The University of Houston plans to eliminate 40 percent of its core curriculum requirements under a 2025 state law.
As first reported by the Houston Chronicle, UH officials are currently finalizing a proposal to bring before University of Houston System regents at the August board meeting.
The Chronicle reported that approximately 100 courses are on the chopping block. Examples include:
- Black Liberation Theology
- Black Liberation Studies
- Intro to LGBT Studies
- Intro to Women’s Studies
- Latino Leadership, Activism, and Organizing
- Mexican American Urban Communities
- Sexuality and Society
The Chronicle further reported that while UH will eliminate core eligibility for coursework explicitly grounded in grievance studies, government and history coursework discussing “histories for specific demographics” was not impacted.
The review in question is required under Senate Bill 37, a measure state lawmakers passed in 2025. The new law also requires boards of regents to conduct a review of all general education curricula every five years.
General education requirements are a set of courses all students must complete, regardless of major. Higher education authors Jason Brennan and Phil Magness have criticized these mandates as a subsidy for economically unsustainable programs that frequently protect woke curricula from accountability.
Faculty may still teach these topics, subject to the regular curriculum development process, under current law.
UH completed this review over the winter. UH System regents eliminated the first cohort of low-performing programs at their May meeting.
Other university systems are expected to make similar announcements this fall.
The University of Houston System oversees three educational institutions. It is overseen by a Board of Regents that is appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Texas Senate. Jack Moore is the current board chairman.
