The bill, S.B. No. 2847, aims to enhance the core curriculum in Texas higher education institutions to expedite the awarding of bachelor's degrees. It amends Section 61.822 of the Education Code, allowing the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to approve a core curriculum of fewer than 42 semester credit hours for bachelor's degree programs, provided that such approval is determined to accelerate student completion of workforce-aligned credentials. This new provision is introduced as subsection (b-1) in the bill.

Additionally, the bill maintains existing regulations regarding the transfer of core curriculum credits between institutions, ensuring that students who complete the core curriculum at one institution can transfer those credits to another without additional requirements, unless a larger core curriculum is approved by the board. The bill is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 61.822 (Education Code 61)