UT Austin trims ethnic studies majors as liberal-arts reorg unfolds

UT Austin plans to eliminate four ethnic studies majors—African and African Diaspora Studies; Mexican American and Latina/o Studies; Women’s and Gender Studies; and Race, Indigeneity and Migration—as seven departments are consolidated into two new liberal-arts units. The university will stop enrolling new students in these majors, though current students can finish their degrees; faculty criticize the move as censorship and harmful to learning and career prospects. A replacement social and cultural analysis major with tracks has been proposed, with new courses expected by fall 2027, while urban studies and American studies remain as majors. Critics warn the changes could affect prestige and faculty alignment within the college.