Main Content

2024 Updates to the Core Curriculum

The Faculty Senate approved seven changes to the Core Curriculum and student learning outcomes in April 2024, following a two-year review. For the history and rationale, refer to the proposal submitted to the senate by the Core Curriculum Council and the Academic Excellence Committee, available by clicking here.

Core Curriculum updates effective Fall 2024 and forward

  1. Eliminate the two-prefix rule in Natural Sciences (NSC).
  2. Allow transfer and exam credit equivalencies for Cultural Awareness (CA), Global Awareness (GA), Citizenship and Social Values (CSV).

How does this impact advising?

New or transfer students enrolled summer or fall of 2024:  The two changes noted above are in effect for students who enrolled at TCU in summer or fall 2024. These students may take Natural Science (NSC) courses in one prefix area. Their records have been updated to show whether they have brought or transferred in CA, GA, or CSV credits.

Existing students enrolled at TCU prior to Fall 2024: Existing TCU students can either follow the requirements of the undergraduate catalog in the year they enrolled, or decide to update to the newest version of the catalog, i.e., with these new Core adjustments. This is a decision that should be made carefully with their advisors since a change in catalog is not always in the best interest of faster degree completion. A new advising tool will be introduced soon to help with Core Curriculum advising.

Do these changes affect how faculty submit courses?

There is no change to the submission process at this time. We recommend that faculty review the new outcomes and strive to align your courses with them so the transition is seamless. Click here for updated TCU Core Curriculum competencies and learning outcomes. Check back here for updates on submitting courses.

Updates to be Implemented by Fall 2025

  1. Reorganize the curricular requirements of the Core Curriculum to align under the four institutional-level competencies in general education approved by the Faculty Senate in
    2022. Each area of the Core and all course requirements in the Core map up to these four competencies.
  2. Adjust the vetting process to allow instructors to vet any course in up to any two requirements plus WEM (excluding WCO and OCO). Have courses count for students in the same areas in which they are vetted to minimize confusion. Limit the number of courses students may take in the same prefix to ensure breadth of study.
  3. Center diversity, equity and inclusion in the outcomes of Cultural Awareness (CA), Global Awareness (GA), Citizenship and Social Values (CSV), to implement the DEI
    Essential Competency that was resolved by Faculty Assembly in 2018 and 2019.
  4. Create a process to allow Finding Ourselves in Community (FSC) courses to simultaneously be approved for CA, at the faculty member’s discretion.
  5. Change the wording of student learning outcomes for each of 14 areas of Core requirements to be concise, measurable, and to map up to the newly created Competencies for the Core Curriculum.

Updated Student Competencies and Learning Outcomes

Review the updated student competencies and learning outcomes. Click here for updated TCU Core Curriculum competencies and learning outcomes.

Questions? Contact Core Curriculum Director Theresa Gaul at t.gaul@tcu.edu.