University of Alabama faculty have passed a referendum to update the general education core curriculum to enhance the learning experiences for UA students.
The new core will require 37 or 38 general education hours. Reducing the number of required core credits will give students greater flexibility to commit more time to their major(s), minor(s) and/or electives; pursue a double major; and take on experiential learning experiences such as internships, undergraduate research and study abroad.
The new core is planned to launch in fall 2025 with the class of 2029 being the first cohort.
“The faculty’s approval of the new general education core signals the beginning of a transformation in undergraduate education at UA,” said Dr. Jim Dalton, UA executive vice president and provost. “I am confident that our faculty will continue to innovate inside and outside the classroom to provide a rich learning environment and that the changes will allow our students to be more flexible in shaping their learning experiences while staying on track to graduate in four years.”
A task force composed of faculty from across campus convened in 2018 to lead a campuswide review of UA’s general education curriculum and experiences. The task force and faculty senate recommended a new core curriculum pathways model with fewer required core hours that is the foundation of the core curriculum that faculty approved in the referendum
Eligible faculty were asked to participate in a secure and anonymous online vote Nov. 1-15. 1,043 of 1,570 eligible faculty voted in the referendum with a majority of individual faculty (60%) and colleges/schools voting in favor of the proposed general education core curriculum.
“I want to commend the members of the task force and the faculty senate for their hard work in advancing this initiative as well as those faculty who voted over the past two weeks,” said Dalton.
More details on the updated general education core curriculum and recommended timeline for implementation can be found on the Office for Academic Affairs website.