Florida’s Public Universities Grapple with State-Mandated Curriculum Changes
A New Law Redefines Which Courses Count Towards Graduation Credits
All of Florida’s 12 public universities are dealing with the impacts of a state-mandated change in curriculum. A new law is redefining which courses count towards required graduation credits and which ones should only be taught as electives.
Impact on Florida International University
At Florida International University, 22 classes have been flagged to potentially be moved from the core curriculum to elective status, pending approval from the state’s Board of Governors, which runs the state university system.
Support from Governor Ron DeSantis
The changes statewide are strongly supported by Gov. Ron DeSantis as a way to inject practicality into undergraduate education and to subtract what he calls classroom indoctrination.
Concerns from Professors
“My concern is, I’ve seen this movie before,” said Tania Lopez, an assistant professor at FIU. Lopez said the state-mandated policy reminds her of growing up in communist Cuba, and says it’s having a chilling effect on academic freedom.
Consequences for Students
James Hernandez is an anthropology major. She knows many students just won’t spend tuition on classes that don’t help them graduate. “Students are gonna miss out on key components of their education, even if they don’t study anthropology, these classes can be useful if you’re going into medicine, for example, on how to deal with patients who may come from different backgrounds,” said Hernandez, a sophomore.
Interpretation of the Law
The law cuts any classes that have “unproven, speculative, or exploratory” content from the core curriculum, as well as classes “based on theories that systematic racism, sexism, oppression and privilege are inherent in the institutions of the United States,” leaving it up to each university to interpret what that means for each course.
Conclusion
Can courses survive if they’re only offered as electives, or will they wither away? We will find out next fall when the changes go into effect at every state university campus.
FAQs
Q: What is the purpose of the new law?
A: The law aims to inject practicality into undergraduate education and to subtract what Gov. Ron DeSantis calls classroom indoctrination.
Q: Which courses are being impacted?
A: Courses that have “unproven, speculative, or exploratory” content, as well as classes “based on theories that systematic racism, sexism, oppression and privilege are inherent in the institutions of the United States,” are being reevaluated.
Q: What does this mean for students?
A: Students may miss out on key components of their education, as classes that are no longer required for graduation may not be as widely offered.
