HOUSTON — The University of Houston is considering removing nearly 40% of the courses currently offered in its core curriculum. The proposed changes would eliminate about 100 courses from the university’s core curriculum.

A University of Houston working group evaluated every core course and recommended retaining nearly 160 courses while removing roughly 100 others. Courses recommended for removal include "Intro to Global Climate Change," "Black Liberation Theology," "Introduction to Women’s Studies" and "Introduction to LGBT Studies." Some race and ethnic studies courses would remain in the core, while others, along with courses covering political movements, social class and activism, were recommended for removal.

The proposed changes stem from Senate Bill 37, a law passed by the Texas Legislature in 2025. Senate Bill 37 requires colleges and universities to review their core curriculum using new standards. The law directs institutions to ensure core courses are “foundational” to a sound education and necessary to prepare students for the workforce and civic life. In 2025, the university canceled the 'Oppression & Justice' course.

The recommendations are in draft form and have been shared with faculty for feedback. A final proposal will be presented to the UH System Board of Regents in August. The University of Houston chapter of the American Association of University Professors has called on the university to halt the review.

The group argued that faculty were largely excluded from the decision-making process. The chapter argued that the university has interpreted Senate Bill 37 more broadly than required.

Faculty members have expressed concerns that removing courses from the core curriculum could create registration bottlenecks in the remaining core offerings. The proposed core curriculum changes could reduce general education options by 40%, potentially creating registration bottlenecks in remaining core courses.

Texas Senate Bill 37, passed in 2025, mandates that core courses meet criteria for 'foundational' education and workforce preparation, with evaluations required every five years. In 2025, the University of Houston canceled the 'Oppression & Justice' course, indicating prior actions to remove courses perceived as politically or socially charged.