Texas rejects creationist science degree

AUSTIN, Texas, April 24 (UPI) -- Higher education regulators in Texas Thursday rejected the Institute for Creation Research's application to offer a master's degree in science education.

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board acted a day after its Academic Excellence and Research Committee recommended rejection, the Austin American-Statesman reported. Texas Commissioner of Higher Education Raymund Paredes had said the proposal is flawed.

Paredes found that the institute, based in Dallas, takes the story of creation in Genesis as literally true.

"Whatever the ultimate merit of such views, they clearly stand at odds with the most basic tenets of scientific work such as observation, testing and analysis," Paredes said.

Henry Morris III, the institute's director, said before the full board made its decision that the organization might consider an appeal.

"We do understand very thoroughly that we represent a minority viewpoint in the scientific community," Morris said. "We still feel we teach good science."