The TAMU-Blinn TEAM Program observes certain standards about enrollment. It’s important to ensure that your Blinn College and Texas A&M University class schedules comply with the TEAM contract before the semester gets underway. Remember that the long term target for full admission from the program is 45 Blinn credits with 3.0 GPA, and 15 A&M credits with 3.0 GPA.
Did you know that Blinn College offers many courses that DO NOT transfer to A&M?
You need to be registered for at least 12 total credit hours each semester that are acceptable to A&M. This total refers to your transferable Blinn credits plus A&M credits. Ensure that all Blinn courses for which you are registered were suggested by an advisor, reviewed by an advisor, or that you have personally confirmed course transferability using the TAMU Transfer Course Equivalency website (https://compass-ssb.tamu.edu/pls/PROD/bwxkwtes.P_TransEquivMain?te_type=crse).
Courses that do not transfer from Blinn to A&M include some that are “developmental” in nature. These courses begin with a zero (i.e., MATH 0312). Others that do not transfer are part of Blinn’s vocational and technical programs (i.e., courses that lead to a certification in a career area, such as Radiologic Technology).
In the example below, the Course Equivalency website indicates that History 1301 at Blinn College is equivalent to History 105 at Texas A&M:
In the example below, the vocational course ACNT 1303 (Introduction to Accounting I) is non-transferable to A&M. Don’t confuse this course with ACCT 2301 (Principles of Financial Accounting), which is equivalent to A&M’s Accounting 229.
One other possibility is that a course can be transferable to A&M, but not equivalent to any particular course at A&M. An example is ARTS 1301 (Art Appreciation). The credit hours for ARTS 1301 are transferable (and will count for TEAM purposes), but A&M does not offer this course. ARTS 1301 will usually count as a general elective, or might (no guarantee) be substitutable in some majors for other degree requirements. As a general rule, avoid taking a course that does not have equivalency with an A&M course.
What is an Appropriate Class Schedule for TEAM?
Everyone must be enrolled for a minimum of three credit hours at A&M, in the form of a “solid course.” Solid courses are in “academic” subject areas (as opposed to vocational or technical) such as Mathematics, History, etc. Solid courses also satisfy core curriculum or degree requirements. If your desired curriculum allows any general electives, you may take a three-hour or four-hour course that counts as an elective. ROTC courses, and/or courses that are not three or more credit hours, do not count as solid academic courses for TEAM purposes. Stated another way, it is not the mere enrollment in three credit hours that is most important; enrollment in a solid academic course (which by definition is at least three credit hours) is what is essential to TEAM rule compliance. (Members of the Corps of Cadets should take their four-credit hour courses at Blinn College to keep their Blinn hour total on track, due to having to take extra credit hours at A&M each semester for ROTC.)
There is no minimum hour requirement for enrollment at Blinn, but your A&M credits plus Blinn credits must total at least 12 each semester. The goal is for students to average 15 credits per semester to stay on track for a timely graduation.
TEAM students are normally limited to a maximum of five A&M credit hours per semester. It is advisable to add a one-credit hour “spare” course to your schedule, even if the spare doesn’t satisfy a particular requirement. This is because TEAM students who take only one course, and later have to drop it to avoid a low grade, are actually withdrawn from the university. Withdrawing would mean an end to attendance at Aggie sports events, on-campus residency, entry to the Student Recreation Center, etc. However, if the student had added a “spare” one-credit hour A&M course, a Q-drop would be possible because the student would still be enrolled in a course after dropping the troublesome course. Thus, eligibility for A&M student privileges would continue for the remainder of the semester, and major, mid-semester lifestyle changes would be avoided.
One-credit hour courses tend to fill quickly, however, if you monitor course availability in Howdy you may be able to find an opening as students make schedule changes. You will be able to make schedule adjustments at A&M through the fifth class day, whereas all schedule adjustments at Blinn must be concluded before the semester begins.
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