Texas A&M - General Studies

07/10/2025

11/17/2020

The deadline to Q-drop courses for the fall 2020 semester is Monday, November 30th at 5:00 PM. Please note that this is not the deadline for withdrawing; the withdrawal deadline has passed. To Q-drop you will need to have a virtual walk-in academic advising meeting with a Transition Academic Programs (TAP) academic advisor. You do not need an appointment. Due to the large number of students who will likely want to Q-drop, we recommend that you not wait until November 30th and instead meet now with a TAP academic advisor.

08/17/2020

If you are currently in a major but for whatever reason want to move to another major, but need to improve your GPR and/or complete required courses to get accepted into a new major, you should consider General Studies for one or more semesters. Beginning on the eleventh class day, September 2nd, go to the Transition Academic Programs website at https://tap.tamu.edu
If fall ‘20 is your first semester at TAMU, click on the TAP Applications sub-heading. Then choose, complete and submit the FISH FORM.
If fall ‘20 is your second or greater semester at TAMU, click on the TAP Applications sub-heading. Then choose, complete and submit the TAP Application.
If you have successfully submitted your FISH FORM or TAP Application, you will receive in 3-4 minutes an e-mail to your TAMU e-address that confirms your completed document has been received.
Don’t delay, both the FISH FORM and the TAP Application will be available until noon on November 25th. They will not be available again until after final fall ‘20 semester grades are posted in mid-December.

11/17/2019

If you are currently in a major but for whatever reason want to move to another major, but need to improve your GPR and/or complete required courses to get accepted into a new major, you should consider General Studies for one or more semesters. Go to the Transition Academic Programs website at https://tap.tamu.edu
If fall ‘19 is your first semester at TAMU, click on the TAP Applications sub-heading. Then choose, complete and submit the FISH FORM.
If fall ‘19 is your second or greater semester at TAMU, click on the TAP Applications sub-heading. Then choose, complete and submit the TAP Application.
If you have successfully submitted your FISH FORM or TAP Application, you will receive in 3-4 minutes an e-mail to your TAMU e-address that confirms your completed document has been received.
Don’t delay, both the FISH FORM and the TAP Application will be available until noon on November 28. They will not be available again until after final fall ‘19 semester grades are posted in mid-December.

02/05/2019

Thank you to Josette Gonzales and BB Gaytan for taking the time today to help me and the Transition Academic Programs Office at TAMU-College Station better understand how we can better serve each other and our TAMU students. It is exciting to see and be a part of the commitment that Texas A&M has made to the Rio Grande Valley!

10/07/2016

Completing your first semester in General Studies?
If you are currently in your first semester in General Studies (GEST) and will need another semester in GEST to complete the requirements necessary to gain acceptance into your intended major field of study, be sure to complete and submit the on-line Application to Remain In or Change Major to General Studies.
The application will be available on-line beginning October 18th. Go to the Transition Academic Programs (TAP) website at https://tap.tamu.edu to find the application.

Welcome to Transition Academic Programs The General Studies major major is designed to accommodate students needing one or two semesters to complete course work necessary for entrance into a specific major course of study. It is very important to determine and declare your desired major as soon as p...

10/07/2016

Mid-term grades will be reported to the Registrar on October 17th. Any student who has earned fewer than 30 TAMU semester hours should receive mid-term grades. This is an opportunity for you to evaluate your academic efforts and how they equate into academic progress for your current or future major.
If you currently are not a General Studies student and have any questions about possibly changing into a major, you may want to come by the Transition Academic Programs advising office. We are located on the third floor of Hotard Hall.
For those of you who are currently participating in General Studies, this is an excellent time to check on your progress to getting into the major you have designated or perhaps making an adjustment toward another major you have decided to pursue.

08/01/2016

August 8 is the day when continuing students will be able to resume open registration. If you are uncertain about courses to take for the fall semester, please come by and see an academic advisor in the transition academic programs office. Our reception area is located on the third floor of Hotard Hall.
Walk in advising is available Monday through Friday from 8:15 AM to 11:30 AM. Afternoon appointments for academic advising can be made online.

11/13/2015

Early registration has begun! General Studies students should check their registration date and time for when they can early register. In addition, all students should check to see if they have any holds on their HOWDY account that would prevent them from registering for spring 2016 classes.
Transition Academic Programs Advising is available on a walk-in basis only beginning November 17 through the first full week of the spring semester. Advisors can be seen from 8:15 - 11:30 and 1:30 - 4:30, Monday through Friday.

05/18/2015

Summer school courses and GEST majors with a cumulative GPA below 2.00. GEST students who have a TAMU cumulative GPA below 2.00 are not permitted to enroll in summer courses at TAMU. The condensed nature of summer courses typically makes them more difficult than when they are offered during a 15-week semester. Please remember, too, that grades from a college or university other than Texas A&M will not impact your TAMU GPA.

05/18/2015

Summer school and students in General Studies --- the first 5-week summer school session and the 10-week summer session begin on Tuesday, June 2nd. The final Add/Drop day for Summer Session I is Friday, June 5th. GEST students who have a cumulative GPA below 2.00 are NOT permitted to enroll in TAMU summer courses.

05/18/2015

By Thursday, May 21st, General Studies and TEAM students who have a cumulative GPA below 2.00 and, therefore, a grade point deficit will receive an e-mail from General Studies Director of Advising, Dr. Karl P. Mooney or from the Executive Director of Transition Academic Programs, Dr. Kriss Boyd. GEST/TEAM students who have grade point deficits of -1 to -4 will be directed to file an appeal for continued enrollment. GEST/TEAM students who have a grade point deficit of -5 to -9 will be offered the opportunity to appeal for continued enrollment but must identify how they plan to improve their academic performance so that they will not have a cumulative GPA below 2.00 at the end of the fall 2015 semester. GEST/TEAM students who have a grade point deficit of -10 or worse will be informed that unless their poor academic performance during fall 2015 can be attributed to extenuating circumstances over which they had no control, they are dismissed from being in General Studies/TEAM. Any claims of extenuating circumstances must be supported by official documentation. Accurate contact information is also required since all such documentation will be verified by contact with the source(s) of its origination. Students who have a grade point deficit of -18 or worse will be informed by the University that they have been suspended from TAMU.