives.

In working to bring learning and faith into intimate relationship, Texas Lutheran

University is discovering afresh that each can strengthen, clarify and enrich the other. Men and women who live and work in these contexts find their own purposes enlarged and deepened. A compassion born of faith and a competence informed by learning shape the mission of the university in this day.

TLU graduates should have achieved

• a breadth of knowledge in the arts, humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences.

• a depth of knowledge in a single discipline sufficient to understand its methods, language, content, history, and value.

• an understanding of the Christian faith and traditions.

• an awareness of and respect for diverse religions, cultures, and viewpoints.

TLU graduates should be able to

• write clearly and coherently, read with comprehension, speak effectively, and listen with care and openness.

• use basic mathematical skills and know the appropriateness of quantitative methods.

• use appropriate tools for problem solving and for finding, analyzing, and communicating information.

• think critically and reflectively and draw reasonable, supportable conclusions both individually and in groups.

TLU encourages and assists its students in developing

• a commitment to active community service.

• an integrated ethical perspective and a sense of moral purpose.

• a desire to cultivate physical and psychological health and well-being.

• a will to pursue continued cultural, intellectual, and spiritual growth.

At Texas Lutheran University students may receive one of four degrees: the bachelor of arts, the bachelor of music, the bachelor of science, and the bachelor of business administration.

All Bachelor’s Degrees:

A. Coursework in five areas is required. These five areas and their approximate credit hour amounts are:

1. Foundations of Liberal Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 semester hours

2. The Major . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24-60* semester hours

3. Supporting Courses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0-42* semester hours

4. Dimensions of Liberal Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 semester hours

5. Electives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0-25 semester hours

*See specific requirements for each degree.

B. A minimum of 124 semester hours is required for graduation from Texas Lutheran University.

C. A minimum of 30 semester hours must be upper division (junior or senior level) coursework.

D. A student must pass all courses and earn a minimum grade point average of 2.0 (on a 4.0 scale) for all courses that are to count toward the fulfillment of the major area requirement. Twelve of these semester hours must be upper division, at least nine of which must be earned at Texas Lutheran University.

E. A minimum of 33 semester hours of work must be earned through Texas Lutheran University including the final 24 hours. Graduating seniors may, however, complete any remaining semester hours at a regionally accredited college or university on the following conditions:

1. They must have been in residence at Texas Lutheran University for a period of two semesters.

2. They must apply for and receive approval for the work in advance from the appropriate department chair of the student’s major. All work attempted at other institutions must be reported to Texas Lutheran University with official transcripts in time to meet deadlines for graduation certification.

F. A minimum grade point average of “C” (2.0) must be earned for all courses taken at Texas Lutheran University.

G. A maximum of four semester hours in band, choir, and/or dramatic media ensemble may be applied to graduation. A maximum of four semester hours in Kinesiology activity courses may be applied to graduation. Additional credits earned would be in excess and not creditable toward degree requirements.

H. Catalog Selection: A student may obtain a degree from Texas Lutheran University according to the requirements of the catalog current at the time of his/her entrance to the university or the requirements of the catalog governing any subsequent year in which the student is registered. Generally, requirements must be met within six years of the catalog issue date.

The specific requirements of individual majors leading to the Bachelor of Arts degree vary widely. As a rule, however, majors leading to the B.A. degree fit the following parameters:

• Students must complete between 24 and 54 semester hours in coursework within the major.

• Students must complete between six and 42 semester hours in supporting courses.

• Students must meet all general requirements for graduation.

The Bachelor of Science degree may be earned only by those students who choose accounting, athletic training, biology, chemistry, computer science, education, information systems, kinesiology, mathematics, or psychology as their area of major study. The Bachelor of Science degree in accounting is an optional concurrent degree for students seeking the B.B.A. degree in business administration with a specialization in accounting, particularly those who wish to prepare themselves for certification as Certified Public Accountants. The B.S. degree in accounting requires an additional 30 hours of coursework in addition to the B.B.A. degree. Students contemplating the pursuit of the B.S. in accounting should confer with their academic advisor to ensure timely review and approval of the coursework required beyond the B.B.A. degree. Majors leading to the B.S. degree must meet the following semester hour requirements in successful coursework:

• Students must complete between 34 and 45 semester hours in coursework within the major.

• Students must complete between 24 and 30 semester hours in supporting courses.

• Students must meet all general requirements for graduation.

Bachelor of Music

Majors leading to the Bachelor of Music degree must meet the following semester hour requirements in successful coursework:

• Students must complete 60 semester hours in coursework within the major.

• No additional supporting courses are required.

• Students must meet all general requirements for graduation.

The Bachelor of Business Administration degree may be earned only by students majoring in business administration with a specialization in one of six areas. To qualify for the B.B.A. degree:

• Students must complete between 45 and 51 hours in coursework within the major.

• Students must complete 24 hours in supporting courses.

• Students must meet all general requirements for graduation.

IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE STUDENT TO FULFILL ALL DEGREE REQUIREMENTS.

Certain capabilities and understandings are essential to the study of the arts and sciences. Specific courses required of all students are therefore appropriate. Most important is strengthening students in their ability to think, write, read, compute, speak and listen effectively and appropriately. The following 12 hours are required:

• FREX 134 Exploring the Arts and Sciences. By addressing the perspectives and methods of different disciplines of inquiry, the course orients students to the nature of learning in the liberal arts tradition. Focusing on the general topics of education, human nature, the natural world, and the social world and human responsibility, this course shows how various disciplinary perspectives can be integrated in understanding ourselves and our world. Readings and other resources from classical to contemporary sources are critically examined and explored. This course is required of all students, except transfer students entering with 24 or more hours, no more than 12 of which may have been earned through dual participation.

• COMP 131-132 English Composition & Communication I and II. The English Composition and Communication sequence is meant to meet the need of students for work on written and oral communication skills. This two-course sequence (COMP 131-132) helps to fulfill the TLU Goal for Graduates of being able to “write clearly and coherently, speak effectively, and listen with care and openness.”

• MATH – three hours mathematics to include MATH 130, 133 or any higher level math or statistics course. Mathematical skill is essential to being an educated person in the twenty-first century. It is foundational to other disciplines, especially the sciences. Taking a course in mathematics helps students to meet the TLU goal that as graduates they should be able to “use basic mathematical skills and know the appropriateness of quantitative methods.” All students are required to take a minimum of three semester hours of mathematics.

Work done in a major area permits a student to inquire in depth into a subject and to acquire relative mastery of one specific area of knowledge. 
Find your major. 

Supporting courses are designed to supplement the work in the major area. Some majors assign specific supporting courses; but in most cases general areas of study are outlined, and the specific courses are selected by the student in consultation with the academic advisor. The supporting work for each major is described under the various departments listings in the “Courses of Study” section of this catalog.
 

As an optional part of the curriculum, the university offers academic minors, which may be interdisciplinary or based in one department. The general requirements include a minimum of 18 semester hours to be completed with at least a “C” (2.0 grade point average). Additionally, the student will present a minimum of six semester hours upper-division and six semester hours in residence. A student pursuing a secondary education course of study may earn a minor in his/her second teaching field provided he/she meets all requirements listed above.
Learn about minors available at TLU.

The dimensions courses provide students with a breadth of perspectives in their education. The first TLU Goal for Graduates is about the achievement of “a breadth of knowledge in the arts, humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences.” Along with the traditional divisions of arts, humanities, natural sciences and social sciences, there is also a course requirement in cross-cultural understanding, helping to fulfill the goal of “an awareness of and respect for diverse religions, cultures, and viewpoints.” Also supporting the goal of

achieving “an understanding of the Christian faith and tradition,” is a two-course requirement in theology as the Theological Dimension. As well, the Personal Well-Being Dimension encourages the desire “to cultivate physical and psychological health and well-being.”

Students must fulfill requirements in the following dimensions:

• The Arts (6 semester hours)

• The Humanities (6 semester hours)

• The Natural Sciences (6 semester hours)

• The Social Sciences (6 semester hours)

• The Cross-Cultural Dimension (3 semester hours)

• The Theological Dimension (6 semester hours)

• The Dimension of Personal Well-Being (3 semester hours)

Specifics for each dimension are listed below:

A The Arts (six hours) Six hours from Art, Dramatic Media or Music.

B. The Humanities (six hours) Six hours from Classical Studies, Communication Studies, Geography, History, Literature (including modern language literature courses), Philosophy or Women’s Studies. No more than three hours in any one discipline may count in this dimension.

C. The Natural Sciences (six hours) Six hours from Biology, Environmental Science, Chemistry, or Physics. At least three hours in this dimension must be a laboratory course.

D. The Social Sciences (six hours) Six hours from Economics, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology. No more than three hours in any one discipline may count in this dimension

E. The Cross-Cultural Dimension (three hours) This requirement is met with three hours in Modern Languages either in Spanish, French or Hebrew. This requirement can also be met by one semester of study abroad. Students with three years of high school language study of the same language (French, German, Hebrew, Latin, Spanish or American Sign

Language) may acquire institutional credit by taking the CAPE exam. The CAPE exam is for students to demonstrate their foreign language proficiency. It is only for those students who seek institutional credit to meet the 3 credit hours of cross-cultural dimension. Students must receive authorization from the Modern Languages Department to take the test and obtain an access password. Please see the website for further information. Students must receive a “B” or higher on the test in order to receive 3 hours of credit. Students must apply for the credit through the Registration and Records office and must also pay an institutional credit fee of $15 per hour for a total of $45.

F. The Theological Dimension (six hours) Six hours from Theology.

G. The Dimension of Personal Well-Being (three hours) A total of three hours from: INTR 211, 212, KINS 121, PSYC 120, Kinesiology activity courses. At least one hour of activity courses must be taken and at least one course from INTR 211, 212, KINS 121, or PSYC 120.

H. Students may use one interdisciplinary course of three credit hours (ex. INTR 231) to fulfill up to three hours of one of the dimensions requirements. Such INTR courses have their dimensions option specified in the course schedule.

Additional Requirements

1. Writing-Intensive course. All students must take one upper-division writing intensive course of three semester hours. Writing intensive courses are normally taken in the student’s major and are so designated in the TLU catalog and course schedule.

2. Ethics-Focused course. All students must take one course of three semester hours credit either in ethics (PHIL 231, 331, 333, or THEO 331) or a course in any discipline having an ethics focus and so designated in the TLU catalog and course schedule.

3. Senior Capstone course. All students must take a senior capstone course as a seminar or practicum course (2 or more credit hours) in their major or a related major discipline. This course will reveal the student’s achievement in the discipline. The course will also include reflection on how one’s involvement in this discipline and an associated vocation can contribute to the betterment of humanity and the world and how one’s leadership potential can best be realized here.

IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE STUDENT TO FULFILL ALL DEGREE REQUIREMENTS.

Students who already hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution and who wish to pursue a second baccalaureate degree at Texas Lutheran, must complete a minimum of 33 semester hours of new coursework in residence at Texas Lutheran. The 33 hours must include:

• Twelve hours of upper division work of which nine hours must be upper division coursework in the appropriate major

• Six acceptable hours of theology.

• The student must also complete all major and supporting coursework for the second bachelor’s degree.

Students wishing to pursue two baccalaureate degrees concurrently at Texas Lutheran must earn a minimum of 157 hours of course work including all major and supporting coursework required for both degrees. A minimum of 66 hours must be earned through Texas Lutheran University, including the final 24.