Texas A&M University Degree Programs
Texas A&M University appears in our ranking of the Top 50 Most Affordable Military-Friendly Online Colleges and Universities.
Texas A&M University is the largest university in the state and the second-largest university in the U.S. with over 63,000 students enrolled at its College Station campus and another 5,700 at its branch campuses in Galveston and Qatar. National Science Foundation records show that the university receives nearly a billion dollars in research grants per year.
Texas A&M is organized into 18 colleges and schools with an emphasis on student enrichment in each field of study. Undergraduate students are encouraged to pursue studies in over 130 programs, and graduate students fine-tune their expertise in one of 252 different degree opportunities. Undergraduates can explore a major field of study as well as a minor field to expand their horizons. When the regimen of school allows, students can choose from over 1,000 student organizations and an incredible array of student activities. Texas A&M operates internationally with schools in the U.S., South America, and Asia, allowing students the opportunity to study abroad. The university encourages students to pursue classes through the Internet as well as at traditional brick-and-mortar classrooms.
Undergraduate work is organized into different schools to increase efficiency and drive student involvement. Those schools are:
- College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
- College of Architecture
- Mays Business School
- College of Dentistry
- College of Education & Human Development
- College of Engineering
- College of Geosciences
- Bush School of Government & Public Service
- School of Innovation
- School of Law
- College of Liberal Arts
- College of Medicine
- College of Nursing
- Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy
- School of Public Health
- School of Science
- College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
- Transition Academic Programs
The totality of opportunities for undergraduates to explore new areas is enhanced by a collaborative spirit between the different schools and colleges within the university. Students often major in a field of study in one school while seeking a minor in another. Each college maintains a crew of professional advisors to help students coordinate these studies, finding ways for students to get the most out of their education.
The difference between a major and a minor degree is significant at Texas A&M University. Within the College of Sciences, the Department of Mathematics offers both a major and a minor degree. The major requires a minimum of 40 semester credit hours in mathematics out of the 120-hour degree. The degree also specifies various science courses where the math learned is applied directly to the subject matter. A minor in mathematics requires only 16 semester credit hours with proof of knowledge application in the graduate’s major area. The combination of mathematical theory with demonstrable use of knowledge raises the Texas A&M University Mathematics Department to a ranking of 17 in the US News and World Report list of the Best Global Universities in Mathematics.
Texas A&M University offers more graduate-level courses than undergraduate courses. These degrees provide continuing education in the student’s major area of study. Traditionally, a student is required to show some employment time in their field before entering a graduate study. There are exceptions, but those few who jump from an undergraduate degree to a graduate degree at Texas A&M University are the exception.
A Master of Arts in English is pursuable in two tracks. A minimum of 30 semester credit hours is required for those students who choose to write a thesis. These students are required to present an accepted thesis proposal before entering the program. They will work on the project while attending the graduate-level courses. For those students not wishing to go through the rigors of writing a thesis, the requirement is to take and pass at least 36 semester credit hours of study. To receive the degree, students must pass a comprehensive exam.
The Doctor of Philosophy in English degree is even more rigorous. To enter the program, the candidate must have fulfilled the requirements and received a master’s degree or reached doctoral level at a recognized educational institution. The doctorate requires a minimum of 64 semester credit hours with a dissertation accepted by the dissertation board. A comprehensive exam must be passed before the doctorate is awarded.
Online degrees are available at the baccalaureate, master, and doctorate levels. Some are offered entirely online, and others are hybrid courses. There are opportunities for students at other Texas universities to work online at Texas A&M University in tandem with the courses they are studying elsewhere. A student can pursue several online degrees at the College of Liberal Arts, including a bachelor degree in history, a master’s degree in English, or a doctorate in communication just to name a few.
About Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University began offering higher learning classes in 1876, which makes it the first public higher-learning institution in Texas. With an emphasis on career building, the university has expanded its operation to include multiple schools of thought as well as into other parts of the world. Texas A&M University has outlets in Galveston, Texas, and Qatar, and has global partnerships with schools in Mexico and Costa Rica.
The university ranks at the top or near the top among colleges in the areas of academic excellence, affordability, and overall value. The university ranks high in on-time graduation, student happiness, and graduates with low student debt. To clinch the crown, Texas A&M has more graduates occupying Fortune 500 CEO positions than any other university in the world.
Texas A&M University Accreditation Details
Texas A&M University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award bachelor, master’s, and doctoral degrees. Each school within the university has additional accreditation from authoritative organizations within their fields. A few of those authorities include:
- American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE)
- Society of American Foresters (SAF)
- National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB)
- Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
- Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)
- American Psychological Association (APA)
- Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET
- Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NSPAA)
- American Bar Association (ABA)
- Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME)
- Accreditation Council of Pharmacy Education (ACPE)
- Council on Education for Public Health (CEPA)
- American Chemical Society (ACS)
- American Veterinary Medical Association on Education (AVMA)
Texas A&M University Application Requirements
Texas laws are specific in regards to university admittance. Each student must complete a Self-Reported Academic Record (SRAR) with accurate information from their high-school transcripts. ACT or SAT scores must be sent through the testing agency directly to Texas A&M. Applications from students who do not complete these two tasks are considered incomplete. Applicants are ranked according to their test scores and the SRAR information. It is advisable that the SRAR include these minimum requirements:
- Four units of English
- Three units of mathematics of Algebra 1 or higher
- Three units of lab science
- Three units of social studies
- One-unit extra unit of any of the above categories or foreign language education
Students who need one or two semesters of coursework to enter the university can apply for admittance into the Transition Academic Program. These courses take place during the summer months. Successful students acquire a fast-track toward admittance to their selected program within the university.
Application requirements for entrance into graduate studies vary. Students should check department websites to discover those requirements.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Texas A&M University runs on a semester schedule with fall and spring being the principal semesters. The tuition for the Fall and Spring semesters averages around $10,900. The tuition rate varies between departments, so a student should seek the Department’s website to lock in the tuition rate. The student has the opportunity when entering Texas A&M to choose between a “lock-in” rate or a “variable” rate. The overall cost for the two semesters for a student that is housed on campus is $28,800 which includes tuition, travel, books, meals, and housing.
To apply for financial aid, fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Students should look for assistance in the form of scholarships, grants, or need adjustments before applying for a Federal Student Loan. Texas A&M University is known as a school with low student debts for its graduates. Seeking help from an advisor is recommended. Federal Student Loans are always available to assist students but should be considered a last resort.
Texas A&M University encourages all students who qualify to apply.