The University of Houston is considering removing nearly 40% of the courses currently offered in its core curriculum as administrators work to comply with a new Texas law that reshapes requirements for public universities, according to the Houston Chronicle.
The proposed changes would eliminate about 100 courses from the university’s core curriculum, including classes such as “Intro to Global Climate Change,” “Black Liberation Theology,” “Introduction to Women’s Studies” and “Introduction to LGBT Studies,” according to documents obtained by the Houston Chronicle.
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If approved, the changes would significantly reduce the number of general education options available to undergraduate students, though the courses themselves could still be offered outside the core curriculum. Faculty members have expressed concerns that doing so could reduce enrollment in those classes and create registration bottlenecks in the remaining core offerings.
The proposed changes stem from Senate Bill 37, a law passed by the Texas Legislature in 2025 that requires colleges and universities to review their core curriculum using new standards. The law directs institutions to ensure core courses are “foundational” to a sound education and necessary to prepare students for the workforce and civic life, according to the Chronicle.
According to the report, a University of Houston working group evaluated every core course and recommended retaining nearly 160 courses while removing roughly 100 others. The recommendations are currently in draft form and have been shared with faculty for feedback before a final proposal is presented to the UH System Board of Regents in August.
In a statement to the Houston Chronicle, university officials emphasized that no final decisions have been made.
“Based on that framework, the working group prepared draft recommendations, which have been provided to faculty for feedback. These recommendations are just one step in a broader review process and do not represent final decisions. The university leadership will evaluate the recommendations, which must ultimately be approved by the UH System Board of Regents,” the university said.
The Chronicle reported that while several courses focused on politically divisive topics are among those recommended for removal, the proposed cuts are not limited to those subjects. Some race and ethnic studies courses would remain in the core, while others, along with courses covering political movements, social class and activism, were recommended for removal.
Faculty members have criticized both the recommendations and the review process. The University of Houston chapter of the American Association of University Professors has called on the university to halt the review, arguing that faculty were largely excluded from the decision-making process and that the university has interpreted Senate Bill 37 more broadly than required.
Some professors also worry the changes could make it harder for students to enroll in required classes, potentially delaying graduation and reducing enrollment in smaller academic departments that rely on core curriculum courses.