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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the core curriculum at public institutions of higher |
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education. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 61.821(1), Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(1) "Core curriculum" means the basic curriculum in |
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liberal arts, humanities, and sciences and political, social, and |
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cultural history that all undergraduate students of an institution |
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of higher education are expected to know and are required to |
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complete before receiving an academic undergraduate degree. |
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SECTION 2. Section 61.822, Education Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (b-1) to read as |
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follows: |
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(b) Each institution of higher education shall adopt a core |
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curriculum of no less than 42 semester credit hours, including |
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specific courses comprising the curriculum. The core curriculum |
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shall: |
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(1) consist only of courses that: |
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(A) are listed in: |
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(i) the common course numbering system |
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approved by the board; and |
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(ii) the board's manual of general academic |
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transfer courses that may be offered for state funding by public |
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junior colleges, public state colleges, and public technical |
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institutes; or |
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(B) are the equivalent of courses described by |
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Paragraph (A), as determined by the board; and |
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(2) be consistent with [the common course numbering
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system approved by the board and with] the statement, |
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recommendations, and rules issued by the board. |
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(b-1) An institution may have a core curriculum of other |
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than 42 semester credit hours only if approved by the board. |
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SECTION 3. Section 130.0104(b), Education Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(b) A multidisciplinary studies associate degree program |
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established at a junior college under this section must require a |
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student to successfully complete: |
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(1) the junior college's core curriculum adopted under |
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Section 61.822 [61.822(b)]; and |
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(2) after completion of the core curriculum under |
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Subdivision (1), the courses selected by the student in the |
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student's degree plan completed under Subsection (c). |
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SECTION 4. Sections 61.821 and 61.822, Education Code, as |
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amended by this Act, apply beginning with the 2020-2021 academic |
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year. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |