It is generally agreed that students at colleges should learn things. For many universities, there is a set core of knowledge that all graduates must have, a collection of foundational skills that will let them approach and analyze novel situations. These are taught to students through distribution requirements (also called core requirements) as we discuss in this article.
For public universities, these requirements can be influenced by the state government. This is why all students at Texas universities have always needed to study at least some Texan history. A recent law passed in Texas has dramatically shifted core requirements for the first time in decades; mandating updated core course requirements by 2027.
In this article, we’re going to look out how that law is playing out at the top public university in Texas: UT Austin. UT has indeed reformed their core curriculum, and have a very positive announcement about it. In this article, we’re going to break down what these changes are, what they mean for students planning to attend UT Austin, and how much any of this should matter to you.
How Has UT Austin’s Core Curriculum Changed?
The new law in Texas did not change the actual course requirements in terms of the knowledge presented. Students must still fulfill the same 42 credit hours of coursework in fundamental fields. Instead, it requires colleges to review and prune the lists of courses which qualify for meeting these requirements, only keeping those deemed foundational, civic focused, and necessary for the workforce.
UT Austin is rolling this out in stages, with their full new core curriculum detailed here. The first change is structural, from ten different areas of concentration to three pillars: Arts and Humanities, Social Sciences, and STEM. This reshuffle doesn’t really change anything, but does make it conceptually easier to discuss.
The biggest change is which courses are counted for the core. A great many courses in history and social science have been removed. Faculty can create and propose new courses, but these must meet the new requirements. In general the new core is significantly more foundational, with fewer options for specialized courses in American history or the social sciences.
The credit requirements for the new core are:
- 15 credits in Arts and Humanities, with courses covering Culture and the Arts, Great Questions of Fundamental Life, Masterworks of Literature, US History, and Western Civilization
- 9 credits in Social Sciences, with courses covering Principles of American Politics, World Politics and Cultures, and Foundations of Social Science
- 12 credits in STEM, with courses covering Great Ideas in Science, Natural Science & Engineering, Math, Statistics, & Data Science, and Computer Science & AI
There are four new core classes which all students will have to take, though there will be flexibility in the other requirements. The required courses are: Great Questions in Human Life, Principles of American Politics, Great Ideas in Science, and Computer Science & AI. Students will need to take these courses at UT Austin, and won’t be able to meet the requirements through transfer credits (though they can meet other core requirements through transfer credits).
The goal is to have all core classes be relatively small, with many sections offered. Thai will let students learn more closely from their teachers, and foster group discussions; this is the ideal at least. This plan still needs to be reviewed for compliance with the new law, but signs point to it meeting the goals with flying colors, and to likely being a benchmark for how other universities in Texas implement changes to their own core curricula.
The Broader Impacts of the New Core Curriculum for Students
This new core curriculum is fine, it covers plenty of topics students should learn about, and has clear and understandable goals. We aren’t sure it’s an upgrade for students however, and in some ways it does feel like a downgrade from past offerings. In this section, we’re going to run through how this changes things for students, and what impacts you may see from it.
Fewer Course Options
This is the biggest downside to the new system. The more focused coursework and more narrowly defined core means there are going to be fewer options for students to explore, especially in the social sciences and humanities. On the one hand, it’s good for students in the US to understand US history and politics. That said, most students already cover this material in high school.
While high schools will not cover this in the same detail and rigor as a college course, many students can gain more by focusing on details they had not heard before, aspects that may have eluded them. By having a broad range of options, students are more likely to find a subject that unexpectedly appeals to them, or something that sparks a new passion. We understand why UT Austin did this, but it is going to limit students’ experiences.
Smaller Departments
Many departments see most of their classes full due to core requirements. Not a lot of students take higher level languages, or upper level history, but schools still need large departments in many of these fields to teach the broad array of core and introductory courses. When these are no longer options for these departments, they will see enrollment numbers fall.
There are arguments for and against the inclusion of various departments, but the broad range of subjects covered by universities, the plurality of majors, means that some will always be undersubscribed. As these departments downsize, students will be left with fewer options, especially for those students who want to major in them. This is going to be felt most strongly in the humanities and social sciences.
UT Austin’s New Core Curriculum and You
If you live in Texas and are planning on applying to one of the public universities in the state, then UT’s core curriculum should matter to you, at least a little bit. It shows how things are going to change, both at UT Austin itself, and at many other schools which are now making the same kinds of adjustments to their core curricula, likely following in UT Austin’s footsteps
This doesn’t mean you should pursue an education outside of Texas; UT Austin was a great university before this change, and it will continue being one after. Texas A&M isn’t going to drop in rankings or prestige due to alterations to its core curriculum. It is something to keep in mind however, especially when building a college list and planning for the future.
The first consideration is your intended major. Many will be unimpacted, but if you are planning on majoring in lesser-subscribed areas of the social sciences or humanities, you may benefit from looking at more schools outside of Texas. These departments are going to be impacted most heavily by these changes, and are likely to have less resources and options for students going forward.
Especially if you intend to major in something politically sensitive, area studies, gender studies, or the like, then the current moves by Texas may make this less tenable in the future. The state government doesn’t have total control over university policies and offerings, but they are exercising what control they do have, and moves like this one are a sign they will continue to interfere going forward.
The other consideration is where you want to live in the future. A majority of college graduates end up living quite close to where they graduated from college. Texas is a lovely state (perhaps a bit hot in the summer), but you may decide that you prefer somewhere else due to legislative choices like that. You may also think this is exactly what you want in a state. Either way, it is something to consider when deciding where you wish to apply to college.
Final Thoughts
The core courses you will be required to take are a very small consideration amidst the mountain of other things you must take into account when applying to college, but they are worth being aware of and considering. At many schools, they will form a central part of your experience, and help you become an educated and informed citizen. We hope this article has helped you understand the changes that are being made to UT Austin’s core curriculum, and how those may impact you.
UT Austin is growing more competitive each year, both for general admission and for their most popular majors, with more and more students in Texas choosing to stick with the school. If you are concerned about your chances of admission to UT Austin, and are looking for help with your application and essays, then Ivy Scholars can help. Our mentors have a deep experience guiding students through every aspect of the admissions process. Schedule a free consultation today to learn more, we’re always happy to hear from you.
