Texas A&M System Regents Approve Core Curricula After Comprehensive Review
Board certifies compliance with Senate Bill 37 ahead of state deadline
BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, Texas — The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents on Thursday approved the core curricula of A&M System universities after a comprehensive, course-by-course review required by Senate Bill 37.
The Board certified that the approved general education courses comply with Texas Education Code Section 51.315 and A&M System policy.
Senate Bill 37 requires governing boards to review general education curricula at least once every five years. The first review must be completed by Jan. 1, 2027.
The law directs regents to ensure that core courses are foundational to a sound college education, prepare students for civic and professional life, equip them for the workforce and provide the breadth of knowledge required by accreditation standards. Boards also must consider the tuition, fees and time to graduation associated with general education requirements.
“Not every worthwhile course has to be a core course,” said Robert L. Albritton, chairman of the Board of Regents. “The core is the foundation every undergraduate carries into a degree. It should be focused, rigorous and worth the time and tuition students invest. The Legislature asked governing boards to take responsibility for that, and we have.”
The Texas Core Curriculum consists of 42 semester credit hours and represents the common academic foundation required of most undergraduates at Texas public universities.
The approved university lists retain 1,254 course entries, add 26 and remove 350 from core curriculum menus. Some courses are cross-listed under multiple academic rubrics, so the figures represent catalog entries rather than unique classes.
Removal from the core curriculum does not, by itself, cancel a course or prohibit a university from offering it. It changes whether the course may be used to satisfy a student’s general education requirement.
“This was serious work, done campus by campus and course by course,” Chancellor Glenn Hegar said. “The result respects the distinct mission of each university while giving students, parents and taxpayers confidence that every course in the core serves a clear purpose.”
The Board will certify its compliance to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the legislative committees responsible for higher education. A&M System universities also will provide annual updates to the Board regarding future changes to their core curricula.
About The Texas A&M University System
The Texas A&M University System is one of the largest and most impactful higher education systems in the country, with an annual budget of $9.1 billion. Its statewide network includes 12 universities, a comprehensive health science center, eight state agencies, Texas A&M–Fort Worth and the Texas A&M–RELLIS Campus. The A&M System also plays a direct role in U.S. national security as a member of the teams that manage and operate Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Pantex Plant for the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration. The A&M System serves approximately 175,000 students and reaches millions more through research, service and outreach programs each year. With nearly $1.6 billion in annual research expenditures, the A&M System fuels innovation, supports communities and drives Texas’ economy forward.
