BOTTOM LINE: The following combinations are (or are not) acceptable in satisfying your POLS 206/207 requirements:

	206	207	2301	2302	2305	2306
206	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
207	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No
2301	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
2302	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No
2305	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
2306	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No

To:        Undergraduate Advisors in ENGR

 

The substitution process for the POLS206/207 by Common Course Number continues to be a frustrating and confusing obstacle for many of us and our students. 

 

The AOC deans have agreed to substitute liberally for students in Catalogs 125 and before, whenever there is a problem with the TCCNS, however, I understand I am not supposed to approve certain substitutions for students in Catalogs 126 and later.

 

The AOC guidelines are fairly narrow; but there is more liberal guidance on the Coordinating Board webpage (http://www.thecb.state.tx.us/CTC/ip/acgm2k/ACGM-LD.htm see page 80 pasted in below), which indicates that schools should recognize certain combinations of GOVT courses.  I plan to follow these guidelines, which will resolve the problem for some (but maybe only half) of the affected students.  The Coordinating Board says we should accept any of the following four combinations:

1) Take (GOVT 2305 or POLS 206) plus (GOVT 2306 or POLS 207)

2) Take GOVT 2301 plus GOVT 2302

3) Take GOVT 2301 plus (GOVT 2306 or POLS 207)

4) Take GOVT 2301 plus (GOVT 2305 or POLS 206)

5) GOVT 2302 plus (GOVT 2305 or POLS 206)   

 

Unfortunately, there are some combinations that will not satisfy the requirement, including:

6) GOVT 2302 plus (GOVT 2306 or POLS 207)  (does not include study of US Constitution)

 

The Coordinating Board says that combination 6 can be made satisfactory by the addition of a GOVT 2107 (1 hr) course providing the required constitutional content.

 

I have spoken with Mike Balog in POLS, who has agreed to investigate the feasibility of a 1 hr course as a supplement for students in Catalogs 126 and later who have one of these two combinations.  He also points out that students who are deficient can sometimes earn Credit By Exam through MARS for the needed course (POLS 206 or 207). 

 

When you advise your students about this substitution process, please be aware that I am not supposed to approve the combination 6.  If you anticipate you will have graduating seniors in catalogs 126 or later with this problem, please begin now to identify a solution for them.  Please do your best to educate students about this situation to prevent future problems.

 

Ray

 

Ray W. James, P.E., Ph.D.

Director, Engineering Student Advising and Development

Dwight Look College of Engineering

204 Zachry-MS 3127

College Station, TX 77845-3127

(979) 845-7265

r-james@tamu.edu

 

 

 

============================page 80 from referenced webpage========================

GOVT 2107       Federal and Texas Constitutions

Includes consideration of the Constitution of the United State and the constitutions of the states, with special emphasis on that of Texas.  Pre-requisite:  By permission only.  Enrollment limited to students who have already completed a minimum of 6 SCH of GOVT courses but have not satisfied the statutory requirement for study of the federal and state constitutions.  Ensures compliance with TEC §51.301.

Approval Number................................................................................................. 45.1002.52 25
CIP Area............................................................................................................. Social Sciences
maximum SCH per student......................................................................................................... 1
maximum SCH per course.......................................................................................................... 1
maximum contact hours per course........................................................................................... 16

GOVT 2304       Introduction to Political Science

Introductory survey of the discipline of political science focusing on the history, scope, and methods of the field, and the substantive topics in the discipline.

Approval Number................................................................................................. 45.1001.52 25
CIP Area............................................................................................................. Social Sciences
maximum SCH per student......................................................................................................... 3
maximum SCH per course.......................................................................................................... 3
maximum contact hours per course........................................................................................... 48

GOVT 2301       American Government I (Federal & Texas constitutions)

GOVT 2302       American Government II (Federal & Texas topics)

 

GOVT 2305       Federal Government (Federal constitution & topics)

GOVT 2306       Texas Government (Texas constitution & topics)

Introduction to the theory and practice of politics and government in America at the national, state, and local levels, with special attention to Texas. Topics include political theory, the American and Texas constitutions, federalism, political participation and elections, the institutions of government, and domestic and foreign policies.