Jun 10, 2023  
2017-2018 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
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2017-2018 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Undergraduate Degree Requirements

Each student is personally responsible for completing all requirements established for his or her degree by the University, college, and department. It is the student’s responsibility to inform himself or herself of these requirements. A student’s advisor may not assume these responsibilities. Any substitution, waiver, or exemption from any established requirement or academic standard may be accomplished only with appropriate approval.

In addition to the requirements listed below, other requirements for a given degree and major may be determined by consulting the portion of the catalog devoted to the particular college or school offering the degree. International students must fulfill all requirements but should consult the special provisions described in Admission of International Students: Undergraduate Study  of this catalog.

  1. General Education Requirements: 41 semester hours selected from courses in 6 categories (see table below).
    General education, the foundation of the undergraduate collegiate experience, encompasses the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values that are obtained from studies in communication, mathematics, social and natural sciences, and humanities. General education is unbounded by academic disciplines and honors the relationships among bodies of knowledge. General education develops the cognitive process of reasoning essential for effective functioning and self-directed learning. General education provides opportunities for the student:
    • to think logically, critically, and creatively;
    • to communicate effectively both orally and in writing;
    • to read extensively and perceptively;
    • to explore moral and aesthetic values, social relationships, and critical thinking through the humanities;
    • to understand the importance of key social institutions, ethics and values, and how individuals influence events and function with others in these institutions throughout the world;
    • to appreciate creative and aesthetic expressions along with their impact on individuals and cultures;
    • to express, define, and logically explore questions about the world through mathematics;
    • to use computer technology to communicate and to solve problems;
    • to use acquired facts, concepts, and principles of the physical and natural sciences in applying the scientific process to natural phenomena;
    • to perceive the importance of wellness and values in human life;
    • to manifest a commitment to life long learning.
 

These outcomes will be acquired in the general education requirements with additional depth obtained in the curriculum of the major and through participation in extracurricular activities.

Common Catalog Statement Regarding General Education

Effective Fall Semester 2004, each institution in the State University and Community College System of Tennessee (The Tennessee Board of Regents System) will share a common lower-division general education core curriculum of forty-one (41) semester hours for baccalaureate degrees. Lower-division means freshman and sophomore courses. The courses comprising the general education curriculum are contained within the following subject categories:

Baccalaureate Degrees*
  Communication 9 hours**
  Humanities and/or Fine Arts 9 hours
    (At least one course must be in literature.)  
  Social/Behavioral Sciences 6 hours
  History 6 hours***
  Natural Sciences 8 hours
  Mathematics 3 hours
    Total 41 hours
   
 

*Foreign language courses are an additional requirement for Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degrees. The B.A. degree requires proficiency in a foreign language equivalent to completion of two years of college-level work.

**Six hours of English Composition and three hours in English oral presentational communication are required.

***Students who plan to transfer to Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) universities should take six hours of United States History (three hours of Tennessee History may substitute). Students who plan to transfer to University of Tennessee System universities or to out-of-state or private universities should check requirements and take the appropriate courses.

Although the courses designated by Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) institutions to fulfill the requirements of the general education subject categories vary, transfer of the courses is assured through the following means:

  • Upon completion of an A.A. or A.S. degree, the requirements of the lower-division general education core will be complete and accepted by a TBR university in the transfer process.
  • If an A.A. or A.S. is not obtained, transfer of general education courses will be based upon fulfillment of complete subject categories. (Example: If all eight hours in the category of Natural Sciences are complete, then this “block” of the general education core is complete.) When a subject category is incomplete, course-by-course evaluation will be conducted. The provision of block fulfillment pertains also to students who transfer among TBR universities.
  • Institutional/departmental requirements of the grade of “C” will be honored. Even if credit is granted for a course, any specific requirements for the grade of “C” by the receiving institution will be enforced. In certain majors, specific courses must be taken also in general education. It is important that students and advisors be aware of any major requirements that must be fulfilled under lower-division general education.

Courses designated to fulfill general education by Tennessee Tech University are published below. A complete listing of the courses fulfilling general education requirements for all system institutions is available on the TBR website (https://www.tbr.edu/academics/transfer-and-articulation) under Transfer and Articulation Information.

TTU Courses Recommended for the TBR General Education Core

Communication (9 hours)

English composition (6 hours)
ENGL 1010 - English Composition I   3
ENGL 1020 - English Composition II   3
English oral presentational communication (3 hours)
COMM 2025 - Fundamentals of Communication   3
PC 2500 - Communicating in the Professions   3

Mathematics (3 hours)

MATH 1010 - Math for General Studies   3
MATH 1130 - College Algebra   3
MATH 1420 - Geometry Concepts for Teachers   3
MATH 1530 - Introductory Statistics   3
MATH 1630 - Finite Mathematics   3
MATH 1710 - Pre-calculus Algebra   3
MATH 1720 - Pre-calculus Trigonometry   3
MATH 1730 - Pre-calculus Mathematics   5
MATH 1830 - Applied Calculus   3
MATH 1910 - Calculus I   4

History (6 hours)

HIST 2010 - Early United States History   3
HIST 2020 - Modern United States History   3

Humanities and/or Fine Arts (9 hours)

At least one literature course, selected from those marked with an asterisk (*), must be included in the 9 hours.
ART 1030 - Art Appreciation   3
*ENGL 2130 - Topics in American Literature   3
*ENGL 2235 - Topics in British Literature   3
*ENGL 2330 - Topics in World Literature   3
FLST 2520 (3520) The Cultures and Peoples of North Africa   3
FREN 2510 - French Culture and Civilization   3
GERM 2520 - German Culture and Civilization   3
HIST 2210 - Early Western Civilization   3
HIST 2220 - Modern Western Civilization   3
HIST 2310 - Early World History   3
HIST 2320 - Modern World History   3
HIST 1310 - Science and World Cultures   3
MUS 1030 - Music Appreciation   3
PHIL 1030 - Introduction to Philosophy   3
RELS 2010 - Introduction to Religious Studies   3
SPAN 2510 - Spanish Culture and Civilization   3
SPAN 2550 - Latin American Culture and Civilization   3
THEA 1030 - Introduction to Theatre   3

Social/Behavioral Sciences (6 hours)

AGBE 2010 - World Food and Society   3
ANTH 1100 - Introduction to Anthropology   3
ECON 2010 - Principles of Microeconomics   3
ECON 2020 - Principles of Macroeconomics   3
ESS 1100 - Introduction to Environmental Studies   3
EXPW 2015 - Concepts of Health and Wellness   3
GEOG 1012 - Cultural Geography   3
GEOG 1130 - Geography of Natural Hazards   3
POLS 1030 - American Government   3
PSY 1030 - Introduction to Psychology   3
SOC 1010 - Introduction to Sociology   3
WGS 2010 - Introduction to Women and Gender Studies   3

Natural Sciences (8 hours)

ASTR 1010 - Introduction to Modern Astronomy   4
ASTR 1020 - Introduction to Modern Astronomy   4
BIOL 1010 - Introduction to Biology I   4
BIOL 1020 - Introduction to Biology II   4
BIOL 1105 - Foundations of Biology   4
  (formerly BIOL 1110 - General Zoology) 4
BIOL 2110 - General Botany  (formerly BIOL BIOL 1120 - General Botany) 4
BIOL 1310 - Concepts of Biology and Environment   3
BIOL 2010 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I   4
BIOL 2020 - Human Anatomy and Physiology II   4
CHEM 1010 - Introductory Chemistry I   4
CHEM 1020 - Introductory Chemistry II   4
CHEM 1110 - General Chemistry I   4
CHEM 1120 - General Chemistry II   4
CHEM 1310 - Concepts of Chemistry   3
GEOG 2100 - Introduction to Meteorology   4
GEOL 1040 - Physical Geology   4
GEOL 1045 - Earth Environment, Resources and Society   4
GEOL 1070 - Concepts of Geology   3
PHYS 1310 - Concepts of Physics   3
PHYS 2010 - Algebra-based Physics I   4
PHYS 2020 - Algebra-based Physics II   4
PHYS 2110 - Calculus-based Physics I   4
PHYS 2120 - Calculus-based Physics II   4
 
  1. Special course requirements:
    1. English must be taken each semester, except the summer, until this requirement is completed. ENGL 1010 -ENGL 1020  may not be dropped. Correspondence credit in ENGL 1010 -ENGL 1020  will not be accepted.
    2. The prerequisite for ENGL 1020  is a grade of C or better in ENGL 1010 , and the prerequisite for a 2000-level English course is a grade of C or better in ENGL 1020 . If a transfer student has completed two semesters of composition and has a grade of D in ENGL 1020 , then the student must repeat ENGL 1020  before beginning the literature courses. ESL classes do not satisfy the ENGL 1010  and ENGL 1020  communication requirement of the general education core, nor do these courses count toward any degree requirements.
    3. Students must take a mathematics course no later than their second semester at TTU and take mathematics each semester thereafter until the mathematics general education core requirement is satisfied.
    4. All students must complete six hours of American History except those students who are majoring in Chemical, Civil, Computer, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering.  If the student has not completed one unit of American History in high school, the student will be required to complete 6 semester hours of American History for the deficiency.
  2. Completion of the curriculum for the major subject and degree chosen, as outlined under the department in which the major is offered. A major is outlined under the chosen curricula and must contain at least 6 hours of 3000 or 4000 level in residence at Tennessee Technological University. 
  3. A minimum of 120 semester hours including 36 hours of 3000 and 4000 level upper-division credit approved courses are required for a baccalaureate degree except for Interdisciplinary Studies majors who are required 45 hours. Not more than 33 semester hours may be earned by correspondence, workshop or extension, or by a combination of these and special examination. Not more than 12 semester hours in music ensembles, Physical Education 1010-1990, and Military Science activity courses may be counted toward graduation. (Not more than 12 semester hours of credit in activity courses may be counted toward the Bachelor’s degree requirement.)  A student transferring credit from a two-year institution must complete a minimum of 60 semester hours at a four-year institution. 
  4. All courses required for the major must be passed with at least a “D” on the final attempt if the student does not withdraw from the course.
  5. A general quality point average of 2.0 (C) and a general average of 2.0 in the courses offered in the major subject. Transfer students also must attain at Tennessee Technological University a general average of 2.0 and an average of 2.0 in the courses taken in the major subject. 
  6. Residence: To meet the residence requirements, a student must complete at least 25 percent of the credit for the degree requirements including a minimum of 24 semester hours of 3000 and 4000 level course credit at Tennessee Technological University.
  7. Students who are majoring in another field but are taking course work in the College of Business must limit credit for the degree in business courses to 30 hours for the 120 hour degree as limited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
  8. Definition of Minors: A minor is 15 hours. A student may elect to complete more than one minor.
    1. A minor in any specific discipline in the College of Arts and Sciences must include 6 Upper Division hours. A minor in English may not include ENGL 1010  or ENGL 1020 . A minor in Mathematics must include MATH 1910  and MATH 1920  and it may not include a course numbered below MATH 1910 .
      A minor for Arts and Sciences students requires the completion of 15 semester hours, including 6 upper-division hours, in a coherent program of study. The criterion of coherence may be met in either of two ways: (1) by following the minor curriculum prescribed by any department or college at TTU, so long as it includes at least 6 upper-division hours; (2) if such a  minor curriculum is not available in the chosen department or college, by taking the 15 semester hours, including 6 at the upper division, in a single discipline—i.e., normally, courses with the same course prefix, but students should check with the department offering the minor before assuming this. Exception: A minor in physics will consist of at least 15 hours of coursework including PHYS 2110 , PHYS 2120 , PHYS 2420 , PHYS 2920  and one upper division physics course.
    2. A minor in Art, Music or Physical Education may contain no more than 4 hours of individual instruction, ensemble, or activity courses. Other minors are defined as follows:

 

 

Agriculture: 15 hours (including 6 upper division hours) approved by the student’s academic advisor.

Art: A minor in art is ART 1010 - Two-Dimensional Design  or ART 2010 - Three-Dimensional Design , ART 1030 - Art Appreciation , ART 2310 - Drawing I, Introduction , and Studio Electives—6 credit hours.

Business: A minor in Business shall consist of ACCT 3720 , BMGT 3510 , MKT 3400 , FIN 3210 , and LAW 3810 . Students must also complete ECON 2010 -ECON 2020  for the Social Science component of their General Education requirements or as General Electives.

Chemistry:  A minor in Chemistry will consist of 18-20 hours including CHEM 3010-3020 and 3410 plus two additional courses chosen from CHEM 2010, 3500, 3510, 3520, 4520, 4610, 4620.  The minimum average GPA in these courses must be 2.0

Coaching:  Students must complete 18 hours and must include EXPW 1150 , EXPW 3091  or EXPW 3092 , EXPW 3180 , EXPW 4032 , EXPW 4171 , EXPW 4540  or EXPW 4550 .

Communication: A minor in communication will consist of COMM 2025  or PC 2500  and at least 4 courses from the offered by the Communication Studies Program, two of the courses must be upper division (3000 and above).  JOUR 2200 - Mass Communication in a Changing Society  can be applied to the minor in communication.

Computer Science:  Students (except Computer Engineering majors) must complete fifteen (15) semester hours of CSC courses including CSC 1310  and at least six (6) upper division CSC hours.

Computer Engineering majors may earn a Computer Science minor by completing the following courses in addition to the computer sciences coursework in the Computer Engineering major: CSC 4570 IT Security  (3 hours), CSC 4575 (5575) Information Assurance and Cryptography  (3 hours).

Education: Any combination of 15 semester hours chosen from Art Education (ARED), Early Childhood Education (ECED), Educational Psychology (EDPY), Elementary Education (ELED), Foundations of Education (FOED), Music Education (MUED), Reading (READ), Secondary Education (SEED), and Special Education (SPED).

Environmental Studies:1 A minor will consist of at 15 hours of coursework, with a minimum of 6 upper-division hours, including the following:  (a) HIST 3900; (b) One of the following: SOC 3600 or AGBE 4120; (c) 9 additional semester hours chosen from: AGET 3110, AGRN 1100, AGRN 1110, AGRN 3230, AGRN 4220, AGRN 4230; BIOL 3120 or 3130 or WFS 3130; BIOL 4130, BIOL 4610, BIOL 4840, ESS 3710, CHEM 4710; ENGL 4930 or ENGL 4931; GEOG 1010, GEOG 3330, GEOL 4100, GEOL 4150, GEOL 4410, GEOL 4650, GEOL 4711, SOC 3600, WFS 4500, including at least one course at the 3000-4000 level and two of the following areas of study: Agriculture, Biology, Chemistry, Geography, Geology, and Sociology (note: WFS is considered to be Biology).

Exercise Science:  Students must complete 18 hours and must include EXPW 3032, EXPW 3170, EXPW 3410, EXPW 4032, EXPW 4420, EXPW 4440.

Foreign Language: A minor in French, German, or Spanish will consist of at least 15 credit hours of coursework including FREN, GERM, SPAN 3010 and FREN, GERM, SPAN 3020 and may not include FREN 2510/3510, GERM 2520/3520, SPAN 2510/3510, or SPAN 2550/3550.

Human Ecology: The minor in Human Ecology consists of 15 semester hours of courses offered by the School of Human Ecology as follows: HEC 1010 , HEC 1020 , HEC 3011  and eight credit hours of HEC electives (3 hours must be upper division).

Humanities: Any combination of 15 semester hours chosen from Art (ART), English (ENGL), Foreign Languages (FREN, GERM or SPAN), Music (MUS), Philosophy (PHIL), and Theatre (THEA). Note: ENGL 1010  -ENGL 1020  may not be included in the minor.

Leadership and Military Science:  A minor in military science requires the completion of 15 semester hours, including 6 upper-division hours.

Manufacturing and Engineering Technology: Students must complete fifteen (15) semester hours to include nine (9) lower division MET hours and six (6) upper division MET hours.2

Music: A minor in music is MUS 1030 - Music Appreciation , MUS 1120 - Harmony I , MUS 3010 - Music History and Literature I  1, MUS 3020 - Music History and Literature II  1, MUS Applied Study2, and MUS Ensemble.

1 Prerequisite: MUS 1030 .

2 Two semesters required.

Professional Communication:  A minor in Professional Communication will consist of: PC 2500 or COMM 2025; and at least 12 additional hours of coursework from the following:PC 3250, PC 3700, PC 3750, PC 4850, PC 4940, PC 4970, PC 4990.

Religious Studies:  A minor will consist of HIST 2310, RELS 2010 and at least six credits from:  ENGL 3600, HIST 4330-4339, HIST 4520, HIST 4530, HIST 4730, PHIL 3010, RELS 4093 and three credits from: ASTR 1010, BIOL 1010, ENGL 2330, ENGL 3500, GEOL 1040, HEC 3565, HIST 1120, NURS 3010, NURS 3020, NURS 3030, SOC 4120, PHIL 2250 or three credits from the previous listing.

Science: Any combination of 15 semester hours chosen from Biology (BIOL), Chemistry (CHEM), Geology (GEOL), and Physics (PHYS).

Social Science: Any combination of 15 semester hours chosen from Criminal Justice (CJ), Economics (ECON), Geography (GEOG), History (HIST), Psychology (PSY), Political Science (POLS), and Sociology(SOC).

Web Design: A minor in Web Design will consist of the following courses: CSC 1070 or an approved programming course, WEBD 1500, WEBD 2300, WEBD 4950, WEBD 4975.

Women and Gender Studies:  A minor in Women and Gender Studies requires completion of WGS 2010 and a minimum of 12 additional hours of course work (including 6 upper division hours) in approved courses.  A minimum of 6 credit hours must be chosen from the following core courses:  ENGL 4731, HIST 4350-4359, HIST 4370, POLS 3400, SOC 2200.  The remaining 6 credit hours may include additional core courses listed above or approved courses that contain a significant focus on women and/or gender, or in which a student may individually contract with course instructor to focus on women and/or gender issues.  These courses include but are not limited to the following:  ENGL 4920, HIST 4360-4369, HIST 4440-4449, POLS 3200, POLS 3800, POLS 4610, SOC 2630, SOC 4210, SOC 4610, HON 4010 and 4900 in various disciplines.

1Exception: Except for Biology majors, students who did not take BIOL 1010-BIOL 1020 must take BIOL 3120 or BIOL 3130/WFS 3130 as part of the 9 additional hours.

2Exception: A minor in Business for Manufacturing and Engineering Technology consists of  ECON 2010 , ECON 3610 ; BMGT 3510 , DS 3520 , ACCT 3720  and BMGT 3630  or BMGT 4520 (5520)  or DS 3620  or DS 3540  or MKT 3400 .
  1. Exams for teaching licensure: All students, irrespective of the College or School in which enrolled who will have completed licensure requirements for teacher education as a part of the total hours required for graduation are required to take the Praxis II (NTE) Examinations: the Core Battery and the appropriate specialty examination(s).
  2. Catalog to follow: To graduate, a student meets the requirements of the catalog effective at the time he or she entered the curriculum, provided graduation is within seven years from that entrance date, or the catalog in effect at the time of graduation. If a student is out of the university at least one full year, the student must meet with the department chairperson upon re-entering into the program to determine which catalog to follow. “Catalog” refers specifically to degree requirements in this section. Degree requirements for all students, regardless of date of enrollment in their curricula, may be subject to change prior to the publication of a new catalog when the implementation of curricular changes is necessary to maintain quality programs. The designated catalog for graduation must be approved by the departmental chairperson if different from the one in effect when a student entered the curriculum or the catalog in effect at the time of graduation. Students entering a curriculum in the summer are expected to follow the catalog for the next academic year. A Tennessee public community college student may select the Tennessee Tech Catalog effective at the time he or she enters the community college if that student enrolls at Tennessee Tech within six years and continues in the major chosen while in community college.
  3. Credit which was earned earlier than ten years prior to the proposed date of graduation will be subject to review and approval by the academic department of the student’s major.
  4. Filing of application for Graduation:  All candidates for an undergraduate degree must file an application for graduation no later than the deadlines provided:
    1. For students planning to graduate in the spring semester, the graduation application must be filed no later than September 1 of the previous year.
    2. For students planning to graduate in the summer semester, the graduation application must be filed no later than December 1 of the previous year.
    3. For students planning to graduate in the fall semester, the graduation application must be filed no later than May 1 of that year.
  5. Completion of requirements policy: With the exception of grades for courses taken at another institution during the student’s final semester before graduation (“transfer grades”), all requirements for graduation, including but limited to substitution forms, grade changes, and requests for exception, must be received by the Graduation Office (Derryberry Room 122) no later than two (2) days prior to graduation date.  In addition, all transcripts related to transfer work must be received by the Graduation Office no later than two (2) weeks after the graduation date.  The receipt of such transcripts more than two (2) weeks after the graduation date will result in the student’s graduation occurring at the end of the next semester.
  6. Tennessee Tech may make reasonable academic adjustments to degree requirements for qualified students with disabilities, as determined by joint agreement of the Office of Disability Services and the Office of Enrollment Management and Student Success.  Students with a disability requiring academic adjustments and accommodations must contact the Office of Disability Services.

Students may be required to take one or more tests designed to measure general education achievement and achievement in major areas as a prerequisite to graduation, for the purpose of evaluation of academic programs. Students should sign up as indicated. Unless otherwise provided for any individual program no minimum score or level of achievement is required for graduation. Participation in testing may be required of all students in selected programs, and of students selected on a sample basis.