Core Curriculum

What is the Core Curriculum?

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (Coordinating Board), with the assistance of its Undergraduate Education Advisory Committee, designed a 42 semester credit hour (SCH) core curriculum for all undergraduate students in Texas public higher education institutions. The Coordinating Board approved the new core to be implemented in fall 2014. The purpose of the core curriculum is to ensure that Texas undergraduate students enrolled in public institutions of higher education will develop the essential knowledge and skills they need in order to be successful in college, in a career, in their communities, and in life. The core curriculum facilitates the transfer of lower-division course credit among public colleges, universities, and health-related institutions throughout the state.

Beginning in fall 2014, all incoming Freshmen students to Texas public institutions will complete the new core curriculum requirements. Core curriculum courses for all institutions are listed in this Core Curriculum WebCenter Search Facility.

Students enrolled prior to fall 2014 may graduate under the previous rules for the core curriculum and must consult the Core Curriculum WebCenter at http://statecore.its.txstate.edu for a listing of courses.

How does the Core Curriculum work?

If you first enrolled at a Texas public university or college in Fall 1999 or more recently, your degree requirements include a General Education Core Curriculum. Every public institution in Texas has a Core, which is designed to provide a solid foundation for your college education and to make transfers between and among Texas institutions of higher education as smooth and seamless as possible.

You may choose a major which has some more rigorous or more specific requirements than the Core. Most science majors, for instance have more intensive math and science requirements. In these cases, the major requirements have priority. So, switching institutions has become easier, but changing majors may still involve taking some extra courses.

For those and other reasons, no one should enroll in courses, Core Curriculum or otherwise, without consulting with a trained academic advisor.

Are there any additional requirements in the Core Curriculum and Sul Ross State University?

You may choose a major which has some more rigorous or more specific requirements than the Core. Most science majors, for instance, have more intensive math and science requirements. In these cases, the major requirements have priority. So, switching institutions has become easier, but changing majors may still involve taking some extra courses.

For those and other reasons, no one should enroll in courses, Core Curriculum or otherwise, without consulting with a trained academic advisor.