Foundations and General Education

Academics

TSTC West Texas also offers academic courses to prepare those in the Associate degree programs for academic and future career success with a variety of transferable general education courses in English, math, general psychology, humanities, technical writing and business writing.

Arts and Sciences

The Division of Arts and Sciences includes the departments of General Education and Developmental Education.

General Education

The program mission of all general education courses is to provide instruction for students in mathematics and science, the language arts, the humanities and the social/behavioral sciences. These courses should enable the student to solve problems, think critically, and use language effectively orally and in writing. We are committed to language literacy in all its forms as a critical tool for lifelong learning of citizens who will contribute as educated and global citizens to the life of their communities.

  • To prepare the students in two-year degree programs and in certificate programs to succeed in their lives in the workplace through courses tailored for every technical program;
  • To provide instruction in concentrated areas as identified and requested by technical departments;
  • To prepare the students in two-year degree programs and in certificate programs to succeed in their personal lives through better understanding of themselves and others as experienced through such areas as mathematics, science, psychology, art, music, and literature;
  • To prepare students in the fundamentals of mathematics, science, the language arts, the humanities, and the social behavioral sciences so that they may transfer on to baccalaureate programs; and
  • To work with area secondary schools to provide concurrent high school and college instruction.

General Education courses for the associate degree are approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and are transferable to other public colleges and universities in Texas.

Developmental Education

The Foundations Department seeks to raise basic academic skills of enrolled students to help them achieve college success. The department provides a foundational education in a non-credit based format to empower those participating to increase efficiency in mathematics, writing, reading and study skills; the department also provides non-course based instruction for those eligible. The normal length of time for each course, which is one semester, enables the student to progress incrementally in a subject or subjects. Classes are regularly scheduled and fees are assessed. The courses count for student class load, but not for academic credit.

The Foundations Department has laboratories at each location. Many classes are individualized and self-paced to accommodate learning needs. Available lab resources include diagnostic tests, computer-aided instruction, books, and resource materials. Though most students register in the classes for Texas Higher Education Aassessment (THEA) deficiencies, many students enroll to enhance their academic skills.