University of Houston cuts core curriculum to comply with Texas law

The University of Houston System Board of Regents has unanimously approved a significant reduction in the flagship campus's core curriculum to comply with Texas Senate Bill 37. The overhaul will remove approximately 100 to 133 courses from the core curriculum for the 2026-27 academic year.

Among the removed courses are those focused on women’s, LGBT, and gender studies, as well as topics such as global climate change. While some courses related to race and gender were cut, others—including those covering Chicano, African American, and U.S. women's history—remain in the core. University officials clarified that the removed courses will remain in the university catalog as electives, and departments may reapply to have them reinstated in the core curriculum.

Senate Bill 37 mandates that public institutions' core courses be foundational to postsecondary education, prepare students for the workforce and civic life, and cover a breadth of knowledge. This move follows similar curriculum changes at the University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University, and Texas Tech University as Texas institutions work toward a January certification deadline.