For the first time in more than 20 years, The University of Texas at Austin has undergone an extensive review of its Core Curriculum and will implement a new Core Curriculum as the foundational education for all undergraduate students. The new framework is designed to return to what a core curriculum should accomplish: to provide every student with a common learning experience built on rigorous, broad and balanced classes. This foundational education will prepare them for successful careers, thoughtful citizenship, and purposeful lives that benefit our state and nation.
“A core curriculum should have a clear purpose: ensuring that every student from The University of Texas graduates with essential knowledge, critical-thinking skills and the foundation to lead a productive life and contribute to the prosperity of our great state and nation,” said Kevin Eltife, Chairman of The Board of Regents of The University of Texas System. “This new Core reflects the excellence of this University and brings common sense back to its foundation.”
The new Core is the result of a thorough review over the last year by a faculty Core Curriculum Task Force at the direction of UT President Jim Davis. Consisting of 22 distinguished faculty members from across the University — and with input from students, deans, other faculty, and respected academic leaders from other universities — the task force found that since the last review more than 20 years ago, the current Core has deviated from its original purpose and quality. It has ballooned to more than 1,000 disconnected courses of inconsistent quality, many of which have little alignment to core requirements.
The task force determined that a focused, common and rigorous approach would better ensure all UT students receive a foundational knowledge base and critical-thinking skills that the Core Curriculum should provide.
“This is the promise of a first-class education. It cultivates graduates capable of leadership, service, curiosity, and lifelong learning,” said President Jim Davis. “These are the traits we must build in a modern world where information is abundant, but wisdom is scarce. I am grateful to the faculty and students who helped define this new Core Curriculum, and for the leadership and support of Chairman Kevin Eltife and our Board of Regents as we advance this important work.”
According to the task force, students say the current Core serves as a set of random boxes to be checked rather than something tied together by a vision of what educated citizens should know. Additionally, the members noted many of the current classes teach narrow topics that do not provide students with the balanced education that should complement their more specialized in-major studies.
For example, while standard U.S. History classes are available, because of the number of specialized courses that also count toward the state U.S. History requirement, a student could fulfill all six hours of U.S. History and never study the American Revolution, the U.S. Constitution, the Civil War, World War I, the Great Depression, World War II and other defining moments in the history of our country.
Structure of the Proposed New Core
The proposed new Core restores the idea that every graduate of UT should share a common and balanced learning experience. All students will explore fundamental questions of human meaning and purpose, citizenship and self-government, scientific discovery, and the opportunities and challenges of technological innovation.
In contrast to the present Core’s 10 component areas, the task force is proposing a Core structured by three key pillars: Arts and Humanities, Social Sciences, and STEM. Students will take courses in areas such as Great Questions of Human Life, Masterworks of Literature, Western Civilization, World Politics and Culture, Principles of American Politics, Great Ideas in Science, and Computer Science and AI. Specialized electives will continue to be available to students, but those classes will no longer be eligible for the Core. Full details for the new Core can be found here.
“The strength of a general education requirement is not measured by the number of choices in a course catalog, but by the quality and coherence of what students learn,” said William Inboden, Executive Vice President and Provost at UT Austin. “A more rigorous core will ensure our students develop the knowledge, skills, and values essential for professional success, thoughtful citizenship, and flourishing lives.”
President Davis identified core curriculum review as a top priority in early 2025 shortly after he was appointed interim president. He charged Provost Inboden with assembling the task force, which officially formed in October and presented its draft recommendations to leadership this summer.
“The faculty approached this work thoughtfully and with a shared commitment to what a UT education should provide every student,” said Devin Stauffer, chair of the Core Curriculum Task Force. “The result is a more focused and ambitious framework, shaped by broad expertise across the University, and designed to give every graduate a meaningful foundation.”
In addition to establishing a better framework to prepare students, the new Core also satisfies the requirements of SB 37, passed by the Texas Legislature and signed by Governor Greg Abbott last June.
Implementation
UT will implement the new Core Curriculum in phases, beginning with the introduction of new courses in fall 2027. The phased approach will allow the University to expand teaching capacity, maintain instructional quality, and support students’ progress toward graduation.
Faculty across many disciplines will teach courses in the new Core and all will be invited to propose new or adapted courses that fulfill the new Core requirements. Throughout the duration of the 2026-2027 academic year, the University will engage existing faculty to teach classes in the new Core, hire new faculty to fill gaps in teaching and assess classes in the existing Core that do not meet the new standards. UT will continue to work closely with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board on revisions to statewide standards at a later date.
