The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) is authorized to adopt rules and establish policies and procedures for the development, adoption, implementation, and evaluation of core curricula, field of study curricula, and a transfer dispute resolution process under Texas Education Code §61.826 and §61.827.

In the fall of 2014, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board put into effect a new 42 semester credit hour core curriculum for all undergraduate students in Texas public higher education institutions. This common core curriculum facilitates the transfer of lower-division course credit among public colleges, universities, and health-related institutions throughout the state.

While individual colleges may determine which courses to include, THECB identifies 8 specific component areas that must be included and one component option area. Some courses have learning outcomes dictated by THECB. Many others do not.

When offering the courses, institutions must address all outcomes listed in the Academic Course Guide Manual (ACGM) description and provide instruction to cover and assess all of the learning outcomes. Institutions may not delete any topics in the course descriptions or any of the student learning outcomes as provided in the ACGM. Based on local needs, an institution may, however, include additional topics and learning outcomes.

Assessment method and timing within the duration of the course is discretionary for the institution and may be different depending upon the discipline and instructional methods used in the delivery of the course.