Texas Core Curriculum Overview
The Texas Core Curriculum is a foundational block of courses that fulfill general education requirements and are transferable across institutions. These courses are designed to provide students with a broad, introductory knowledge base, ensuring they are well-rounded and equipped with the essential skills needed to succeed in both their academic and professional careers, as well as to become productive citizens.
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) developed the Core Curriculum to meet the requirements of the Texas Legislature and align with the general education standards of the University’s accrediting agencies.
The Core Curriculum Council (CCC)
The Core Curriculum Council (CCC) plays a critical role in maintaining the integrity of the Core Curriculum. The CCC is responsible for recommending courses to the Faculty Senate for inclusion in the Core Curriculum. To maintain their designation, courses must not only apply for inclusion but also participate in ongoing assessment and recertification processes.
For more information about the CCC, please visit the Faculty Senate website.
Course Application
Courses seeking a Core Curriculum designation may initiate the request through the Curricular Approval Request System (CARS). The Core Curriculum Council (CCC) will evaluate proposed courses based on specific criteria to ensure they meet the general education expectations set by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB).
Typically Lower Division
Core courses are generally intended to be lower division, with 100- and 200-level courses best suited to meet introductory general education requirements according to THECB guidelines.
Should Be Considered General Knowledge
The course content should be considered general knowledge within the proposed Foundational Component Area.
Should Not Be a "Skills Course"
Courses should not focus solely on the attainment of defined skills, such as competence in foreign languages or musical and artistic performance.
No Curricular Prerequisite (With Exceptions)
Core courses typically should not have a curricular prerequisite, except for sequence courses like mathematics or science.
Recertification
What is recertification? Core Curriculum Recertification is the process by which the Faculty Senate's Core Curriculum Council (CCC) evaluates core courses to ensure they remain appropriate for inclusion. This evaluation considers various factors, including the course's suitability for its Foundational Component Area (FCA), student enrollment, how core objectives are communicated to students, and how these objectives are developed and assessed within the course. requirements Beyond recertification The course must be offered annually. A minimum of 30 students must enroll in the course each year (based on official course census). At least 10% of enrolled students must use the course to meet their core requirement within the FCA. The course must continue to meet state-required teaching objectives specific to its FCA. The course must generate student work (artifacts) that demonstrate engagement with the core objectives. These assignments must be either summative or formative and must not be optional.
Learn More About Recertification
Objectives
Students develop and practice core objectives through 42 semester credit hours distributed across eight Foundational Component Areas (FCA). Each FCA consists of courses that align with the Texas Core Curriculum, and each course is required to address and assess specific core objectives. Critical Thinking and Communication (Written, Oral, and Visual) are mandatory for every core course, regardless of the FCA. Students should be aware that a course is part of the core curriculum and understand how assignments correspond to these core objectives. Courses must generate student work (artifacts) that demonstrate proficiency in the associated skills. These assignments, whether summative or formative, must be mandatory and included in the course syllabus.
Instructor Resources
Instructors teaching Core Curriculum courses are expected to address all core objectives associated with their Foundational Component Area (FCA) each time the course is taught. The resources below are designed to support instructors in teaching and assessing these core objectives within their courses and assist in meeting the requirements of the recertification process. Additionally, these resources provide guidance on best practices for aligning course content with core curriculum standards.
Training & Informational Materials
These materials offer essential training and information to help instructors effectively implement and assess core objectives in their courses.
- CCC Checklist
- Core Recertification Guidelines
- FCAs & Objectives
- January 2023 Core Recertification Workshop Slide Deck
- February 2024 Core Recertification Workshop Slide Deck
Assignment Checklists
The Assignment Checklists are designed to assist in the creation of assignments that effectively produce student work demonstrating knowledge, skills, and abilities aligned with learning objectives. These checklists are derived directly from the approved core rubrics and are available on the Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Evaluation (OIEE) website.
Course Addendums
Course addendums are required documents to be attached to course proposals in the Curricular Approval Request System (CARS). These addendums ensure that all campuses, whether lead or alternate, are aligned with core curriculum expectations.
- Single/Lead campus addendum (to be attached to the course proposal in CARS)
- Alternate Campus proposal form
Assessment & Artifact Scores
Assessment and artifact scores are critical for evaluating the effectiveness of core curriculum courses. These scores provide insight into how well students are meeting the required core objectives.