UT Austin Approved List of 50 Required Course Authors
Professors must draw half of their reading materials from this curated list for upcoming semesters.
Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Books
Live Poll
Should universities require professors to assign specific, preapproved authors in general education courses?
The University of Texas at Austin has finalized a list of 50 preapproved authors for its Great Questions of Human Life course. Faculty members are now required to pull at least 50 percent of their assigned reading materials from these selections.
Why it matters
The university aims to create a common educational experience for students while building foundational skills in analysis and writing. This curriculum shift sets new instructional requirements for professors designing courses for the 2027-2028 academic year.
The current list includes 50 authors, consisting of six women and four nonwhite authors. These figures represent the initial baseline as the university moves toward a future target of 100 authors.
The players
University of Texas at Austin
The public research university implementing the new core curriculum standards.
The details
Professors must submit their course proposals by October 19 to align with these new requirements for the upcoming term. The approved list features foundational figures such as William Shakespeare, Martin Luther, Thomas Aquinas, Karl Marx, Confucius, and Plato. While the current mandate requires that 50 percent of texts come from this list, the university intends to eventually expand the pool to 100 authors and increase the required portion of readings to 75 percent.
Timeline
August 2026: The task force unveiled the core curriculum plan.
October 2, 2026: The university shared the list of 50 authors.
October 19, 2026: Deadline for faculty to submit course proposals.
Fall 2027: The term for which course proposals are submitted.
Spring 2028: The term for which course proposals are submitted.
The Texas Context
The UT Austin curriculum mandate marks a departure from the author bans at Texas A&M University by prioritizing a defined reading list over exclusions. This policy reflects a broader, ongoing state-level trend of increased oversight regarding higher education reading materials.
Students enrolled in the Great Questions of Human Life course starting in Fall 2027 will see their required reading assignments shift to reflect this curated author list. Faculty must ensure their course proposals meet these requirements by the October 19 deadline.
The takeaway
Students and faculty should watch for the expansion of this author list to 100 names over the coming academic year. With that expansion, the required proportion of reading materials sourced from the approved list is slated to climb to 75 percent.
Further reading
For more on local literary and academic developments, visit Books.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Inside Higher Ed | Higher Education News, Events and Jobs.
Live Poll
Should universities require professors to assign specific, preapproved authors in general education courses?
