COLLEGE STATION, Texas — More than 250 courses across the Texas A&M University System will stop counting toward students’ core curriculum requirements after regents approved a sweeping review of general-education offerings.
The changes affect all 11 universities in the system and include courses focused on Black and Latino history, ethnic studies, women’s and gender studies, climate change and social justice, according to reporting by the Texas Tribune and the Houston Chronicle.
The courses are not necessarily being canceled. Universities may continue offering them as electives, but they will no longer satisfy part of the state-required core curriculum for new students beginning in fall 2027. That distinction could affect enrollment because students often prioritize classes that count toward graduation requirements.
At Texas A&M’s flagship campus in College Station, 78 courses were removed from the core list, representing roughly a 30% reduction, the Tribune reported. Other institutions affected include Prairie View A&M University, a historically Black university, as well as Texas A&M campuses in San Antonio, Corpus Christi, Kingsville, Texarkana and Victoria.
The review followed Texas Senate Bill 37, which requires governing boards at public universities to determine whether core courses are “foundational and fundamental” and whether they prepare students for civic and professional life. The law gives politically appointed boards a larger role in overseeing general-education requirements.
Supporters say the revised lists will create a more focused core curriculum and ensure required courses provide broadly applicable academic and workforce skills. Critics argue that removing ethnic-studies and Black-history classes from the core may make those subjects less visible and less accessible to students who might not otherwise encounter them.
For Black students and families, the impact may be especially significant at Prairie View A&M and other diverse campuses. Courses examining race, culture and the history of Black Texans can provide context for present-day debates involving education, voting rights, housing, health and economic opportunity.
Texas A&M’s current catalog describes the core curriculum as a foundation for understanding human cultures and developing civic responsibility, critical thinking and communication skills. The newly approved course lists will determine which classes can fulfill that mission for incoming students in the 2027–28 academic year.
Sources: Texas Tribune, Sept. 3, 2026; Houston Chronicle, Sept. 3, 2026; and the Texas A&M University catalog.
