We are making some needed updates to the TCU Core Curriculum. TCU students devote one-third of their academic study to the Core Curriculum. It is the heart and soul of a TCU academic experience.
Following a two-year review that involved 60+ faculty members, students, alumni and staff, the Core Curriculum Council and the Academic Excellence Committee presented updates to Faculty Senate in the spring of 2024. All were approved.
This is not a major overhaul of the Core Curriculum. These are adjustments that will help us better communicate the Core’s purpose and benefits, provide students with more flexibility, and eliminate redundancies.
This webpage, provost.tcu.edu/faculty-resources/core-curriculum/updates, details the updates and the new student learning outcomes, provides the full report to the Faculty Senate (which includes rationale), and answers questions. Two changes to the Core Curriculum are in effect now (as noted below and on the webpage.) The remaining updates should be in effect by Fall 2025.
How these changes impact advising
Changes to the Core are not retroactive.
- Students who entered TCU in Fall 2024 and moving forward will follow these new Core requirements implemented in Fall 2024:
- Eliminate the two-prefix rule in Natural Sciences (NSC).
- Allow transfer and exam credit equivalencies for Cultural Awareness (CA), Global Awareness (GA), and Citizenship and Social Values (CSV).
- Students enrolled at TCU prior to Fall 2024 usually follow the requirements of the undergraduate catalog in the year they enrolled, or they can decide to update to the newest version of the catalog, i.e., with these new Core adjustments. Please work closely with students who enquire about making such a change, since it could delay their degree completion.
Training is available to help with advising, and an easy-to-use advising tool is being developed with plans to be implemented very soon.
I am grateful to Dr. Theresa Gaul (t.gaul@tcu.edu), director of the Core Curriculum, and members of the committees and Faculty Senate. Your guidance is leading the way to an even brighter future for our students.
Best wishes,
Floyd
Floyd L. Wormley Jr., Ph.D.
Interim Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
Vice Provost for Research
Dean of Graduate Studies