Texas public universities have removed or reclassified hundreds of courses from their general-education core requirements after a new state law and heightened political scrutiny. Major cuts include 350 courses at Texas A&M, 133 at the University of Houston, and 113 at UT Austin. Some programs were closed and the AAUP sued Texas Tech alleging constitutional violations; enrollment across the system remained steady through 2024.
Hundreds Of Core Courses Cut At Texas Universities After New State Law
Texas A&M University has dropped 350 core listings across its system. (Dreamstime)
Public universities across Texas have reclassified or removed hundreds of courses from their general-education core requirements as they respond to a new state law and increased political scrutiny.
Major Changes Across Systems
Texas A&M University system removed core status from roughly 350 courses systemwide. The University of Houston reclassified about 133 courses, and the University of Texas at Austin removed 113 courses from its list of core offerings. Affected subjects include gender and women's studies, LGBTQ issues, race, and climate change.
Program Closures And Course Cuts
Some institutions went beyond reclassifying courses. Texas A&M eliminated its Women's and Gender Studies degree program, while Texas State University discontinued a course titled LGBTQ+ Communication Studies. The Texas Tech University System announced that programs centered on sexual orientation and gender identity would be closed after a review intended to ensure compliance with state and federal law.
Andrew Martin, of the Texas Tech chapter of the American Association of University Professors, told The Hill: 'There is no law in Texas that forbids the teaching of particular content in higher ed classrooms. We are hopeful that there will be court decisions that will restore our ability to teach the curriculum as dictated by our expertise, rather than by a political agenda.'
Legal And Professional Fallout
The AAUP subsequently sued Texas Tech in federal court, alleging the policy violates the First and Fourteenth Amendments. The changes have also affected faculty recruitment and retention: philosophy professor Martin Peterson left Texas A&M for Southern Methodist University, a private institution in Texas.
Context And Enrollment
The shifts follow a state law approved last year that prescribes standards for the content of core university courses, emphasizing concepts lawmakers described as fundamental to workforce preparation and civic life. Despite the controversy, overall enrollment at Texas public universities remained steady through 2024, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.
Note: Institutions and advocacy groups continue to debate whether the reclassifications reflect lawful curricular alignment or an erosion of academic freedom and classroom breadth.
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