Enrolled Bill Summary

            In 1997, the Texas Legislature required the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, with the aid of advisory committees representing public colleges and universities, to develop various field of study curricula to facilitate the transfer of course credits among institutions, and in 1999, the legislature directed the board to study the need for and feasibility of developing such curricula. House Bill 1359 requires the board to designate, not later than January 1, 2002, at least 10 degree programs for such curriculum development and to develop the curricula not later than January 1, 2003. The designated degree programs must be programs in high demand among transfer students and common to more than one public college or university. Not later than January 1, 2003, the board must designate at least five additional high-demand and commonly offered degree programs and develop field of study curricula for those programs not later than January 1, 2004.

            The bill also requires each public college or university to publish in its course catalog and on its website guidelines addressing its practices regarding the transfer of credit and identifying courses by means of a common course numbering system developed by the coordinating board.