The following words and terms, when used in this subchapter, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
  (1) Avocational Course--A course of study in a subject or activity that is usually engaged in by a person in addition to the person's regular work or profession for recreation or in relation to a hobby, including a community interest course, as defined in Education Code, §130.351(2).
  (2) Board--The governing body of the agency known as the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
  (3) Career and Technical Education Course--A workforce or continuing education college course offered by an institution of higher education for which a high school student may earn credit toward satisfaction of a requirement necessary to obtain an industry-recognized credential, certificate, or associate degree.
    (A) A career and technical education course is listed in the Workforce Education Course Manual (WECM).
    (B) For the purpose of this subchapter, this definition excludes:
      (i) an avocational course;
      (ii) a continuing education course that is ineligible for conversion as articulated college credit; and
      (iii) a continuing education course that does not meet the institution's program or instructor accreditation standards.
  (4) Certificate--A Certificate Program as defined in Education Code, §61.003(12).
  (5) College Board Advanced Placement (also referred to as Advanced Placement or AP)--College-level courses and exams available to secondary students under the auspices of an approved College Board program.
  (6) Commissioner--The Commissioner of Higher Education.
  (7) Coordinating Board--The agency known as the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, including the agency staff.
  (8) Credit--College credit earned through the successful completion of a college career and technical education or academic course that fulfills specific requirements necessary to obtain an industry-recognized credential, certificate, associate degree, or other academic degree.
  (9) Degree-Seeking Student--A student who has filed a degree plan with an institution of higher education or is required to do so pursuant to Education Code §51.9685.
  (10) Dual Credit Course or Dual Enrollment Course--A course that meets the following requirements:
    (A) The course is offered pursuant to an agreement under §4.84 of this subchapter (relating to Institutional Agreements).
    (B) A course for which the student may earn one or more of the following types of credit:
      (i) joint high school and junior college credit under Education Code, §130.008, or
      (ii) another course offered by an institution of higher education, for which a high school student may earn semester credit hours or equivalent of semester credit hours toward satisfaction of:
        (I) a course defined in paragraph (3) of this section that satisfies a requirement necessary to obtain an industry-recognized credential, certificate, or an associate degree;
        (II) a foreign language requirement at an institution of higher education;
        (III) a requirement in the core curriculum, as that term is defined by Education Code, §61.821, at an institution of higher education; or
        (IV) a requirement in a field of study curriculum developed by the Coordinating Board under Education Code, §61.823.
    (C) Dual credit includes a course for which a high school student may earn credit only at an institution of higher education (previously referred to as a dual enrollment course) if the course meets the requirements of this section.
    (D) A student may earn a single grade toward both the college course and the high school credit or may earn two separate grades where the high school grade only reflects a student's mastery of secondary content.
    (E) Dual credit and dual enrollment are synonymous in Title 19, Part 1 of these rules unless otherwise expressly provided by rule.
    (F) Each dual credit course must meet the requirements of this subchapter.
  (11) Equivalent of a Semester Credit Hour--A unit of measurement for a continuing education course, determined as a ratio of one continuing education unit to 10 contact hours of instruction. This may be expressed as a decimal of 1.6 continuing education units of instruction which equals one semester credit hour of instruction. In a continuing education course , not fewer than 16 contact hours are equivalent to one semester credit hour.
  (12) Field of Study Curriculum (FOSC)--A Board-approved set of courses authorized under subchapter B of this chapter (relating to Transfer of Credit, Core Curriculum and Field of Study Curricula) that satisfies lower-division requirements for a baccalaureate degree in a specific academic area at a general academic teaching institution. A field of study curriculum is designed to facilitate transfer of courses toward designated academic degree programs at public junior colleges, public technical institutes, or universities.
  (13) Institution of Higher Education or Institution--A public institution of higher education as defined in Education Code, §61.003(8).
  (14) International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (also referred to as IB)--The curriculum and examinations leading to an International Baccalaureate diploma awarded by the International Baccalaureate Organization.
  (15) Locally Articulated College Credit--Credit earned through a high school course that fulfills specific requirements identified by a college for a career and technical education course and provides a pathway for high school students to earn credit toward a technical certificate or technical degree at a partnering institution of higher education upon high school graduation.
  (16) Program of Study Curriculum (POSC)--A block of courses which is designed to progress in content specificity for an industry or career cluster while also incorporating rigorous college and career readiness standards, authorized under Education Code §61.8235. A POSC generally incorporates multiple entry and exit points for participating students with portable demonstrations of technical or career competency, including credit transfer agreements or industry-recognized credentials.
  (17) Public Two-Year College--Any public junior college, public technical institute, or public state college as defined in Education Code, §61.003.
  (18) School District--Under this subchapter, school district includes a charter school or district operating under Education Code, chapter 12, unless otherwise specified.
  (19) Semester Credit Hour--A unit of measure of instruction, represented in intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement, that reasonably approximates one hour of classroom instruction or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours out of class student work for each week over a 15-week period in a semester system or the equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time. An institution is responsible for determining the appropriate number of semester credit hours awarded for its programs in accordance with federal definitions, requirements of the institution's accreditor, and commonly accepted practices in higher education.

Source Note: The provisions of this §4.83 adopted to be effective May 16, 2024, 49 TexReg 3247